Contact: : Sunny Mindel/ Edward Skyler (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today renamed a Brooklyn street in honor of Michael Griffith. Council Members Tracy Boyland and Annette Robinson as well as Jean Griffith-Sandiford, the mother of Michael Griffith, joined the Mayor for the dedication ceremony, which marked the renaming of Pacific Street between Albany and Ralph Avenues as "Michael Griffith Street." At the conclusion of the ceremony, a street sign bearing the new name was unveiled. Michael Griffith died thirteen years ago today in a racially motivated attack after a mob chased him onto the Cross Bay Boulevard where he was struck by a car.
"Michael Griffith's death shocked the City and caused a wound from which it will take years to recover," Mayor Giuliani said. "In the thirteen years that have passed since this tragedy occurred, we have not forgotten who Michael Griffith was or how he died. But today, we seek to honor not the victim of a senseless, hateful attack, but a caring member of this community and a loving son who was taken from us much too soon."
Michael Griffith was born in Trinidad-Tobago on March 2, 1963. He attended Rose Roman Catholic School in Trinidad before coming to the United States at the age of ten. In New York City, Michael attended public school, became a construction worker and was active in his community.
On the night of December 20, 1986, Michael Griffith and three friends drove to a construction site to pick up their paychecks. On the way back to Brooklyn, their car broke down on Cross Bay Boulevard near a pizzeria, which they then entered to eat. When the three men left the eatery, an angry crowd, armed with baseball bats confronted them and chased them toward Shore Parkway where Michael Griffith was hit by a car and killed instantly. He was 23 years old.
Earlier this fall, Mayor Giuliani signed Introductory Number 518, sponsored by Council Members Boyland, O'Donovan, Robinson and Abel, which legally changed the name of Pacific Street between Albany and Ralph Avenues to "Michael Griffith Street." The street is located near where Michael and his family lived.