South Carolina activist petitions to rename street honoring Confederate general after Obama

An activist in Greenville, S.C., has started a petition to change the name of a local road from a Confederate general to former President Obama.

Activist Bruce Wilson said the name Wade Hampton Boulevard “goes against the values of the new South,” Fox Carolina reported.

According to the report, Hampton was a slave owner in 1850s, a Confederate general in the Civil War and later was elected governor of South Carolina amid allegations that his supporters had suppressed black voters.

{mosads}“Society dictates, and the New South demands the extrication of white supremacy and as such it would be fitting to rename ‘Wade Hampton Blvd’ after this nations First African American President ‘Barack Obama,’ ” the petition reads.

The petition also argues that the new name would inspire children and the community instead of upholding the history of “white supremacy.”

“Through this physical signage, every child that passes by; regardless [of] race can see and relate that ‘No dream is too far fetched!’ ” the petition says.

“Through the history of the City, there have been numerous streets named after historical figures; but i [sic] cannot think of a single [individual] more deserving that President Barack Hussein Obama,” the document continues.

As of 1 p.m. Friday, 113 people had signed the petition. Wilson said he would be holding a future rally to bring attention to the petition, Fox Carolina reported.