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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
A polarizing figure is firing back at those who don't want to hear him speak. Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan returned to Nashville tonight and talked openly about not being able to speak at Tennessee State University the last time he was here. Farrakhan was supposed to be at TSU last April, but the speech was moved to a nearby church. 2 student groups asked him to come back and the religious leader made it clear how he felt about his last visit and the unexpected challenges with this one.
"And even those who tried to make it very difficult," says Farrakhan. "We thank you too."
Farrakhan arrived at TSU with a message for those who don't want him here.
"I'm sure after you hear the message you'll kind of be in a spirit of repentance."
Days before his speech tonight, someone took off with the chairs and the podium he was supposed to be using. That followed a rather controversial venue change during his last attempt to speak at the University.
"They said he could come, they said he couldn't, they said he could, then they said he couldn't, so it was back and forth until finally he was not able to come," says Nation of Islam Student Association's Samuel X.
Officially, the University said a scheduling conflict prevented the speaking engagement. Farrakhan himself said the University purposefully kept him from speaking. The religious leader has been a polarizing figure for decades, making a number of comments some view as anti-Semetic.
"If you hear him, I think you'll walk away with a different opinion," says Farrakhan supporter Carr Johnson.
Fans like Johnson say critics need to listen closer to a man who speaks his mind, even if some may not want to hear it. Another challenge is organizers say initially they were told there would be no costs in holding this event, but were later told that's not the case. Samuel X, the student we spoke with, took out thousands of dollars to take care of clean up costs and security. That's one reason why they were passing the hat tonight to help.
"And even those who tried to make it very difficult," says Farrakhan. "We thank you too."
Farrakhan arrived at TSU with a message for those who don't want him here.
"I'm sure after you hear the message you'll kind of be in a spirit of repentance."
Days before his speech tonight, someone took off with the chairs and the podium he was supposed to be using. That followed a rather controversial venue change during his last attempt to speak at the University.
"They said he could come, they said he couldn't, they said he could, then they said he couldn't, so it was back and forth until finally he was not able to come," says Nation of Islam Student Association's Samuel X.
Officially, the University said a scheduling conflict prevented the speaking engagement. Farrakhan himself said the University purposefully kept him from speaking. The religious leader has been a polarizing figure for decades, making a number of comments some view as anti-Semetic.
"If you hear him, I think you'll walk away with a different opinion," says Farrakhan supporter Carr Johnson.
Fans like Johnson say critics need to listen closer to a man who speaks his mind, even if some may not want to hear it. Another challenge is organizers say initially they were told there would be no costs in holding this event, but were later told that's not the case. Samuel X, the student we spoke with, took out thousands of dollars to take care of clean up costs and security. That's one reason why they were passing the hat tonight to help.
Friday, November 2 2012, 11:23 PM CDT
Tennessee News
Work beginning on Civil War park in Knoxville
May 18, 2013 13:12 GMT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Civil War landmark in East Tennessee will soon become a low-impact park that allows public access and preserves the area's historical integrity.
High Ground Park is being created at the site of Fort Higley in south Knoxville, which was manned by Union soldiers during the Siege of Knoxville in 1863.
The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/11Vb6XJ) reports the park is scheduled to open on Nov. 27, which is the 150th anniversary of the construction of Fort Higley.
Bob Young, who has been involved in the effort to preserve the site, says it is "a treasure."
Information from: Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com
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