About a year ago, the Fayetteville City Council voted unanimously to officially rename Sixth Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in early 2009.

The time is here, and Sixth Street is no more. A dedication ceremony last week at the intersection in front of Chick-fil-A at Razorback Road unveiled the real-deal signs that will replace not only the original Sixth Street signs but also the honorary MLK blue-colored signs that have been up for a few years already.

Business owners and anyone else with an address on the newly named stretch of road will continue to receive mail for both the old street name and the new one for the next year or so.

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan (who at the time was Ward 4 Alderman) had this to say when asked by a local reporter what he thought about the name change,

Dr. King was a man who fought for equality for all people, ” he said. “ He was a man of peace. He was a man who gave his life for his beliefs. He was a man who changed the world. Dr. King laid his life down for all people, and if he can do that, then we can surely name a street after him.

Below are a few MLK events going on in Fayetteville today:

MLK March/City Awards Program
Location: Walton Arts Center Parking Lot
Time: 11:15 a.m.
The City of Fayetteville will honor a city employee that exhibits the spirit and legacy of Dr. King. The march will start at the Walton Arts Center parking lot, marching on a designated path to the Arkansas Union Connections Lounge at the University of Arkansas. In case of inclement weather, participants will meet at the University of Arkansas Union Connections Lounge.

Noon-Day Vigil
Location: University of Arkansas Union Connections Lounge
Time: 12:00 noon

13th Annual Recommitment Banquet
Location: Fayetteville Town Center
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Featured Speaker: Dr. Gene C. Young
This event will be hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee. The MLK Scholarships will be awarded and individuals from the Northwest Arkansas community will be honored for outstanding community service. Ticket costs are $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for students (this includes K-12 students and undergraduate students). For banquet ticket information, contact Angela Mosley Monts at 479-575-2812 or the UA Office of Affirmative Action, 479-575-4019.

For more events later in the week, check out the MLK/UA 2009 Calendar of Events.