NEW YORK — Family, friends and dignitaries gathered in downtown Brooklyn on Saturday for the unveiling of a street name in honor of late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson.

“This is going to be a constant reminder — every time somebody walks by this street — of the great work my husband did for the borough of Brooklyn,” said Lu-Shawn Thompson, widow of Ken Thompson.

The event kicked off with a ceremony on Jay Street, between Willoughby and Johnson. Several elected officials were on hand, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, who presented the family with an official proclamation.

“This day, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in the city of New York, I hereby do proclaim as Kenneth Thompson Day,” the mayor said.

Thompson died at age 50 in 2016 after a battle with cancer. He was the first African American to serve as Brooklyn’s chief prosecutor, ousting longtime incumbent Charles Hynes in a primary.

The late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson.

Current Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, who worked as Thompson's chief assistant, says it’s an honor to carry the mantle of his legacy.

“What we were doing in Brooklyn in terms of safety and fairness was just part of something that would just grow nationally,” Gonzalez said, “and he is the forefather of this progressive justice movement.”

Affectionately known as the “People’s Prosecutor,” one of the highlights of Thompson’s career was exonerating several people that were wrongfully convicted.

“I was able to start my life over,” said Jonathan Fleming, who was exonerated by Thompson. “He motivates me to help other people because there’s a lot of innocent men in prison that are just like myself.”

Thompson’s two children said this honor was something they will never forget.

“He was a hard worker, he would always come home late, when I wanted to play with him or do something he always made time to do it,” said Kenny Thompson, son of Ken Thompson.

“I’m so grateful to be here today, to hear all these powerful speeches and words about my father, and his legacy and his memory,” added Kennedy Thompson, daughter of Ken Thompson.

For Lu-Shawn, the street co-naming was much bigger than this moment:

“It means a lot. That’s my son’s name, that’s my daughter’s father,” Lu-Shawn said. “It means a lot that their dad’s legacy will live on even after we’re all gone.”

Thompson’s name will live on the street directly in front of the building he worked in, which stretches between the Brooklyn DA’s office and the Brooklyn Supreme Court:

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