Far-left activists in Maryland lobby to change name of Francis Scott Key bridge

The Caucus of African American Leaders of Anne Arundel County (CAAL) has called on officials to consider renaming the recently-collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, arguing that the author of the national anthem “demeaned black people” with the song's lyrics and that he had slaves.  
 

The civil rights group suggested that Key, a Maryland native who wrote a poem that served as the basis for America’s national anthem the Star Spangled Banner, should have his name scrubbed from the new bridge when it is built, and that it should instead honor Parren J. Mitchell, the first black man from the state to be elected to the United States House of Representatives.  

According to the Baltimore Banner, the CAAL voted unanimously on Monday to recommend the name change, going on to urge Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly to take their concerns into consideration.  

When asked whether changing the name was on the table, Moore explained that he was focused on analyzing the wreckage, ensuring commerce can continue in the port, and rebuilding the bridge.  

"I think any other conversations along those lines, there will be time for that," he added, "but now's not the time."  

In a Facebook post, the CAAL claimed that "taxpayer's dollars were being used to honor racism," and noted that it expected to face "backlash" for its push to change the name.  

The group pointed out that Key owned slaves and claimed that "those who have examined the 'Star Spangled Banner' lyrics will 'discover' his disdain for Black people."