Councilman Kevin de León introduces motion for Pershing Square name change (2024)

LOS ANGELES — City Councilman Kevin de León officially began the process Friday of renaming downtown’s Pershing Square as Biddy Mason Park, in honor of a former slave who became a prominent L.A. citizen and landowner in the 1850s.

“This past Juneteenth I announced the intent to rename Pershing Square, LA’s oldest city park, after the legendary Biddy Mason and to ceremoniously rename from Cesar Chavez Avenue to Olympic Street, down Spring Street, as Biddy Mason Way,” the councilman said during Friday’s council meeting.

De León introduced two separate motions to rename Pershing Square, and establish the ceremonial street sign. The two motions are expected to be considered by the council’s Transportation Committee, and the Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee.

According to de León’s office, the renaming would serve as a symbolic and overdue recognition of Bridget “Biddy” Mason’s life.

Mason was born into slavery, and she was forced to walk from Georgia all the way to California with her slave owners. She successfully petitioned the court in Los Angeles for her freedom.

She later became a nurse, midwife and one of the first Black women to own property in the city, making her one of the wealthiest women in California. Mason was known for her investments and philanthropy, which helped shape the city, the councilman said.

He noted the effort to honor Mason began in February 2022 during a wreath laying ceremony. At a tribute wall in downtown Los Angeles, the councilman met sisters Cheryl and Robynn Cox, fourth-great-granddaughters of Mason.

According to the councilman, the sisters challenged him to find a fitting way to honor their ancestor.

The memorial plaque, located at a mini-park named Biddy Mason Memorial Park, located between Broadway and Spring streets, is hidden right next to a parking lot, de León noted.

According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, Mason bought a nearly 1-acre site in 1866, between what is now Broadway and Spring streets and Third and Fourth streets, the site of the mini-park.

“It’s dark and no one knows that it even exists to this very day,” de León said. “Biddy Mason legacy and her remarkable contributions to our city deserves nothing less than the highest recognition.”

On Wednesday, de León announced his plans to rename Pershing Square. Sisters Cherly and Robynn Cox joined the councilman, and gave remarks in support of the effort.

“We understand that as a Black woman she had not received the ceremonial accolades that many founders and contributors to the city received,” Robynn Cox told the Los Angeles Times.

“So having something like a park that is historic and was around when she was alive and has been a central part of the city is a great step in the right direction for her receiving the recognition for what she has done.”

Pershing Square was originally dedicated in 1866 by then-Mayor Cristóbal Aguilar as La Plaza Abaja, then later dedicated in honor of World War I Gen. John J. Pershing in 1918.