Fred D. Gray Avenue Unveiling

Jeff Davis Avenue, a street located in Montgomery, Alabama – the Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, has been renamed Fred D. Gray Avenue by Mayor Steven L. Reed, the first Black mayor in the city’s 200 year history, in honor of famed Civil Rights attorney from Alabama’s Capital City, Fred D. Gray. Originally named for Confederate President Jefferson Davis, the street intersects with Rosa L. Parks Avenue. It is also the location of Attorney Gray’s childhood home.

“As our nation examines our shared history in an unflinching and honest way, there is no better statement for the Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement to make than naming a street for one of the heroes of the struggle, Attorney Fred D. Gray,” Mayor Reed said. “I would not be where I am today without his courage, his selflessness, and his tireless pursuit of justice, freedom, and equality for all. We see this as a milestone for Montgomery, but it is also part of a larger effort to shift the narrative surrounding our community and honor the real heroes who fought here for the right to a fair, equitable and accessible America.”

Mayor Reed and the Montgomery City Council will host a public ceremony on October 26 at 11 a.m. at

900 Oak Street to unveil and dedicate the new Fred D. Gray Avenue signage. The ceremony’s site is only a few yards from Attorney Gray’s childhood home, 705 West Jeff Davis Avenue, which sits near the corner of Oak Street and Fred D. Gray Avenue (formerly W. Jeff Davis Avenue).

The dedication ceremony will feature remarks from prominent national leaders and community advocates.

WHAT: Fred D. Gray Avenue Dedication Ceremony;

WHERE: 900 Oak Street in Montgomery;

WHEN: October 26, 2021 at 11 a.m.