A petition to rename Rochester’s airport after Frederick Douglass is gaining momentum. Monroe County’s executive is now on board with the idea. The man behind the petition says he’s encouraged.

What You Need To Know


  • Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is on board with renaming the Greater Rochester International Airport to honor Frederick Douglass

  • A change.org petition started by Richard Glaser has already garnered over 2,800 signatures in just two days

  • Frederick Douglass moved to Rochester in the 1840s, where he started an abolitionist newspaper 

The petition is the definition of viral. Richard Glaser of Rochester started floating the idea two years ago. His change.org petition requests that the Greater Rochester International Airport change its name to honor abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

By Tuesday afternoon, just two days since its creation, the petition already had close to 2,800 signatures.

“This initiative to rename the airport, it just brings warmth to my heart,” said Glaser, a history major who’s involved in social justice issues. “And it demonstrates all the amazing things about Rochester, the outpouring support, because it is about bringing community together.”

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery. He moved to Rochester in the 1840s, where he started the abolitionist newspaper “The North Star.”

“I’ve been very aware of that we live in the town where Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass spent much of their adult life, and in fact, they're buried here,” said Glaser.

While many U.S. airports are named after popular or inspirational figures, Rochester’s is not. Glaser hopes to change that.

“As I explore Frederick Douglass, there's nothing that anyone in the modern era can find objectionable to him,” he said.

In downtown Rochester Tuesday morning, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello pledged to help make the name change happen.

“I appreciate the input and civic engagement from the over 1,000 people who signed that petition and suggested renaming the airport,” said the Democrat Bello. “I am supportive of that idea.”

Bello says the first step toward the name change will be to work with county lawmakers, and the Federal Aviation Administration, to figure out how to make the name change happen. He says the process will also include plenty of public input.

Glaser says the majority of comments on his change.org petition have been positive, perhaps a sign of the times.

“Nothing will make me more joyous than the moment I'm returning on a flight to Rochester,” he said. “And I hear the steward or stewardess get on the PA system and say, ‘Please fasten your seat belt, passengers. We’re arriving at Frederick Douglass International Airport in Rochester, New York.' "