Street renaming, remembrances of 1990 visit mark tribute to Nelson Mandela in Detroit
7/18/2014DETROIT — The city of Detroit plans to mark Nelson Mandela’s birthday with remembrances of his 1990 visit to “Motortown” and the unveiling of a street renamed in his honor.
The tributes come Friday for the former South African president and global statesman who died Dec. 5 at the age of 95. Events include a one-block “Walk to Freedom” from city hall to Atwater Street, which will be renamed “Nelson Mandela Drive” at the riverfront.
The United Nations has declared Friday Nelson Mandela International Day.
Mandela made the Detroit stop shortly after leaving prison and before his election as South Africa’s first black president. He spoke of listening in prison to “the sound of Detroit, Motortown” — a reference to the music being churned out of Motown Records.