Council votes to keep Sandra Bland's name on road

Alexandria De La Cruz, left, and LaToya Smith celebrate the City Council's decision on Tuesday. Alexandria De La Cruz, left, and LaToya Smith celebrate the City Council's decision on Tuesday. Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 138 Caption Close Council votes to keep Sandra Bland's name on road 1 / 138 Back to Gallery

PRAIRIE VIEW--The Prairie View City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to uphold its decision to rename University Drive in honor of Sandra Bland after hearing from residents and activists at a packed council meeting.

Bland's mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, by phone Tuesday night, expressed her gratitude toward Prairie View for upholding the decision.

"I'm thankful for the continued support from Prairie View," said Reed-Veal. "I was still very clear and sure that the support from the council would stay there. I was sure the council would stick to the agreement they had made previously."

The council in late August had voted to name the street in honor of Bland, a month after the Prairie View graduate was arrested on that stretch of road. Three days later she was found hanging in her jail cell, igniting international protests over the treatment of minorities at the hands of law enforcement.

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The council on Tuesday had been slated to consider changing the name of the road from Sandra Bland Parkway back to University Drive, according to a council agenda.

While some local residents at the meeting voiced their dissatisfaction with the new name and the way the council put it into effect, others turned up to express their support for the decision to rename the road They also shared memories of Bland.

The council chambers were filled with 75 to 100 people, with some crowding the hallway outside the council chamber.

The council voted in August to change the name of University Drive to Sandra Bland Parkway at the urging of grass roots activists.

Position 5 council member Paulette Matthews-Barnett, who abstained from the original vote in August, voted against Tuesday's decision. She said Prairie View residents had not received the chance to consider the name change.

Residents who opposed the decision said there were others more deserving of such an honor.

"It's a tragedy, but you can find something else to do for her," said longtime Prairie View resident Angela Williams.

The testimony at times was filled with emotion.

Jinaki Muhammad from the National Black United Front spoke about police violence, telling the council "Sandra Bland is me" to cheers from the audience.

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Rev. Hannah Bonner had come straight from Bland's mother's home in Chicago where she said she has the council's original ordinance naming Sandra Bland Parkway displayed on the wall. Bonner played a prayer Bland recorded in a video before her death, for which the audience paused the debate and said "Amen."

Bland, 28, a graduate of Prairie View A&M, had come back from the Chicago area after accepting a new job at her alma mater. She was found dead July 13. Her death was ruled a suicide by Harris County medical examiners, but the events surrounding it renewed a fierce debate over how law enforcement officials treat minorities.

The death of Bland, who was black, came three days after she was pulled over by Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Brian Encinia in Prairie View for making an illegal lane change.

RELATED: Trooper who arrested Bland disciplined last year

Encinia said he arrested Bland because she kicked him during the traffic stop.

Bland remained in the jail for three days because she was unable to post a $500 bond, and then was found hanged in a cell.

At the start of Tuesday's meeting, the council planned to postpone the vote since the city's attorney was not present. However, it ended up taking action after hearing from several residents, some of whom voiced displeasure with the decision to postpone a vote after everyone had already gathered.

The Chronicle's Mihir Zaveri contributed to this report.