Civil rights groups want collapsed Baltimore bridge renamed because of racism

A coalition of civil rights groups have demanded that the collapsed Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore be renamed when it is rebuilt because Key was a "racist slave owner."

The coalition includes groups such as the Caucus of African American Leaders of Anne Arundel County, an NAACP chapter and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

The sentiment among some of the groups to change the name of the bridge was already being discussed before the bridge's collapse in late March.

They have suggested that the bridge be renamed for Rep. Parren Mitchell, the first African American elected to the U.S. House from the state of Maryland.

But how does renaming the bridge honor the victims of the collapse, which occurred when a cargo ship lost power and struck a support beam?

It’s insulting to the victims that they’re more worried about the name of the bridge than the tragedy that happened and took the lives of several workers who could not be notified to get off the bridge in time.