Canadians Who Lost Pride Live On Trump Avenue, Now They Ask For Street Names To Be Changed

Trump Avenue (Sumber: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Residents in a neighborhood in Ottawa, Canada, are trying to distance themselves from former president of the United States (US) Donald Trump. They want to change the name of the street that bears Trump's name.

The road is Trump Avenue, which is on the west side of the Canadian capital, precisely in Central Park. The street is surrounded by brick houses, each with a two-car garage and children playing hockey in the driveway.

To quote the Straits Times, Wednesday, January 27, the Central Park neighborhood, known for its New York-themed streets was built in the late 1990s, long before Trump entered politics. Apart from Trump Avenue, there are also Madison Park, Bloomingdale Street, Manhattan Crescent, and Staten Way in the area.

"When I tell people I live on Trump Avenue and I'll add, 'Yeah, that Donald.' People will grin, some give sympathetic faces, that kind of thing, "said one resident.

"But now, that he has undermined democracy, and incited rebellion, violent attack on the Capitol Building, it is time to change the name of our street. Trump does not deserve that honor and I think it is inappropriate to have a street named after him in the Canadian capital," he added.

Ottawa board member Riley Brockington began rallying support for the name change from people living on the street this week. Several residents have petitioned Ottawa over the years to change the name of the street. But Brockington refused at the time, saying he feared offending Trump, who served as US President.

"I fear that there may be consequences for Canada, that Trump will take punitive action if word gets out that the Canadian capital wants to remove its name from street signage," Brockington said.

"With him leaving the White House, I feel like now is the right time to give it a try."

At least 50 percent of residents must agree to the name change for a change process that takes several months. Most of the other New York-themed names are used in Ottawa. Street names with numbers such as Fifth Avenue will not be used.

"We already have one of them in Ottawa," said a resident named Bowering. "I hope we end up with a name that makes everyone happy," he concluded.