Detroit Street Sign Honors Civil Rights Activist Viola Liuzzo

The corner of Mansfield and Pembroke memorializes Liuzzo's legacy after she was killed during the Selma Voting Rights Marches.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:54pm

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A photorealistic painting of a street corner in Detroit, with a new street sign reading 'Viola Liuzzo Way' in the center, surrounded by warm sunlight and deep shadows, capturing the somber yet hopeful mood of commemorating an unsung civil rights hero.The new street sign honoring civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo stands as a quiet monument to her legacy and the ongoing fight for racial justice.Today in Detroit

A street corner on Detroit's west side now bears the name of civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo, who was killed by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1965 while driving a young Black activist from Selma to Montgomery during the Selma Voting Rights Marches. City and state officials unveiled the honorary street sign at the intersection of Mansfield and Pembroke, near the former Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church where Liuzzo's funeral was held.

Why it matters

Liuzzo's death shocked the nation and intensified public support for civil rights legislation, but her legacy has been overshadowed by more well-known figures. This street sign honors her sacrifice and the essential role women have played in the civil rights movement, which is often overlooked in the historical narrative.

The details

Viola Liuzzo, a White woman from Detroit, joined the marchers in Selma after watching police brutally attack peaceful protesters on 'Bloody Sunday.' A few weeks later, on March 25, 1965, Liuzzo was shot and killed by four Klansmen, including an FBI informant, as she drove a young Black activist from Selma to Montgomery. Liuzzo's funeral was attended by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the men responsible for her death were found guilty of violating her civil rights, but acquitted in Alabama's courts.

  • On March 7, 1965, police attacked peaceful protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, an event known as 'Bloody Sunday'.
  • Viola Liuzzo was killed on March 25, 1965, a few weeks after joining the Selma Voting Rights Marches.
  • The street sign honoring Liuzzo was unveiled on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Viola Liuzzo

A White civil rights activist from Detroit who was killed by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1965 while driving a young Black activist from Selma to Montgomery during the Selma Voting Rights Marches.

Angela Whitfield Calloway

A Detroit City Councilmember who represents District 2 and was instrumental in securing the honorary street sign for Viola Liuzzo.

Jocelyn Benson

The Secretary of State of Michigan who attended the ceremony unveiling the street sign.

Mary Sheffield

The Mayor of Detroit who attended the ceremony unveiling the street sign.

Regina Weiss

A Michigan State Representative who attended the ceremony unveiling the street sign.

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What they’re saying

“She was shot in the face twice, and you all need to know that. Her death shocked the nation and intensified public support for civil rights legislation.”

— Angela Whitfield Calloway, Detroit City Councilmember

“There's never been a time that we have made progress and women weren't at the forefront of that progress. We've got to revisit these stories; we've got to adjust our lens on how this history happened, and when we do that, we'll find that there's never been a time that we have made progress and women weren't at the forefront of that progress.”

— Jamon Jordan, City Historian

“They said that Mom was colorblind. But she was not. She saw color, and she saw the beauty of it. That's what she wanted.”

— Anthe Liuzzo, Viola Liuzzo's daughter-in-law

What’s next

The city plans to hold a larger community celebration later this year to further commemorate Viola Liuzzo's legacy and the ongoing fight for civil rights.

The takeaway

This street sign honors a lesser-known but crucial figure in the civil rights movement, whose sacrifice and commitment to racial justice helped advance the cause of voting rights. Liuzzo's story also highlights the often overlooked role of women leaders in the struggle for equality.