Bicyclists rally to change name of Lake Calhoun

Lake Calhoun
Lake Calhoun
Riham Feshir | MPR News

Twin Cities bicyclists converged on Minneapolis' Lake Calhoun Saturday to show their support for a campaign to rename the lake.

The lake is named for the seventh U.S. vice president, John C. Calhoun, who supported slavery.

Dozens of bicyclists took part in the effort.

"In 2015, we can name a lake something else than Lake Calhoun," said Junauda Petrus of the Minnesota Black Riders Association.

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Petrus, who helped organize the ride, added, "There's tons of names that represent the Minnesota soul of love and power and truth than the name Calhoun."

Following the mass shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, a petition to rename the lake gained popularity at Change.org.

More than 4,000 people have signed the petition.

Correction (July 6, 2015): An earlier version of this story misspelled Junauda Petrus' name on second reference. The story has been updated.