For the third year, local elected officials and civic organizations hosted a march along Rep. John Lewis Way. Despite poor weather, the event brought together the Nashville community to celebrate the life and legacy of Rep. John Lewis and other civil rights icons from Nashville and beyond. The march began at the intersection of Rep. John Lewis Way and Jefferson Street, continuing all the way along John Lewis Way and ending at the Ryman Auditorium.

According to the website <johnlewisway.com>: “Shortly after U.S. Rep John Lewis passed away on July 17, 2020, the Minority Caucus of the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Council and a group of community leaders started talking about the idea of renaming Nashville’s Fifth Avenue in memory of the late civil rights leader.

“Over several weeks, the group settled on proceeding with permanently changing Fifth Avenue to Rep. John Lewis Way to recognize Lewis, who began his lifelong crusade for civil rights and civic justice while a student at the American Baptist Theological Seminary and Fisk University.

The committee held virtual public meetings to gain input and support from the general community, and more than 2,000 individuals, to date, signed the <Change.org> petition to rename Fifth Avenue in honor of Rep. Lewis.

“On Nov. 5, 2020, the Metro Council approved the ordinance to create Rep. John Lewis Way, beginning at the corner of Jefferson Street and Fifth through downtown to the corner of Oak Street at the historic City Cemetery.

“A few weeks later, on Jan. 14, 2021, Metro Nashville’s Public Works department made the change official by removing the Fifth Avenue Street signs at intersections along the route and replacing them with signs proclaiming Rep. John Lewis Way.”

Subsequently, each year a formal dedication and celebration honoring Rep. Lewis is held, including a march and celebration at the Ryman Auditorium on the weekend of the anniversary of Lewis’ death.