MTA Pays Tribute to Aretha Franklin With ‘Respect’ Signs at NYC Subway Stations Named Franklin
Since the passing of the great Aretha Franklin on August 16, 2018, some very creative New Yorkers have been erecting wonderful ad-hoc memorials to the legendary singer at subway stations around the city that carry her last name. Such examples have been found in Manhattan (Franklin Street – IRT) and Brooklyn (Franklin Avenue/Botanic Garden). According to the New York Post on August 17, 2018, the MTA had “no immediate plans to take down the memorials to Franklin”. In fact, as of September 5th, the MTA has added official tributes of their own. According to MTA spokesman Jon Weinstein, the agency wanted to recognize the community’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T for such an amazingly talented women.
“We wanted to memorialize the outpouring of love from the community for Aretha Franklin and in consultation with local leaders we agreed that ‘respect’ was a beautiful tribute and worthy message…
The agency has added “RESPECT” stickers at two of its Franklin subway stops to memorialize the dead Queen of Soul https://t.co/EORgmb5bF7
— New York Post (@nypost) September 5, 2018
A mystery Aretha Franklin fan has created a tribute at the Franklin St. Subway station in TriBeCa @NBCNewYork #RIPAretha pic.twitter.com/7uIb7LlpsA
— Adam Kuperstein (@Adam4NY) August 16, 2018
Brooklyn County of Kings paying R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the #QueenofSoul Aretha Franklin with temporary street art @BPEricAdams @RobertCornegyJr @cmlauriecumbo @TishJames @RepJeffries @RepYvetteClarke @News12BK @NY1 @bklyner @TIDAL @Daydog @LondellMcMillan @Essence @TheRoot @BKStreetArt pic.twitter.com/asj8v13mGM
— Chris Wallace Way BK (@CWWayBK) August 16, 2018
The #RESPECT is real. Thanks to the NYC @MTA @jonweinstein for working with #heterodoxxinc on this Art. Thanks for the coverage @NY1 @AlexCiccarone #RIPArethaFranklin #QueenofSoul @RobertCornegyJr @BPEricAdams @cmlauriecumbo @RepJeffries @RepYvetteClarke @TishJames @waynekeithjr pic.twitter.com/WkR3MpgJHk
— Chris Wallace Way BK (@CWWayBK) August 31, 2018
Rest In Peace, Aretha. pic.twitter.com/7KMyOthY7L
— Amanda Kwan (@AmandaKwan) August 31, 2018
The stencil people work fast pic.twitter.com/O721W9pn2K
— Amanda Mull (@amandamull) August 16, 2018
Someone on the bus was playing Aretha out of a speaker and instead of getting annoyed, everyone nodded and hummed along, and the guy next to me teared up.
— Madeleine Davies (@madeleine_rae) August 16, 2018
via New York Post, Gothamist