James Madison High School Honors Ruth Bader Ginsburg with street renaming

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- James Madison High School is celebrating the legacy of one of its most distinguished graduates, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In a ceremony filled with pride, James Madison High School in Midwood unveiled "Ruth Bader Ginsburg Way" on Wednesday.

The newly named corner of Avenue P and Bedford Avenue serves as a permanent tribute to Ginsburg's remarkable achievements. Faculty, community members, and students gathered to pay homage to the trailblazing jurist who shattered glass ceilings and tirelessly fought for gender equality.

For Yelenny Cruz, a senior in the James Madison Law Institute and a member of the Moot Court team, the renaming holds a special significance. "It means a lot to us, especially as women," she says. "The whole Law Institute really appreciates the fact that not only do we get the opportunity to learn at such a prestigious school, but we get to learn in the same place where she learned."

Hannah Gavrilov, a junior and fellow Moot Court member, echoes Cruz's sentiments. "We're privileged to be in a place where we can take or pass on her legacy," she states.

During the ceremony, Ginsburg's daughter received flowers, while Principal Jodie Cohen shared heartfelt reflections on Ginsburg's impact.  "For them to be able to walk the exact same hallways of a woman who really made an impression and left her mark, it's something that they aspire to be," Cohen said.

Freda Gottfried Whites, an alumna from the class of 1954, had the honor of interviewing Ginsburg for the school newspaper during her time as editor. "By the time it was over, I realized that she really deserved to be recognized in this way. Streets were being named for important people, and we loved her," Whites recalled.

The newly christened street serves as a powerful source of inspiration for students, friends, and community members. Yelenny Cruz says it motivates them to follow in Ginsburg's footsteps: "We are learning her word, we are reading her word."

Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020.