Black Voicessandra blandPrairie View University A&M Prairie View City Council

Sandra Bland's New Legacy Will Force People To #SayHerName

Residents in Texas rallied together to ensure Bland's legacy lives on.
Open Image Modal
By 

Voices Editorial Fellow, The Huffington Post

|

UPDATE: 4/18 --  The road where Sandra Bland was arrested was officially renamed in her honor during a a ceremony held on April 15. 

PREVIOUSLY:

On July 10, Sandra Bland was arrested in Waller County, Texas after protesting a minor traffic violation. She died three days later in police custody. Her death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, though some are suspicious.  

Bland was in town to accept a job offer from her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University, when she was stopped by police officer Brian Encinia. The road where she was pulled over and apprehended, University Boulevard, is now being renamed Sandra Bland Parkway. 

On Tuesday, hundreds of local community residents led by Bland's family marched from the campus down University Boulevard to the Prairie View City Council, which approved the change.

Open Image Modal
KENA BETANCUR via Getty Images

"It's more than a vote, it's her legacy," said Bland's mother Geneva Reed-Veal said in a statement to the city council.

"If every time they pull over a student, they have to be reminded of what took place here, then that will help the relationship to be more respectful between the officers and the students," marcher Hannah Bonner told a local ABC News Station.

Sandra Bland Dies In Jail
(01 of15)
Open Image Modal
In this July 10, 2015, frame from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, trooper Brian Encinia reaches into the car to arrest Sandra Bland after she became combative during a routine traffic stop in Waller County, Texas. Bland was taken to the Waller County Jail that day and was found dead in her cell on July 13. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(02 of15)
Open Image Modal
In this July 10, 2015, frame from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, trooper Brian Encinia arrests Sandra Bland after she became combative during a routine traffic stop in Waller County, Texas. Bland was taken to the Waller County Jail that day and was found dead in her cell on July 13. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(03 of15)
Open Image Modal
In this July 10, 2015, frame from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, trooper Brian Encinia reaches into the car to arrest Sandra Bland after she became combative during a routine traffic stop in Waller County, Texas. Bland was taken to the Waller County Jail that day and was found dead in her cell on July 13. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(04 of15)
Open Image Modal
In this July 10, 2015, frame from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, trooper Brian Encinia arrests Sandra Bland after she became combative during a routine traffic stop in Waller County, Texas. Bland was taken to the Waller County Jail that day and was found dead in her cell on July 13. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(05 of15)
Open Image Modal
In this July 10, 2015, frame from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, trooper Brian Encinia arrests Sandra Bland after she became combative during a routine traffic stop in Waller County, Texas. Bland was taken to the Waller County Jail that day and was found dead in her cell on July 13. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(06 of15)
Open Image Modal
Sandra Bland is seen in a photo from Facebook. (credit:Facebook)
(07 of15)
Open Image Modal
This undated handout photo provided by the Waller County Sheriffâs Office shows Sandra Bland. The Texas Rangers are investigating the circumstances surrounding Bland's death Monday, July 13, 2015 in a Waller County jail cell in Hempstead, Texas. The Harris County medical examiner has classified her death as suicide by hanging. She had been arrested Friday in Waller County on a charge of assaulting a public servant. (Waller County Sheriffâs Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(08 of15)
Open Image Modal
Sharon Cooper wipes tears at a memorial service for her sister Sandra Bland at Prairie View A&M University, Tuesday, July 21, 2015, in Prairie View, Texas. A newly released dashcam video documents how a routine traffic stop escalated into a shouting confrontation between a Texas state trooper and Bland, which led to her arrest. Bland was found hanging in her jail cell three days after the incident. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(09 of15)
Open Image Modal
Geneva Read-Veal, center, hugs family members at a memorial service for her daughter Sandra Bland at Prairie View A&M University, Tuesday, July 21, 2015, in Prairie View, Texas. A newly released dashcam video documents how a routine traffic stop escalated into a shouting confrontation between a Texas state trooper and Bland, which led to her arrest. Bland was found hanging in her jail cell three days after the incident. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(10 of15)
Open Image Modal
Jeanette Williams places a bouquet of roses at a memorial for Sandra Bland near Prairie View A&M University, Tuesday, July 21, 2015, in Prairie View, Texas. A newly released dashcam video documents how a routine traffic stop escalated into a shouting confrontation between a Texas state trooper and Bland, which led to her arrest. Bland was found hanging in her jail cell three days after the incident. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(11 of15)
Open Image Modal
The Waller County jail cell where Sandra Bland was found dead is seen Wednesday, July 22, 2015, in Hempstead, Texas. Bland was arrested and taken to the jail about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Houston on July 10 and found dead July 13. Officials say Bland hanged herself with a plastic garbage bag in her jail cell, a contention her family and supporters dispute. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(12 of15)
Open Image Modal
Dewayne Charleston speaks at a Waller County Commissioners Court meeting about the jail cell death of Sandra Bland in Hempstead, Texas on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Bland was arrested and taken to a jail about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Houston on July 10 and found dead July 13. Officials say Bland hanged herself with a plastic garbage bag in her jail cell, a contention her family and supporters dispute. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(13 of15)
Open Image Modal
The Waller County jail cell where Sandra Bland was found dead is seen Wednesday, July 22, 2015, in Hempstead, Texas. Bland was arrested and taken to the jail about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Houston on July 10 and found dead July 13. Officials say Bland hanged herself with a plastic garbage bag in her jail cell, a contention her family and supporters dispute. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(14 of15)
Open Image Modal
LISLE, IL - JULY 22: The mother of Sandra Bland, Geneva Reed-Veal, left, and sister Sharon Cooper, right, attend a news conference for Sandra at DuPage AME Church on July 22, 2015 in Lisle, Illinois. Sandra Bland found dead in her cell at the Waller County Jail after she was found hanging from a plastic bag 3 days after she was pulled over by a Texas State Trooper officer for a traffic violation. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images) (credit:Joshua Lott via Getty Images)
(15 of15)
Open Image Modal
LISLE, IL - JULY 22: Attorney Cannon Lambert, center, speaks to the mother of Sandra Bland, Geneva Reed-Veal, left, and sister Sharon Cooper, right, before a news conference at DuPage AME Church on July 22, 2015 in Lisle, Illinois. Sandra Bland found dead in her cell at the Waller County Jail after she was found hanging from a plastic bag 3 days after she was pulled over by a Texas State Trooper officer for a traffic violation. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images) (credit:Joshua Lott via Getty Images)

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip