By Yanna Krupnikov
Justice Editorial Board

A bridge in Charlestwon, Mass. will soon be known as the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill FreedomBridge.

Zakim was a distinquished civil-rights leader who served as the head of the Boston chapter of the Anti-Defamation League. He died of cancer last year at the age of 46.

In addition to his many accomplishments, Zakim was also a recepient of a Brandeis Honorary Degree in 1996.

Throughout his life, Zakim was considered a friend of University; his wife was a graduate of the Hornstein Program in Jewish Community Service.

Since Zakim’s death Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci signed legislation in June to name the new 10-lane bridge in Charlestown after the civil-rights leader.

Cellucci’s decision, however, spurned a wave of controversy.

Residents of Charlestown felt that the bridge should be named after the nearby Bunker Hill Monument, noting that the bridge’s design resembles that of the monument.

So vehemently did Charlestown residents oppose the naming of the bridge after Zakim, that nearly 100 people signed a petition against the naming of the bridge after the leader.

Despite this strong opposition, a compromise was finally reached. State Representative Eugene O’Flaherty , who represents Charlestown, suggested that the bridge be named the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Freedom Bridge, a name that was approved by the legislature earlier this month.

Although Cellucci was initially against the compromise, he too has signed on to the idea, as he announced in a recent press conference.

In the next week’s issue, the Justice will take a closer look at Zakim’s controversy surrounding the bridge, as well as Zakim’s tremendous accomplishments as a civil rights leader.