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Screengrab via Google Maps Remix by April Siese

Grassroots activists force Google Maps to change street name to Harambe Dr.

It's driven me before and it seems to have a vague Harambe mass appeal.

 

April Siese

Internet Culture

Posted on Jul 24, 2016   Updated on May 26, 2021, 9:59 am CDT

261 miles from the Cincinnati Zoo sits the lakeside town of Willoughby, Ohio—aka the Courtesy City. Willoughby certainly bolstered that nickname thanks to a grassroots effort to slyly rename one of its streets Harambe Dr.

Chris Gallagher and a team of Harambe advocates took to Google Maps for some guerrilla activism, prompting the company to change the Willoughby road’s name on Friday. It’s been two days and unsuspecting citizens are still driving down Harambe.

This moving tribute to the slain gorilla, who was killed at the Cincinnati Zoo following a child entering its enclosure, has seen support from Harambe activists of all stripes. Dicks out for Harambe, which held an evocative demonstration last weekend in front of the White House, was quick to voice its approval.

Those looking to take their tribute IRL have been clamoring for a slogan to show the city of Willoughby when the time comes to take their plan offline and make it official. After all, Dicks out for Harambe would be nothing without its “dicks out” catchphrase. What could Harambe Dr. activists use to broaden awareness for their cause?

Hot damn, that’s Harambe’s jam. The next Willoughby city council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 2 at 8am local time. Here’s hoping its agenda includes a moving, musical interlude.

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*First Published: Jul 24, 2016, 10:52 am CDT