A section of Interstate 43 in the city of Milwaukee would be renamed the “Jeannetta Simpson−Robinson Memorial Highway” under a bill introduced in the legislature by a group of Democrats.

Sponsors in the Assembly include Representatives Leon Young, Jason Fields and Annette Polly Williams, all of Milwaukee; Terese Berceau, of Madison; Robert Turner, of Racine; Peter Barca, of Kenosha; and Sandy Pasch, of Whitefish Bay. It was co-sponsored in the Senate by Spencer Coggs and Lena Taylor, Milwaukee Democrats.

The bill would name I-43 from North Ave. to the Keefe Ave. interchange after Robinson to honor her for good works. The legislation recognizes Robinson, who died in October 2008, “as a lifelong community leader and activist who championed the poor, the disadvantaged, children, and peaceful non−violent resolutions to conflicts.”

Robinson was the long-time executive director of Career Youth Development.

The naming of I-43 after Robinson, who worked on behalf of the black community, would carry some irony; constructing the highway led to the destruction of portions of that very community in Milwaukee. From a Wisconsin Academy Review:

The damage was extensive. According to historian William Vick, “Four hundred twenty-six businesses were displaced for…the North-South Freeway, including 57 taverns, 34 grocery stores, 28 furniture stores, 26 automobile shops, 16 restaurants; 106 service retailers, 22 small manufacturers and 9 wholesale firms, along with 33 vacant buildings. Borchert Field, used by an Afro-American semipro baseball team, the Milwaukee Brown Brewers, was taken out, along with portions of Carver Park and many other playgrounds.” The last music club, the Moon Glow, was razed in 1966. Walnut Street, and all of its possibilities for the future of Milwaukee’s music culture and race relations, was gone.