ST. LOUIS 鈥 In 1987, the intersection of Natural Bridge and North Newstead avenues became a scene of grief and pain for William Lacy Clay 鈥 and the rest of 50度灰视频. His young cousin, Michael 鈥淢ikey鈥 Marr, was one of seven workers who were shot during a robbery at the National supermarket near here, he said. Five of the victims, including 16-year-old Marr, died.
But on Saturday, the location turned to one of gratitude and joy: Political leaders and community members honored the former 10-term congressman by designating a portion of Natural Bridge Avenue as the 鈥淲m. Lacy Clay Blvd.鈥 It鈥檚 an honorary renaming; it鈥檒l still be 鈥淣atural Bridge鈥 officially.
An appreciative Clay said he was 鈥渉umbled鈥 and 鈥渄eeply honored鈥 that one of north 50度灰视频鈥 major corridors 鈥 one he knew well 鈥 will bear his name.
People are also reading…
Clay, 65, said he grew up in the neighborhood and remembers running around Fairground Park as a child.
The renaming ceremony was led by Alderman John Collins-Muhammad and featured at least a dozen speakers, including two who appeared by video: U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi listed Clay鈥檚 fights for affordable housing and civil rights among his legacies, as well as his efforts to not only get the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to keep its western headquarters in 50度灰视频 but build its new campus on the north side.
鈥淵our name will be affixed to this historic thoroughfare that runs through the heart of 50度灰视频,鈥 Pelosi said, before thanking Collins-Muhammad and Mayor Tishaura O. Jones for their leadership.
鈥淐ongratulations, Lacy, on this great honor,鈥 Pelosi鈥檚 statement concluded.
Collins-Muhammad quipped the video from Pelosi came after 鈥渁 lot of begging.鈥
鈥淎ll of the work he has done has not gone unnoticed,鈥 Collins-Muhammad told the Post-Dispatch before the ceremony began.
Politicians who attended the ceremony in person included Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, 50度灰视频 Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly, as well as several state lawmakers and 50度灰视频 aldermen. Ashcroft is said to be considering a run for governor in 2024.
Clay, who joined the Missouri Legislature in 1983, was first elected to Congress in 2000. He succeeded his father, Bill Clay, who had held the seat since 1969. Father and son together represented 50度灰视频 at the U.S. Capitol for more than half a century.
Clay was unseated in the Aug. 4, 2020, Democratic primary by challenger Cori Bush, who went on to win the seat. Her candidacy grew out of protests in Ferguson after Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer in 2014.
Asked who he was for in the 1st Congressional District race this year, Clay told the Post-Dispatch he鈥檚 supporting state Sen. Steven Roberts Jr., 34.
鈥淚鈥檝e known Steve Roberts all of his life, so I will be supporting Steve Roberts,鈥 Clay said. 鈥淚 think that he has demonstrated his ability to serve and represent the people effectively.鈥
As for Bush, Clay said he鈥檒l leave it up to voters: 鈥淭hey will determine whether she鈥檚 been effective or not.鈥
Clay reacted angrily when asked about allegations made in 2016 by former Rep. Cora Faith Walker, who accused Roberts of rape, an accusation that Roberts has repeatedly denied and did not result in any criminal charges.
Walker, who later became chief policy officer for 50度灰视频 County, died suddenly on March 11 at the age of 37. A cause of death has not been released.
Since Roberts entered the congressional race on March 28, some Bush supporters have resurrected Walker鈥檚 allegations on social media and protested at a recent Roberts fundraiser.
Clay said making Walker part of any political campaign was 鈥渄isrespectful鈥 to her and 鈥渋nsensitive and callous鈥 to her family and friends.
As for people who are bringing up Walker to attack Roberts, Clay said, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what rock these people crawled out from under, but they need to go back.鈥
Originally posted at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 16.