Mayor Karen Bass and other officials prepare to remove the cover from the sign. (Courtesy photo)

Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Tim McOsker and San Pedro/Wilmington NAACP Branch President Cheyenne Bryant unveiled the first national “NAACP Square” on Feb. 10.

During a ceremony at the intersection of West 3rd Street and South Mesa Street in San Pedro, community members and civic leaders cheered the site’s designation honoring America’s oldest and largest civil rights organization.  The square is located in front of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, the home church of Joe Gatlin, the founder of the NAACP Branch 1069.

“(We) mark this (historic) moment as we celebrate Black history month, and the NAACP celebrating its 114th anniversary,” said Bass. Other officials at the event were Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, State Senator Steven Bradford, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, L.A. Urban League President Michael Lawson and other NAACP Branch presidents.

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“When we are talking about history being made and created, we have the first female mayor in the history of Los Angeles California,” said Bryant.

“Now when you’re driving or walking by South Mesa and West 3rd Street, take a moment to reflect. Across all of our communities, and throughout the One-Five (district), by uplifting each other, we can be stronger together.”

Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, San Pedro/Wilmington NAACP Branch president, and Councilmember Tim McOsker. (Courtesy photo)

Established in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed in New York City by White and Black activists, partially in response to the ongoing violence against Black Americans around the country. The organization works on the political, educational, equality of minority group citizens and eliminating race prejudice.