A street in Nyack was renamed in honor of an activist from the American civil rights movement.

The street where the Rockland Pride Center is located has been renamed Bayard Rustin Way to honor Bayard Rustin, who was a key organizer of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 march on Washington.

Rustin worked for an activist organization in Nyack until he was fired because of his sexuality. The Pride Center director says the street renaming is just the beginning of a plan to give Rustin his due.

"We're already partnering with Nyack public schools and other organizations -- maybe getting a scholarship -- and other yearly opportunities to make sure Bayard is part of curriculum," says Brooke Malloy, executive director of the Rockland Pride Center. "Not just a street sign, but we have to follow through on his legacy by teaching accurate history."

Rustin died in 1987 and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in civil rights.

Guide: LGBTQ+ groups to donate to and volunteer with