A New Jersey township council voted unanimously Tuesday to reverse its decision to rename the town's former high school - currently called the John F. Kennedy Center - after President Barack Obama, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
More than 200 people, who came to protest a name change they viewed as disrespectful of a beloved president, erupted in cheers after the decision was announced at the JFK Center's auditorium, where the meeting was held, Philly.com reported.
Back in August, the Willingboro Township Council had voted 3-1 to change the name from the John F. Kennedy Center to the Barack Obama Center.
However, many people came out in protests despite the town's predominantly middle-class black community of 31,000. Carrying placards, the crowd was prepared to present a petition signed by more than 1,200 alumni of the high school, "which closed in the 1990s when Willingboro High School was built. The building later reopened as a senior center, a recreational hall, and a multipurpose auditorium and is nearing completion of a $4.9 million renovation," according to Philly.com.
The uproar had little to do with Obama, many residents said, and more to do with removing Kennedy's name from the building.
"I was 5 when Kennedy came to Willingboro Plaza in 1960," said Christine Getz-Alfinito, who graduated from JFK with the class of 1973 and still lives in Willingboro. "They built this in '66, and named it after Kennedy after he was assassinated. He died for this country."
"I just think it's wrong," said Elaine Phillips, class of 1978, as she joined other alumni at the meeting. "In my heart, I'm always going to be a Gryphon."
On Tuesday, a decision to rescind its Aug. 7 vote was quickly made by the five-member all-Democratic council. Councilman Chris Walker, who had proposed the name change, said that although he had initially suggested it to honor Obama, he was now in agreement to undo the vote.
Councilman Nathaniel Anderson apologized, saying he was unaware of the history of the building and had failed to "think it through" and gather public input before supporting the name change.
Mayor Eddie Campbell, who cast the only dissenting vote, told those in attendance that the second vote on the name change means it's now a dead issue, promising if any action is considered in the future, the council will use a public forum to gather input before a vote is taken.
"The people have spoken, and we believe in government by the people," the 81-year-old said.
