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TN Politics: No Precedent for National Protests, or Presidential Response to Them

Memphis Protesters on June 2, 2020.
Memphis Protesters on June 2, 2020.
Memphis Protesters on June 2, 2020.
Memphis Protesters on June 2, 2020.

Political analyst discusses the week of May 31-June 6, 2020.

From the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, to the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., to the Rodney King beating, American presidents have frequently addressed pivotal events in the civil rights movement with calming if not entirely conciliatory words. 

President Donald Trump has once again put his unique, authoritarian stamp on the office, threatening this week to call in the U.S. armed forces to "dominate" protesters, which even some Republicans and military leaders believe could violate the Constitution.  Political analyst Otis Sanford says Trump's response, compared to his predecessors is like "night and day."

Locally, Sanford believes Memphis leaders are right to sit down with protest leaders and discuss how to move forward. 

Copyright 2020 WKNO

A native "Florida Man," Christopher started in this business as a copy clerk at the renowned St. Petersburg Times before persuading editors to let him write. He moved to Memphis in 2001 to cover arts and entertainment at the Commercial Appeal. Since then, he has contributed to nearly every publication in Shelby County, writing features on everything from the Civil War to Civil Rights. Also, Elvis... a lot of Elvis.