Los Angeles City Council Votes to Rename Pershing Square After Biddy Mason

The Los Angeles City Council has made the decision to rename Pershing Square in honor of Bridget “Biddy” Mason, a woman born into slavery who became a wealthy landowner and founded the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the nation’s largest Black churches. The council’s unanimous decision initiates the renaming process for the five-acre plaza located near the Biltmore Hotel, which will be renamed Biddy Mason Park.

Rev. Timothy E. Tyler from the First AME Church supported the name change, stating the importance of valuing contributors to the city’s development. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado noted the new name better reflects Los Angeles and praised Mason’s example of resilience and hope.

Originally dedicated in 1866 as La Plaza Abaja, the downtown square was renamed Pershing Square in 1918 to honor General Pershing. Opponents of the name change, like Courtland Jindra, argue it honors soldiers from World War I and worry about other monuments’ standing. Kim Cooper, a Los Angeles historical tour leader, expressed concerns about preserving the square’s historical significance.

Kevin Waite, a historian and author of a biography on Mason, believes renaming the park is fitting, given Mason’s local significance. Mason owned land near the park that makes it a suitable memorial location. Born into slavery in Mississippi in 1818, Mason won her freedom in California’s courts in 1856, setting a precedent for freedom and becoming a prolific landowner.

Biddy Mason was previously recognized with a mini-park built in 1989 on her original homestead. Waite and Cooper have debated the visibility and importance of its current location. Robynn Cox, Mason’s descendant, supported the name change when initially proposed by Kevin de León. Despite his political controversies, the proposal has finally been accepted.