Boycott of Americus, Ga. stores continues after city KOs naming street for King - city government's refusal to name highway after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr - Brief Article

Jet, Jan 11, 1993

Blacks in Americus, Ga., are continuing a boycott of local stores started during the Christmas shopping season because the city refuses to even consider renaming a part of a highway after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The boycott, organized by The Martin Luther King Jr. Ministerial Association of Americus, was designed to "educate consumers" as well as "encourage participation in a selective buying campaign," said the Rev. Fer-Rel Malone, a spokesperson for the group. He said the "consumer education project is a direct response to the mayor's (Tom Gailey) and the City Council's refusal to allow citizens the opportunity to publicly discuss renaming the portion of Georgia Highway 19 that runs within the city limits" in honor of King.