Latest news with #GinaSweat
The Independent
21-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Fire at historic Black church in Memphis was intentionally set, investigators say
A fire that severely damaged a historic Black church that served as the headquarters for a 1968 sanitation workers' strike, which brought the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis, was intentionally set, investigators said Wednesday. The fire at the Clayborn Temple, which was undergoing a yearslong renovation, was set in the interior of the church, the Memphis Fire Department said in a statement. Investigators are searching for a person suspected of being involved with the blaze. Flames engulfed the downtown church in the early hours of April 28. Later that day Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat said the inside of the building was a total loss but there was still hope that some of the facade could be salvaged. The fire department said May 14 that the building had been stabilized and investigators would use specialized equipment to study the fire's cause.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Clayborn Temple fire remains an active investigation
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A massive fire that caused extensive damage to the Clayborn Temple early Monday morning is still under active investigation, according to the Memphis Fire Department. MFD released a statement saying they were called to the fire around 1:30 a.m. and were able to bring the fire under control within about an hour. Between the first and second alarms, they say 22 pieces of equipment were dispatched. The fire department is now working alongside the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives [ATF] to determine what caused the fire. ► Fire destroys Clayborn Temple, historic Memphis church with ties to Civil Rights movement However, they predict the investigation to be complex and time-intensive due to the extent of damage. Drone photos show nearly all of the roof of the 1892 structure is gone, though the stone facade remains standing. Clayborn Temple is on the National Register of Historic Places. Fire Chief Gina Sweat released the following statement, 'I want to commend the bravery and professionalism of our firefighters, who acted swiftly to contain the fire and prevent even greater destruction. Clayborn Temple is more than a building—it is a sacred and historic symbol of our city's legacy. We grieve this profound loss alongside the entire Memphis community. On behalf of the Memphis Fire Department, I extend our deepest sympathies to all who hold Clayborn Temple close to their hearts. We stand with you in sorrow—and with hope for the future.' Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton also released a statement saying the church was not just a building but a sacred space where voices rose in unity during one of the most pivotal moments in the city's history. 'This loss is deeply personal, not just to me, but to our entire community. During the Sanitation Workers' Strike of 1968, it served as a powerful organizing hub for civil rights and labor activists. It was from that very sanctuary, brave men and women demanded dignity, justice, and equality—values that still guide us today. We have lost a vital piece of our cultural and historical fabric—a place that held the stories, struggles, and strength of generations. While we grieve this loss, we must also commit ourselves to honoring Clayborn Temple's legacy. Let us ensure that the spirit of what it stood for continues to inspire us in our work, our advocacy, and our fight for a better Memphis,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
29-04-2025
- General
- New York Post
Memphis church pivotal in Martin Luther King Jr.'s final days suffers devastating fire: ‘Inside is a total loss'
A historic Black church in downtown Memphis that was the organizing point for Martin Luther King Jr.'s final campaign in 1968 caught fire early Monday morning and suffered significant damage. 'The inside is a total loss, but we're still somewhat hopeful that some of the facade will be able to be left standing,' Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat said at a Monday morning news conference. She said the fire was reported at 1:39 a.m. through a commercial alarm service. Local fire and police officers are investigating the cause, along with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is 'way too early' to know anything more, Sweat said. Advertisement 6 A historic Black church in downtown Memphis that was the organizing point for Martin Luther King Jr.'s final campaign caught fire early Monday morning. AP King was drawn to Memphis in 1968 to support some 1,300 predominantly Black sanitation workers who went on strike to protest inhumane treatment. Two workers had been crushed in a garbage compactor in 1964, but the faulty equipment had not been replaced. On Feb. 1, 1968, two more men, Echol Cole, 36, and Robert Walker, 30, were crushed in the compactor. Advertisement The two men were contract workers, so they did not qualify for workmen's compensation and had no life insurance. Workers wanted to unionize and fought for higher pay and safer working conditions. City officials declared the strike illegal and arrested scores of strikers and protesters. 6 'The inside is a total loss, but we're still somewhat hopeful that some of the facade will be able to be left standing,' Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat said at a news conference. FOX 13 Before the fire, the Clayborn Temple was undergoing a $25 million restoration that was slated for completion in 2026. The initiative aims to preserve the architectural and historical integrity of the Romanesque revival church and includes the restoration of a 3,000-pipe grand organ. Advertisement At the same time, the project seeks to help revitalize the local neighborhood with a museum, cultural programming, and community outreach, according to a news release on the renovation. 'This morning we woke up to heartbreaking news: a devastating fire has ravaged one of our city's greatest treasures, Clayborn Temple,' Memphis Mayor Paul Young wrote in a statement posted to social media. 'Clayborn is more than a historic building. 6 Local fire and police officers are investigating the cause, along with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. AP It is sacred ground. It is the beating heart of the civil rights movement, a symbol of struggle, hope, and triumph that belongs not just to Memphis but to the world.' Advertisement Just south of Beale Street, Clayborn Temple was built in 1892 as the Second Presbyterian Church and originally served an all-white congregation. In 1949, the building was sold to an African Methodist Episcopal congregation and renamed Clayborn Temple, according to the release. Memphis sanitation workers started striking in February 1968 after Cole and Walker were killed on the job. The Clayborn Temple hosted nightly meetings, and the campaign's iconic 'I AM A MAN' posters were made in its basement. The temple was also a staging point for marches to City Hall. They included a March 28, 1968, march led by King, a rally that turned violent when police and protesters clashed on the iconic Beale Street, and a 16-year-old was killed. 6 Sadyya Rockett-Miller and her husband, Andre LeMoyne Miller, grieve outside of the historic Clayborn Temple. AP When marchers retreated to the temple, police fired tear gas inside. People broke some of the stained-glass windows to escape. King promised to lead a second, peaceful march in Memphis, but he was killed by a sniper while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4. After King was assassinated and the strike ended with the workers securing a pay raise, the church's influence waned. It fell into disrepair and was vacant for years before the renovation effort that took off in 2017, thanks to a $400,000 grant from the National Park Service. Advertisement 6 Firefighters gather outside the damaged Clayborn Temple after a fire broke out. AP Clayborn Temple was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Anasa Troutman has been leading the restoration effort as executive director of Historic Clayborn Temple. 'To everyone who has loved, supported, and prayed for Historic Clayborn Temple, we are still committed to her restoration,' she wrote in a Monday statement urging supporters to donate money if they are able. Advertisement 6 Martin Luther King Jr. was drawn to Memphis in 1968 to support some 1,300 predominantly Black sanitation workers who went on strike to protest inhumane treatment. AP Jimmie Tucker, one of the architects who has worked on the restoration for years, spent Monday morning working on a plan to try to shore up the exterior walls. 'As a native Memphian, this project is personal,' he said. 'It has so much meaning.' Advertisement Tucker said he had been speaking to some of the people who helped after a similar Memphis fire at First United Methodist Church in 2006. He said that the project gives him hope because they were able to rebuild. He was also encouraged that the mayor pledged to support the project. Young said in a social media statement that the city will 'help ensure this sacred place rises again.'
Reuters
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Memphis church key to Martin Luther King's last campaign destroyed by fire
April 28 (Reuters) - A historic Black church in Memphis, Tennessee, that was an organizing point for Martin Luther King's last civil rights campaign caught fire early on Monday morning and was badly damaged. The inside of the Clayborn Temple was gutted by flames, leaving only exterior walls standing, Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat told a press conference. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Police were investigating the cause of the blaze reported at 1:39 a.m., she said. A monument with the words "I Am A Man" remained standing outside the church, marking its role as the headquarters from which Black sanitation workers marched in a 1968 strike to protest inhumane working conditions. Many carried placards bearing that slogan. King traveled to Memphis that year to lead a march and was assassinated the day before on April 4, 1968. "Clayborn is more than a historic building. It is sacred ground. It is the beating heart of the civil rights movement, a symbol of struggle, hope, and triumph that belongs not just to Memphis but to the world," Memphis Mayor Paul Young wrote on social media. At the time of the blaze the church was undergoing a $14 million restoration that included creation of a museum and a performance space, according to the Clayborn Temple website. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Romanesque Revival church was built in 1892 and originally served an all-white congregation. It was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1949 and renamed Clayborn Temple after their bishop.
