Hate could turn to love in Alameda, where community members will vote on Thursday on a proposal to change Haight Elementary School's name to Love.
A group called the Coalition to Rename Haight says the effort to rename the school began last year when parents and staff first learned that the school's namesake, former California Gov. Henry Huntly Haight, espoused white supremacist views.
They say Haight opposed voting rights for African- and Asian- Americans, opposed immigration from Asia and declared African-, Asian- and Native Americans to be "inferior races."
The group says Haight opposed the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, which extended citizenship and voting rights to Asian- and African-Americans, and ironically, the school's largest demographic today is Asian-American.
Students, teachers, staff, parents and guardians voted in a primary election last week on one of four possible new names for the school. "Love" received 37 percent of the vote, followed by Don Grant with 23 percent, Ohlone with 20 percent and Nielsen Tam with 17 percent.
Grant was a teacher and track coach at Encinal High School in Alameda and Tam was a teacher, principal and Board of Education member.
Students suggested Ohlone, the original peoples to live on the land now called Alameda, and Love, as a value, concept and approach to education.
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After winning the primary election, "Love" now moves on to a general election scheduled on Thursday in which the community will decide whether to rename the school "Love Elementary" or keep the current name, "Haight Elementary".
