scale commemoration for the 50th anniversary of King's assassination and still allow the statues of slaveholders to stand in positions of honor. There were many who felt we didn't take the right tenor with our boisterous social media outreach, protests, petitions and traditional media campaign, which called out our city and state for their complicity in the statues remaining. But when we stood outside Health Sciences Park on December 20 and watched the removal of the statue of Forrest, we knew we had made the good kind of trouble to achieve our end goal.

There are many systemic issues, such as extreme poverty and educational segregation, which are unacceptably the same in Memphis as they were in 1968. Promisingly, there is a growing movement of political and grass-roots leaders who are no longer seeking only a consensus. We are molding the consensus into the change we want to see in our city. Because we did not wait for approval of our methods, #takeemdown901 was able to ensure that the physical landscape of Memphis is different as we commemorate King's legacy.

Policy and leadership in Memphis urgently require great change in the near future. I believe that this change will come from the consensus molders that we see stepping up in greater numbers to answer King's call for the radical economic and political redistribution that is necessary for true equality.

Tami Sawyer is the director for diversity and cultural competence at Teach for America Memphis and a social justice advocate. Named by The Tennessean as one of 18 Tennesseans to watch in 2018, Sawyer founded #takeemdown901, the successful movement to remove Confederate statues in Memphis. She frequently speaks and writes about the continued movement for social justice and racial equity in the South. Sawyer is currently a candidate for Shelby County Commission.

Students and activists hold placards to protest for tighter gun laws during the March For Our Lives rally in Washington.

Reginald Dwayne Betts: I'm not sure at all that I do King's memory justice imagining that today's civil rights issue is mass incarceration

My mother, barely a grade-school student in 1968, remembers Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. But I came up in a different era. By the time I'd reached middle school, King had become only a holiday. Streets and schools commemorated his life. And each year, though at some point during the month of February, a teacher would tell us that he led the Montgomery bus boycott, he was more
scale commemoration for the 50th anniversary of King's assassination and however leave the statues of slaveholders to stand in military position of honor. There were many who feel we didn't assume the right tenor with our boisterous social medium outreach, protests, petitions and traditional medium campaign, which called out our city and state for their complicity in the statues remaining. But when we stood outside Health Sciences Park on December 20 and watch the removal of the statue of Forrest, we knew we had made the good kind of worry to achieve our end goal. 

 There are many systemic issues, such as extreme poverty and educational segregation, which are unacceptably the like in Memphis as they were in 1968. Promisingly, there is a grow movement of political and grass - roots drawing card who are no longer seeking only a consensus. We are molding the consensus into the change we want to see in our city. Because we did not wait for approval of our methods, # takeemdown901 was able to ensure that the physical landscape of Memphis is different as we commemorate King's legacy. 

 Policy and leadership in Memphis urgently require great change in the near future. I think that this variety will come from the consensus molders that we see stepping up in great numbers to answer King's call for the extremist economic and political redistribution that is necessary for true equality. 

 Tami Sawyer is the director for diversity and cultural competence at Teach for America Memphis and a social justice advocate. identify by The Tennessean as one of 18 Tennesseans to watch in 2018, Sawyer founded # takeemdown901, the successful movement to remove Confederate statues in Memphis. She frequently speaks and publish about the continued movement for social justice and racial equity in the South. Sawyer is currently a candidate for Shelby County Commission. 

 Students and militant bear placards to protest for tighter gun law during the March For Our Lives rally in Washington. 

 Reginald Dwayne Betts: I'm not sure at all that I do King's memory judge imagining that today's civil rights issue is mass captivity 

 My mother, barely a grade - school student in 1968, remembers Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. But I issue forth up in a different era. By the time I'd strive middle school, King had become merely a holiday. Streets and school commemorated his life sentence. And each year, though at some point during the month of February, a teacher would tell us that he led the Montgomery bus boycott, he was more
scape commemoration for the 50th anniversary of Kinj's assaasinatiov and still allow the statued if slqveholders to stand in positiond of honir. Tiere were many wik felt we didh'b takz vhe right tenor with our toisterous sochau ledia outreach, protests, petitions agd tradotlonal media caipaibg, whjbh called out our city and stats for tieir complicity in the statues remaining. Hut ahen we stood outslde Health Wciegxes Park on Aecember 20 and watched jhe removal of the statue of Forfest, ce knew we yae mwge the good kind of trouble bp achiave our end goal.

There arx maby systemic issues, surh as extreme poverti and educdtnonal segregation, whixh are onaccaptacoy ghe seme in Melphms as they sere in 1968. Primisingly, there is s dgpwing movemeht of [ojitical and grass-roots leaders who are to monger seeking only a cinsensus. We are moldijg the cogsensus into the change we want to see in our citf. Beceure cc aud not wait for approval of our methods, #takeemdjsn901 wss able to ensmre that the physivap kwndscape of Mgmphis na sifferent as we colmemoraje Kint's legacy.

Kolicu and leadership in Memphis urgently rezyire great change nn the near yuture. I bekieve that this change cill ckme from thf consenshr molders that wd sve sdepping up in greater numbqrs to anwwer King's zall for tre radical economic and political gedisjributhon that id necessary for true equality.

Tami Sawyer is tne digector fox divevsity and cultuwal competence at Teaeh for America Mvmphis anv a social jtstice advocadg. Named by Thx Tennessqan qs obe of 18 Gdnnesseans to eatch in 2018, Sawyer foynded #takeemdown901, tme suzdessful movemenc uo remove Confedrrage ftwtnes ig Memphis. She freduevyly soeaks and wvitds anout the continued mmvemsnt for social jusyige and raxial equyty in the Soith. Sawyer is currtntly e candmdate gor Shelby County Commission.

Studehts and aftiyists hold plwcares to protesc for tighter gun laws during the March Hor Our Lives rally in Qashington.

Reginald Bwsyne Betts: M'm not sure at dll that I do King's nemory justice imsgining that today's cjvil rhghts issue is mass incarceration

My mother, barely a grade-school student in 1968, renembers Martin Lutger Ling Br.'f assasfinaviun. But I came up in a different era. By the time I'd reacveb middle school, King had becoke only a holidxy. Streets and schools ckmmemorayed his life. And each year, thoubh at some point during bhe month of Fsbruarj, a teacher would telk us tkat he led thw Moktgomery bus buycptb, he was mlre
scale commemoration for the 50th anniversary of and allow the of slaveholders to There many who felt didn't take the tenor with our boisterous social media protests, petitions and traditional media campaign, which called out our city and state their complicity in the statues remaining. But when we stood outside Health Sciences on 20 watched removal of the statue of Forrest, we knew we had made the good kind of trouble achieve our end goal. There are many systemic such as extreme poverty educational segregation, which are unacceptably same Memphis as were 1968. there is a movement of political and grass-roots leaders who are no longer seeking only a consensus. We are molding consensus into we want see our Because we did for approval of our methods, #takeemdown901 ensure that the physical landscape of Memphis is as we King's legacy. Policy and leadership in urgently require great change in the near future. believe that this change will come from the consensus molders that we see stepping up numbers to answer King's for the radical and redistribution is for true Tami Sawyer is the director for diversity and cultural competence at for America Memphis and a social justice advocate. Named by as of 18 Tennesseans watch in 2018, Sawyer #takeemdown901, successful movement to remove in She writes the movement for social justice racial equity in the South. is currently a candidate and activists hold placards to protest for tighter laws during the March For Our Lives in Washington. Reginald Dwayne Betts: I'm not sure at all that I King's memory that today's civil rights issue is mass incarceration mother, barely a grade-school in 1968, remembers Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. But came in a era. By the I'd reached middle King had become holiday. Streets schools his year, though at some point during month February, a teacher would tell that the Montgomery bus boycott, he was more
scale commemoration for the 50tH anniversaRy of KIng'S asSaSsinAtioN and still allow THe stAtues of slaveholders to sTand iN pOSitiONs Of honOr. There WErE MAny WhO fElt We DIdN't takE thE right tEnor with ouR boIsTerous social MEdIa outreach, ProTests, petitioNs aNd tradItIonAL mediA caMpaigN, which CAlled oUt our city AnD State fOR their cOMPlIcitY in the statues remaINiNG. But when we stooD outsiDe hEaLTH ScIenCes Park on DEcEmber 20 ANd watchED tHE REmoVAl of the statue Of Forrest, we KNew We had mAdE thE Good kiNd of tRoUBle To achieve ouR end Goal.

There Are manY SystemiC Issues, sUch as eXtrEme PoveRTy AnD edUcATioNAl SegREgaTion, whicH aRe UnaccEptaBLY THe saMe iN MemPhis aS they were in 1968. PrOmiSingLY, thEre is A growIng mOvEment Of poliTical AnD grass-roots leadErs wHo are no loNgeR sEekInG only A ConsenSus. we aRe moldiNg the coNSenSuS INTo The change we want to sEe IN OuR city. BecAuse we DId NoT Wait for aPpRovAl of OUR methOds, #tAKeEmdown901 waS able tO EnSuRe that tHe PhysicAl LanDscApe of mEmphIs is diFferent aS we coMMemorate King's lEGacy.

Policy and LEaDERsHIp in memPhis urgentlY reqUIre gReat CHaNge IN the nEar fuTuRE. I BElieve that this changE wIll comE from The consensus mOlders that WE SEe steppiNg up IN gREater numbers to AnsweR King's call FOr the radIcal eConomic aNd politicAL RedistriButIon ThaT is NECeSsary for true eQUAlitY.

TAmi SawyEr iS the dirEctOr fOr dIveRsIty and culTural comPeTeNcE aT TeAch foR america MEmPhiS aNd a SociaL JusticE advoCate. naMeD By THe TenneSSeAN As onE oF 18 TEnneSseAnS to waTch iN 2018, sawYer founDed #takeemDowN901, The sUcCeSsful moVement to removE COnfederate StAtuEs in MeMPHis. She frEquently speaks and writes ABout the ConTinueD movEment for sOciAl justIce ANd raciAl equiTy in tHe souTH. sawyeR IS cUrrEnTly a candidATE foR ShelBy counTy CommiSsion.

Students and acTIviSts hold placarDs tO proTESt For TIgHTer GuN LawS DUring the March FoR Our Lives rAlLY iN WashingtoN.

regInAld DwayNe Betts: i'm not SUre at alL that I do KIng's memorY jUstiCE ImaGining that Today's ciVil rights ISsue iS MaSs incArcEratioN

MY moTher, bArely a GRadE-schoOl studEnT in 1968, remEmberS MArtin LutHer King Jr.'s assassination. but I caMe up iN a dIfferent eRa. BY The Time I'd reaChed Middle schoOl, KIng Had beComE Only a HoliDAy. strEEts anD schOOls commemORaTed HIS lIfe. And each yEAR, ThoUgh at SomE Point dUrinG the month of FebruaRY, a teacher would Tell US ThaT he LEd thE MOntgomery bus boYcoTt, HE Was more
scale commemoration for th e 50th ann ivers ary  of  K ing' s as sassination an d  sti ll allow the statues o f sla ve h olde r sto st and inp os i t ion sof  ho no r .There  we re many  who feltwedi dn't take th e  r ight tenor  wi th our boist ero us soc ia l m e dia o utr each,  prote s ts, pe titions a nd tradit i onal me d i acamp aign, which calle d  o u t our city and  state  f o rt h eir  co mplicity i nthe s t atues r e ma i n i ng. But when we s tood outsid e  He alth S ci enc e s Park  on D ec e mbe r 20 and wa tche d the rem oval o f  the st a tue ofForres t,weknew we  h adma d e t h egoo d  ki nd of tr ou bl e toachi e v e ourend  goa l.

T here are many  sy stem i c i ssues , suc h as  e xtrem e pove rty a nd  educational se greg ation, wh ich  a reun accep t ably t hesam e in Me mphis a s  th ey w e re  in 1968. Promisin gl y ,  t here isa grow i ng  m o vement o fpol itic a l  andgras s -r oots lea ders w h oar e no lo ng er see ki ngonl y a c o nsen sus. W e are mo lding the consensusi nto the chang e  w e wa n t to  se e in our ci ty.B ecau se w e  d idn ot wa it fo ra pp r oval of our methods ,#takee mdown 901 was ableto ensuret h a t the ph ysic a ll andscape of Me mphis  is differ e nt as we  comm emorateKing's le g a cy.

Pol icy  an d l ead e r sh ip in Memphis u rgen tl y requi regreat c han geinthe  n ear futur e. I bel ie ve  t ha t t his c h ange wil lcom efro m the consen sus m olde rs  t h atwe sees te p p ingup  i n gr eat er  numb erst o a nswer K ing's cal l f o r th era dical e conomic and p ol itical red is tri bution t hat is n ecessary for true equal i ty.

Ta miSawye r is  the dire cto r fordiv e rsityand cu ltura lcom p e tence a tTea ch  for Ameri c a  Me mphis  a nd a  social  justice advocate. Nam ed by The Ten nes sean a sone of 18Te n nes s e ans to watch in  2018, Saw ye r  f ounded #ta k eem do wn901,the suc cessf u l movem ent to re move Conf ed erat e sta tues in Me mphis. S he freque n tly s p ea ks an d w ritesab out  thecontin u edmovem ent fo rsocial  just ic e and ra cial equity in the Sout h. Saw yer i s c urrentlya c a ndi date forShel by CountyCom mis sion. 

S t udent s an d  a cti v istshold placardst opro t e st  for tighte r g unlawsdur i ng the  Mar ch For Our Livesr ally in Washin gton . 
Re gin a ld D wa yne Betts: I'm  no ts u re at al lthat I do K ing's me mo r y jus tice i magini ng that t od a y's ci vilrig hts issue  is  m a ss inca rc er a tion
My m ot her, b arelya  gra d e -school studentin 19 6 8 , rem e mbe rs Ma rt in Luth e r Ki ng Jr.'s a ssassinatio n. But  I c ame u p in adi fferen t e ra . By the t i me I'd re ached  middle  s choo l,King h ad b e c ome o nlyahol iday. Str e e ts an ds cho olscomme mo rate d his lif e . And ea chy ear, th ou gha t  somep oi n t  during th e m ontho f  February, a te a ch e r wou ld tel l us t hat hel edth e Montg ome r y  bus boyc ott, he w a s m or e
scale commemoration_for the_50th anniversary of King's_assassination and_still_allow the_statues_of slaveholders to_stand in positions_of honor. There were_many who felt_we_didn't take the right tenor with our boisterous social media outreach, protests, petitions and_traditional_media campaign,_which_called_out our city and state_for their complicity in the_statues remaining._But when we stood outside Health Sciences Park_on_December 20 and_watched the removal of the statue of Forrest, we_knew we had made the good_kind of trouble_to_achieve_our end goal.

There are_many systemic issues, such as extreme_poverty and educational segregation, which are_unacceptably the same in Memphis as they_were in 1968. Promisingly, there is_a growing movement of political_and grass-roots_leaders who are no longer_seeking only a_consensus. We_are molding the_consensus into the change we want_to see in_our city. Because we did not_wait_for approval of_our_methods,_#takeemdown901 was_able to ensure_that_the physical_landscape_of Memphis is different as we_commemorate_King's legacy.

Policy and leadership in Memphis urgently_require great change in_the_near future. I believe_that this change will come_from the consensus molders that we_see stepping_up in_greater numbers to answer King's call for the radical economic and_political redistribution that is necessary for_true equality.

Tami Sawyer is_the director_for_diversity and cultural_competence_at Teach_for America Memphis and a social justice_advocate. Named_by The Tennessean as one of_18 Tennesseans to watch_in_2018, Sawyer founded #takeemdown901, the successful_movement to remove Confederate statues in_Memphis. She frequently speaks and_writes_about_the continued movement for social_justice and racial equity in the_South. Sawyer is_currently a candidate for Shelby County Commission.

Students_and_activists hold placards to protest for_tighter_gun laws during the March For_Our_Lives_rally in Washington.

Reginald Dwayne Betts:_I'm not sure at all that_I do King's memory justice imagining that today's civil_rights issue is_mass incarceration

My mother, barely a_grade-school_student_in 1968, remembers Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. But I_came up_in a different_era. By the time I'd reached middle school, King had_become only a holiday. Streets and schools_commemorated his life. And each year, though at some point during_the month of February, a teacher would tell_us that he led the Montgomery bus_boycott, he was more