Two opposing groups plan to rally at
Downtown parks in Memphis Saturday morning, as the public
debate to rename Confederate, Davis and Forrest parks
continues to smolder.
Memphis could be thrust into the national spotlight with
civil rights activist Al Sharpton scheduled to appear at the
10 a.m. "Rally for Dignity" in Forrest Park, sponsored by
Rainbow PUSH Coalition of Memphis.
In response, a Southern
Heritage Vigil is scheduled at Jefferson Davis Park, sponsored
by the conservative radio show Political Cesspool and
organized by its Bartlett host, James Edwards.
Both groups pulled public assembly permits and hundreds are
expected to attend.
Scores of extra Memphis police officers and Shelby County
sheriff's deputies will work to keep peace.
Top brass were meeting to coordinate security Thursday.
Edwards -- and callers to his show -- have been critical of
Sharpton weighing in on the issue.
"We live here. Al Sharpton doesn't. These are our
parks."
Edwards said he organized the vigil after listeners to his
radio show on AM 1380 WLRM called in and e-mailed him about
the Forrest Park rally.
"Instead of having people running amok, we're having them
coming to an organized place so there won't be a confrontation
at Forrest Park," Edwards said.
Rev. L. LaSimba Gray Jr., president of the Rainbow PUSH
Coalition in Memphis, is organizing the Forrest Park event.
He'll have a petition to sign for the Dixie parks' renaming
and will be registering voters.
"We're looking forward to a peaceful demonstration and
rally," said Gray, adding that he hopes the same for the
Southern Heritage Vigil.
"I wish them well, and hope they are safe and free of
incident."
--Aimee Edmondson: 529-2773
Please don't come
Two groups are urging their members to stay away from
Downtown:
Citizens to Save Our Parks, which organized to preserve the
parks and the names.
Sons of Confederate Veterans, which is urging its members
to "disregard this outside agitator."
"We will not dignify his inflammatory meeting with our
presence," said spokesman Lee
Millar.
