San Francisco has just renamed a street to honor the legendary civil rights figure and local religious leader Dr. Amos Brown. Near Third Baptist Church, where he has preached since 1976, the city unveiled "Dr. Amos C. Brown Way" this past Saturday to celebrate a man who has integrally woven faith, equality, and social justice into the city's fabric. As reported by NBC Bay Area, Brown is known for challenging city leaders to uphold justice and has been a steadfast figure in national civil rights movements, having worked directly with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mayor Daniel Lurie expressed his admiration at the event, "In this city, you challenged every mayor, including me, to live up to our highest ideals, and across this country, you marched with Dr. King, you fought for civil rights in Mississippi, you have helped carry forward the unfinished work of justice throughout this country," he praised, as Brown, who is transitioning to pastor emeritus, prepares after serving the church for over fifty years stepping back from his role as senior pastor but continuing his work in educational and cultural initiatives, he reaffirmed at the ceremony, "I'm not retiring, I'm just repositioning," as captured by NBC Bay Area.
The celebration saw an outpouring of tributes from former city officials and community leaders. "Reverend Brown, your name belongs on the street because your life has shaped it step by step for nearly half a century," Mayor Lurie stated, acknowledging Brown's deep imprint on the city and the reverence owed to his tireless work. Dr. Brown's history as a supervisor in the 1990s and an early supporter of LGBTQ+ rights was commemorated, with figures like former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown citing his wide-reaching influence saying, "Amos Brown has been in and out of each of those in one way or another and inspired them to participate on an organized basis where there was ever injustice," showing how deeply his activism has resonated throughout the city, as per ABC7 News.
The community's respect for Dr. Brown's legacy was further echoed in social media tributes, with Mayor Lurie also taking to social media to mark the occasion, "It was a honor to celebrate Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown, a man who has been a such an important figure to San Francisco, and across the county," and acknowledging his lifelong dedication to fighting for dignity and justice alongside families.
It was a honor to celebrate Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown, a man who has been a such an important figure to San Francisco, and across the county.
— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) June 21, 2025
Reverend Brown has dedicated his life standing with families to fight for dignity through action. He marched with Dr. King, fought for… pic.twitter.com/zYgX6Fd8X7
