Naming of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport

In 2005, I served as the principal advocate for the Maryland General Assembly's legislation that renamed Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. This initiative aimed to honor Justice Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Collaborating with U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, we worked diligently to garner support for the renaming. Our efforts included organizing a press conference featuring Justice Marshall's widow, Cecilia Marshall, and his son, Thurgood Marshall Jr., to emphasize the significance of this tribute. Despite initial legislative hurdles, the bill successfully passed, and on October 1, 2005, the airport officially adopted its new name.

This renaming not only recognized Justice Marshall's monumental contributions to civil rights and American jurisprudence but also served as a lasting symbol of Maryland's commitment to honoring its native sons and the enduring legacy of equality and justice.