The Los Angeles City Council decided to rename Pershing Square in recognition of Bridget ‘Biddy’ Mason—a woman who emerged from the bonds of slavery to become a prominent landowner and a co-founder of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. With its unanimous vote, the council initiated the process of transforming the five-acre plaza near the Biltmore Hotel into Biddy Mason Park.
Rev. Timothy E. Tyler from the First AME Church highlighted the significance of the renaming. He emphasized how the move signals that Los Angeles values the contributions made by those who helped build the city.
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado expressed that the new name better encapsulates Los Angeles’ spirit of resilience and hope. She stated, ‘Biddy Mason embodies the refusal to let injustice define what’s achievable for us.’ Jurado, representing the district containing the park, was instrumental in pushing for this change.
Pershing Square, one of the oldest parks downtown, originated as La Plaza Abaja in 1866. It received its name in 1918, honoring General Pershing, who led U.S. forces in Europe during World War I.
Critics of the change, such as Courtland Jindra, argued that the plaza was a tribute to all soldiers and sailors of World War I.
Kim Cooper, an advocate for historical preservation, acknowledged the integrity of both Mason and Pershing. She criticized the city’s oversight of the square, pointing to ongoing issues such as litter and homelessness.
Professor Kevin Waite of the University of Texas at Dallas endorsed the name change, deeming it fitting to memorialize a local figure over a war commander with minor links to L.A. Waite highlighted Mason’s ownership of land adjacent to the park as a defining factor in its appropriateness as a memorial site.
Biddy Mason began life in slavery in Mississippi in 1818 and later attained freedom through a successful court petition in 1856 in California. Her journey set a precedent for challenging slavery in Los Angeles, paving the way for freedom in the state.
Mason was honored with a mini-park on her original homestead in 1989. Although some feel the site lacks visibility, Cooper suggests increasing its prominence with better signage, rather than repurposing a World War I memorial.
Former councilmember Kevin de León previously proposed the renaming in 2024, though his political downfall halted the plans amidst a City Hall racism scandal.