Anti-crime meeting to honor Dr. Martin Luther King | Crime

Words of non-violence Dr. King spoke in Memphis nearly 50 years ago, and it will ring out again in Memphis when hundreds show up for a town hall meeting on crime.

The national holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday is January 21, but his actual birthdate is January 15.

Tuesday a local civil rights groups will honor Dr. King's birthday with a town hall meeting on crime.

The event is being sponsored by Operation Push and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by Dr. King.

"There are people who are really, really, concerned about crime and want to get involved. They just need leadership provided, (and) the church can provide that leadership," said Rev. Dwight Montgomery, who is the local president of SCLC.  

Montgomery said their upcoming town hall meeting is aimed at stopping crime by bringing the faith community together with people who are fed up with violence.

"We want to hear from the community as to what they believe needs to be done, what we can do to assist law enforcement and work with law enforcement and businesses to minimize crime," he said.

Montgomery feels a town hall meeting can help identify crime problems and solutions.

"Provide mentors and tutors that would cut down on truancy. Cutting down on truancy cuts down on crime," he said.

Montgomery said Mayor A C Wharton and Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong will speak at the meeting.

Topics include encouraging people to work to get guns off the streets, forming more neighborhood watch groups, removing gang graffiti and do anything else that will make Memphis a  safer city.  

Organizers said the public is invited to the event.

Event Details:

• Tuesday January 15 at 6:30 p.m. - at Mt. Moriah East Baptist Church 1248 Haynes Road.