Street in front of Dallas police headquarters renamed Botham Jean Boulevard in emotional ceremony

Calling it a bittersweet moment, Botham Jean’s family on Saturday unveiled a new street sign bearing his name south of downtown Dallas in an emotional ceremony commemorating the man killed by an off-duty police officer in September 2018.

The newly dubbed Botham Jean Boulevard encompasses about four miles of Lamar Street, where Botham, a 26-year-old accountant, lived and was killed when Officer Amber Guyger shot him after mistaking his apartment for her own. Nearby, the road runs in front of police headquarters.

The Jean family yanked off a black cloth covering the new sign about 1:15 p.m. and immediately embraced one another as cheers erupted from the audience. The moment followed an emotional hourlong ceremony.

“We want everyone to remember Botham, we want everyone to forever say his name, but for this sign to be up here it means he’s not,“ Allisa Findley, Botham’s sister, said tearfully in front of the crowd of around 200.

“I thought I was going to be strong because this is a celebration, but I miss my brother,” she said between sobs. “I want him back.”

The City Council had unanimously approved renaming the street in Botham’s honor about two months ago. His mother, Allison Jean, said earlier this week that she was happy “every single Dallas police officer” now has to say her son’s name when referencing the road.

Mayor Eric Johnson said changing the name of a street is more complicated than it might seem. But, he said, the city is “honoring someone who is just as worthy — and, in my opinion, more worthy — than many of the names that grace many of the thoroughfares throughout the city.”

“My attitude is, why not name a street after someone who embodies the very spirit of what this city is supposed to be about?” the mayor said.

Johnson, who during the ceremony consoled the Jeans at especially emotional moments, addressed the family directly to thank them for their grace.

“We know this is difficult, but the city of Dallas mourns with you, we honor your son’s legacy, and hopefully this is just a small, small demonstration of how we feel about the contributions that your son made in the very short period of time that we had him here,” the mayor said.

The Jean family, along with some in the crowd, sported red — Botham’s favorite color. People wiped away tears, and sniffles could be heard as family and friends of Botham, as well as elected officials, gave remarks. Three uniformed Dallas police officers were in attendance.

Representatives from Arkansas’ Harding University, Botham’s alma mater and the school where his younger brother, Brandt, is currently enrolled, also spoke of his legacy. When the university’s spiritual a cappella group performed songs Botham had sung as a member of the club, some in the Jean family hung their heads sadly.

Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump said people need to fight to remember Botham every day — not just “when the cameras are out” but when making policy to show that his life, and Black lives, matter.

“Dallas, Texas, we can make a more just America where Botham Jean should have been allowed to live and continue to impact the world,” Crump said, to roaring applause and chants of “Do more to be like Bo.”

The last time people at the event had assembled was at Botham Jean’s funeral, Crump noted before turning to Allison Jean.

“Nobody, whether Black, white, brown, rich, poor — nobody has ever had a negative word to say about your son Botham, Miss Allison,” Crump said to Botham’s mother. “Not one. Do you all know how incredibly unique that is?”

Allen Chastanet, the prime minister of St. Lucia, the Caribbean island where Botham had grown up and planned to one day return and run for office, spoke virtually, calling for “our systems to be equitable and just.”

The stage, as well as many of the chairs at the socially distanced event, featured the island nation’s light blue flag.

Allison Jean said after the ceremony that she wanted people to remember her son for being Christlike and that he lived his life always thinking of reaching out to people.

“The theme cut across everyone who spoke,” she said. “How Botham lived — he was affable, he was a caring individual, he loved people. He had this quest to make this world a better place.”

Allisa Findley read words she said her brother had spoken, testifying to his strong faith and passion for social justice in the world.

“We are not alone as a community of believers, and I am comforted when I know I am not the only one doing something,” she read to the crowd. “This is Botham’s words.”