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Memphis Reacts with Sadness, Pledges Perseverance After Clayborn Temple Fire

photo credit: Raymond Chiozza

Shock, sadness, and a promise to persevere dominate reactions from community leaders and organizations Monday on the overnight fire which gutted Clayborn Temple in Downtown Memphis. 

Memphis Mayor Paul Young

Mayor Paul Young via Facebook

This morning, we woke up to heartbreaking news: a devastating fire has ravaged one of our city’s greatest treasures, Clayborn Temple.

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.

Standing in the shadow of that steeple, generations of Memphians found their courage. Today, in the face of this tragedy, we must find ours once again.

We grieve deeply for what has been lost, but we also stand ready to honor Clayborn’s legacy the only way we know how: by coming together to restore, rebuild, and remember.

The spirit of Clayborn Temple cannot be burned away. It lives in every act of justice, every fight for equality, every dream of a better future that takes root in Memphis.

I want to personally thank the brave firefighters who responded so quickly this morning. And I pledge to the people of Memphis: our city will stand with the leaders, funders, and caregivers of Clayborn Temple to help ensure this sacred place rises again.

Clayborn Temple has seen struggle before, and it has always overcome. So will we.

Anasa Troutman

founder and executive director of Historic Clayborn Team; founder and CEO of The Big We

Credit: thebigwe.com

Early this morning, our beloved Historic Clayborn Temple — a sacred landmark in our city and our nation — suffered a devastating loss due to a fire.

Our hearts are heavy with grief. For decades, Clayborn and the iconic I AM A MAN signs born in its basement have stood as an international beacon of resilience, faith, and the work to build beloved communities. It is a living testament of our past sacrifices and our future hope.
Clayborn’s true spirit was never in the walls alone. It lives in us.

Even as we mourn, we must remember: resilience is our birthright, but so is the space to grieve. Our ancestors endured, grieved, rebuilt, and transcended unimaginable losses. We will do the same.

To everyone who has loved, supported, and prayed for Historic Clayborn Temple, we are still committed to her restoration. The spirit of Clayborn is stronger than any fire. We are deeply grateful to the Memphis Fire Department and other authorities for their swift and courageous response.

For now, we ask for your prayers, your support, and your belief in the enduring power of this place. This is not the end, but a call to remember who we are, and to build again with faith, courage, and abundant love. If you can support, please visit Clayborn.org and give if you can.

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

Today, Memphis stands at a poignant crossroads, grappling with two profound events echoing the city’s complex history and enduring spirit.

Steve Mulroy via Facebook

I’m so saddened to hear that a fire ravaged Clayborn Temple, the site of Dr. King’s last address. Despite early reports, I’m hoping that this historic and sacred space can be restored. Without the brave efforts of the Memphis Fire Department, things could have been even worse.

Meanwhile, we start the trial of police officers accused of killing Tyre Nichols. I’m hoping for justice for Tyre and a renewed awareness of the need for policing reforms as we strive toward better realizing Dr. King’s vision.

We meet setbacks in our journey to the mountaintop, but the climb continues.

We Are Somebody

(nonprofit for the working class)

Clayborn Temple was influential in the Civil Rights movement and served as a launch pad for a march for sanitation workers’ rights in Memphis. 

Without Clayborn Temple, We Are Somebody doesn’t exist as we know it. Our mission is rooted at the intersection of civil rights and labor rights, our logo calls back to the famous I Am A Man signs that came out of Clayborn Temple. We Are Somebody stands on the shoulders of the movements that Clayborn Temple birthed. 

While the loss of the physical structure is devastating, the spirit of the civil and labor rights movement can never be burned down. We will continue to uplift the history of our movements, recognize the struggle those who came before us faced, and celebrate the accomplishments of their sacrifice and hard work.

Dr. Russ Wiggington, president

National Civil Rights Museum

Russ Wiggington via LinkedIn

The recent fire that consumed Clayborn Temple is a devastating blow, not only to Memphis but to the nation. This historic church, a nerve center of the Civil Rights Movement, was more than just bricks and stained glass; it was a beating heart of a community that chose unity over division, progress over fear, and community over chaos.

Clayborn Temple stood as a symbol of organized resistance and hope during the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike. When marchers filled its sanctuary, it wasn’t just about better wages; it was about dignity, about declaring that Black lives and labor mattered in a city that often acted indifferent. In the years since, despite cycles of neglect and efforts at preservation, Clayborn Temple remained a powerful reminder that in the face of obstacles, violence, and hatred, collective action and faith can build something stronger.

Its destruction by fire is another somber chapter in a long story of devastated sacred spaces. But if history teaches us anything, it’s this: Clayborn Temple will rise again, because its foundation was never merely physical. It was spiritual. It was communal. And that foundation cannot be burned.

Make no mistake, the spirit of “Community Over Chaos” is stirring. Leaders, activists, stakeholders, and ordinary citizens should be rallying, just as they have for generations. Financial recovery efforts must be coordinated. Preservationists should be examining the remains to save what they can. Plans for rebuilding — not just restoring the past, but reimagining Clayborn Temple for future generations — must be underway.

We rebuild and protect. The protection strategies have now become mission-critical: fire-resistant construction materials, modern surveillance, integrated fire prevention systems, and stronger community engagement must anchor the rebuilding. But just as important will be reaffirming what Clayborn Temple always stood for: justice through unity, faith in action, and an unwavering refusal to yield to adversity.

Memphis has a choice: mourn in isolation or rebuild in solidarity. History — and Clayborn Temple’s own story — points clearly toward the second. Chaos may have been embedded in a fire, but the community will light the way forward.

Clayborn Temple was, and will continue to be, a house not just of gathering, but of movement, resilience, and rebirth. Fire can take down walls, but it cannot destroy the spirit that built them.

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari

Sen. Raumesh Akbari

Sen. Raumesh Akbari via Facebook

“Heartbroken to wake up to the news that Clayborn Temple — sacred ground for the Civil Rights Movement — has burned.

Clayborn was never just wood and stone; it was a beacon where Memphis sanitation workers demanded dignity, where faith carried hope, and where courage took root. To all who fought to restore it, and to all who believed in its future, this loss is devastating. On that historic stage, I was able to speak at the Women’s March in 2017, a surreal experience.

The spirit and living legacy of Clayborn will endure. It must. And from these ashes, we will rise. Memphis always has.

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News News Blog News Feature

Two Guilty on Scamming $773K from City of Memphis

credit: kartik programmer on Unsplash

Two Texas men were found guilty Tuesday of scamming the city of Memphis out of nearly $774,000 in 2022.

A federal jury found Stanley Anyanwu, 41, and Vitalis Anyanwu, 42, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to Interim United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy.

The city fell victim to a business email compromise scam causing a legitimate payment of $773,695.45 to go not to the intended contractor recipient but to a bank account controlled by a sophisticated fraud conspiracy. The city realized what had happened within days but was unable to recover the funds because the conspiracy had already swept the funds away into a large money laundering network.

The FBI investigated and identified Stanley and Vitalis Anyanwu as two members of the conspiracy. During the investigation, the FBI also identified victims of romance scams who had been taken advantage of by the same conspiracy. The defendants’ primary role in the conspiracy was to act as knowing “money mules” for internet-based fraud scams. 

A business email compromise scam is a type of computer intrusion that occurs when an employee of a business or similar entity is fooled into interacting with an email message that appears to be, but is not, legitimate. The email message usually contains either malware or fraudulent misrepresentations. The purpose of the intrusion is usually to access sensitive information or to defraud the victim entity. 

A romance scam is a type of advance fee scam in which the operator of the scam uses the internet and social media platforms to target potential victims who are seeking friends or romantic companionship. The scammer hides his or her true identity by posing as a potential friend or romantic partner and entering into an online relationship with the victim. 

Eventually, the scammer begins to ask for emergency financial assistance of some kind. If the victim sends money, the scammer will present an escalating series of events and false claims necessitating increasingly larger amounts of money. 

A money mule is someone who knowingly or unknowingly transfers or moves fraudulently acquired money on behalf of someone else. Money mules are important parts of fraud conspiracies because, among other reasons, they provide the conspiracy with a way to disguise the criminal origins of fraud proceeds. 

“These defendants defrauded multiple individuals and entities resulting in a significant loss to the city of Memphis,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our partners are committed to holding accountable those who seek to line their own pockets through business email compromise, romance, and money laundering schemes, and will continue to work tirelessly to investigate those who engage in criminal activity resulting in financial harm to members of our community.”

Sentencing is set for July 18, 2025 before Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. 

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News News Blog News Feature

Mississippi River Named ‘Most Endangered’ in the Country

Photo: Emily Finch on Unsplash

The Mississippi River is the most endangered river in the country, according to a new report from American Rivers, a national conservation organization. 

The biggest threats to the river are the Trump administration’s promises to severely cut or abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Flood Insurance Program. American Rivers said these threats “[risk] river health and human safety along the entirety of its 2,320-mile stretch and could compound long-standing threats to the river.”

“The Mississippi River is vital to our nation’s health, wealth, and security. We drink from it, we grow our food with it, we travel on it, we live alongside it, and simply, we admire its beauty,” said Mike Sertle, central region director for American Rivers. “We cannot turn our back on Mississippi River communities or the health of the river millions depend on at this critical time when they need unified direction instead of uncertainty at the national level.”

In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would push much of what FEMA does to states. 

“Federal policy must rightly recognize that preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the state, local, and even individual levels, supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient federal government,” reads the order. “When states are empowered to make smart infrastructure choices, taxpayers benefit.”

The order also called for the federal government to “streamline its preparedness operations.” This led to hundreds of layoffs at FEMA with many more promised, leaving states worried about the future. 

FEMA’s mission goes beyond emergency response and rebuilding after disaster, according to American Rivers. It develops minimum standards for construction in floodplains, provides flood insurance to homeowners, and mitigates future risks. FEMA also helps in relocating flood-prone homes to higher ground. 

“Without strong federal leadership in flood risk management, communities along the Mississippi River — and across the country — will face even greater threats from worsening floods,” said Chad Berginnis, executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). “At the same time, we recognize that states and local governments must take on a greater role in managing flood risks. Strengthening their capacity — whether through incentives or penalties — will lead to better outcomes.

“But no amount of state or local action can replace the need for coordinated federal support, especially when major disasters strike. Now is the time to reinforce our national commitment to flood risk reduction, not walk away from it.”

The Mississippi River spans 10 states and 123 counties from the headwaters in Minnesota to its mouth in Louisiana. The river carries more water than any other of the nation’s rivers and is the primary source of drinking water for more than 50 municipalities. The river is also a source for manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, navigation, and energy. 

The river and its 30-million-acre floodplain also provide vital habitat for more than 870 species of fish and wildlife, including dozens of rare, threatened, and endangered species. 

Long-standing threats to the river include chemical runoff that has led to regular toxic algae outbreaks in significant stretches of the river as well as hypoxic dead zones, sea level rise that is accelerating wetland loss and saltwater intrusion, exacerbating droughts, and infrastructure like levees and navigation structures that negatively impact the natural flow of the river.

The Mississippi River City and Towns Initiative, a group of mayors from up and down the river, said it does not believe the river has earned the designation of the most endangered waterway. Instead, the group said it believes “there is always a need to protect our nation’s and the world’s most important waterway.”

“A total elimination of the agency would cripple the nation’s emergency response and risk management apparatus,” said Belinda Constant, mayor of Gretna, Louisiana. “Additionally, disaster response along the Mississippi River is inherently a multi-state question and thus, FEMA needs to continue to play a vital role in coordinating the efforts of many states to systemically mitigate risks, recover, and restore infrastructure.”

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News The Fly-By

MEMernet: “Libtard Alert”

Credit: Jose Salazar

“Libtard Alert”

Elected officials took heat over spicy comments they made on the MEMernet last week.

Memphis-Shelby County School Board Member Towanna Murphy issued a formal apology days after she threatened to have a Facebook commenter deported for comments she made.

Posted to Facebook by Brent Taylor

Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) raged on Facebook about a column from the Daily Memphian’s Dan Conaway. In it, Conaway criticized Taylor’s moves to remove Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, called him a “gadfly,” and said Taylor lives in a replica of the Mississippi governor’s mansion. 

For this, Taylor issued a “libtard alert,” calling Conaway “a pompous, elitist, leftwing clown … suffering from Taylor Derangement Syndrome.”

“A dog gets more useful information sniffing the ass of another dog than you get reading a Dan Conaway column,” Taylor wrote. 

Posted to Facebook by Otis Sanford 

Otis Sanford, a longtime Memphis pundit, said, “This is one of the meanest things I have ever read from an elected official who fashions himself a public servant.”

Sanford wanted as much hubbub on Taylor’s post as Murphy’s deportation post.  

“Shame on you, Senator,” Sanford wrote. “Your respect meter is plummeting toward zero.”

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News The Fly-By

MEMernet: Striking Image, Park Damage, Praise Be

Posted to X by Charles Peek

Memphis on the internet.

Striking Image

Weather Channel reporter Charles Peek caught some great photos of lightning strikes in Memphis during last week’s severe storms. 

Park Damage

Posted to Facebook by Overton Park

Those storms were unkind to Overton Park. A large tree fell over the paved trail close to Overton Bark and the limestone running trail “suffered significant erosion,” park officials said. 

Park officials warned that the effects from the storm might not be over. The soil is still saturated and that “may mean that more trees are vulnerable even in the beautiful weather to come. So, please use caution on the trails and refrain from any high-impact usage of the dirt trails until they have a chance to dry out.”

Praise Be

Posted to Reddit by u/Hunterwho43

Redditors praised Memphis Light, Gas & Water’s tree-trimming efforts that likely kept the lights on for thousands of customers during the rainfall torrent. They also praised the weather-bending magic of Mongo and the Crystal Skull. 

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News News Blog News Feature

Work Underway to End Greensward Parking, Open New Forest Area

Work has begun on a project that will forever end parking on the Greensward at Overton Park and open new trails in a new part of the Old Forest, according to the Overton Park Conservancy (OPC).

A decades-long struggle to end Memphis Zoo overflow parking on the park’s signature field ended with an agreement by the zoo, OPC, and the city of Memphis in 2022. Read our story about the deal and a timeline of the saga here. 

Credit: Overton Par Conservancy

Parking project

The project to end Greensward parking is a multi-phase dance with specific choreography. OPC outlined those steps in a Greensward update on its website Monday.

The first phase — repaving and re-striping the zoo’s main parking lot — is complete. 

Credit: Overton Park Conservancy

The second phase will include demolishing crumbling asphalt in the park’s southeast corner (an are close to the corner of Poplar and East Parkway). That area will then be leveled and paved for a new public parking lot. This phase will also include getting some old city-owned buildings ready for the zoo’s new maintenance facility. 

This phase is now in the engineering and permit phase, OPC said, and work will begin when those permits are in hand. No timeline was given for its completion. 

When all the construction in Phase 2 is complete, the zoo will move its maintenance and adminstrative functions to that space, the former General Services facility on the park’s east side. This move will leave empty the zoo’s current maintenance area along North Parkway. 

That area will, then, be razed for a new parking lot there in Phase 3 of the plan. 

“When that lot opens,” OPC said in a statement Monday, “cars will no longer park on the Greensward.”

Credit: savethegreensward.com

In Phase 4, OPC will create a new walking loop around the Greensward.  

”We appreciate your patience as we complete all these steps!” OPC said. “We’re very fortunate that this project is being funded through a $3 million HUD Community Project Funding grant, thanks to Congressman Steve Cohen. 

Credit: Overton Park Conservancy

“We received HUD’s approval to proceed in fall 2024 and began the environmental review process at that time. Since then, the Conservancy has been working closely with the city and the zoo to refine the design of the parking area and new zoo maintenance facility.

“We’re happy to be teaming up with our partners at the zoo and the city on this long-awaited project, and to see so much progress underway.”

New trail, Old Forest

The deal for parking also included the zoo restoring 17 acres of forested parkland back to the OPC and the Old Forest. Work to open these acres has already begun and it will intensify and continue. OPC hopes to have access open and new trails ready by fall. 

Credit: Overton Park Conservancy

“If you’ve walked in the forest recently, you may have noticed some activity in the fenced acreage that’s currently on zoo property and will come under Conservancy management soon,” the statement said. “Crews have finished building a new boundary fence for the zoo that will allow us to eventually remove the old fence and open up these forested acres to the public.

“Before the old fence comes down, we have two more tasks to complete. We’ll be going out to bid in the next few weeks for a contractor who will build the new walking trail over the summer. 

“After the trail is created, we’ll have another contractor come in to remove invasive plants. When that work is substantially complete, we’ll take the fence down. Our goal is to have a ribbon-cutting and open the trail this fall!”

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Police Identify Rappers Shot Downtown Saturday

Sauce Walka (Credit: Sauce Walka via Instagram)

The Memphis Police Department (MPD) identified the two rappers targeted in Saturday’s shooting Downtown.

MPD said Monday that Letorian Hunt, 27, was killed in the incident, which occurred at the Westin Hotel, one block west of FedExForum. Albert Mondane, 34, was transported to the hospital with non-critical injuries.

Hunt was a rapper performing under the stage name Sayso P. He was arrested in 2020 by Las Vegas police for pimping and pandering. Police there became suspicious of Hunt after numerous Instagram posts and seeing lyrics to one of his songs, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Mondane performs under the stage name Sauce Walka. His father has told media outlets that the Houston-based rapper was shot in the thigh and is expected to make a full recovery. 

“We want to assure our community and visitors that Downtown Memphis is a safe place,” MPD tweeted when news of the shooting surfaced this weekend. “This was not a random act of violence. We understand the concern and reiterate that this was not random. MPD is committed to bringing those responsible to justice.”

MPD is still investigating the shooting and say they will provide updates on the investigation as they come in. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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Theater Theater Feature

Orpheum Announces Broadway Lineup

Rachel Simone Webb and the company of the North American Tour of & Juliet (Photo: Matthew Murphy)

The Orpheum Theatre Group has announced its 2025-2026 Broadway season, kicking off this October with A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. In total, the season includes eight shows. 

“I really am excited about this season because — everybody always says there’s something for everyone — but this season really does have something for everybody. Each show is different,” says Brett Batterson, president and CEO of the Orpheum. 

A Beautiful Noise, a jukebox musical, is based on the rock icon Neil Diamond’s life. “[The Orpheum] invested in the Broadway production of a Beautiful Noise, and then we also invested in the tour,” Batterson adds. “So, we have a little piece of ownership.”

In addition to A Beautiful Noise, four other shows will make their Memphis premieres this season: The Notebook: The Musical (October 28th-November 2nd), adapted from the Nicholas Sparks’ novel that inspired the romantic film; & Juliet (November 25th-30th), which flips the script on Shakespeare’s classic; The Outsiders (January 20th-25th), based on the S.E. Hinton novel; and Back to the Future: The Musical, adapted from the beloved cinematic classic. 

Returning this year to the Orpheum’s stage are The Sound of Music (February 17th-22nd) and Six (April 21st-26th) about the six wives of Henry VIII. Disney’s 30th anniversary production of Beauty and the Beast will conclude the season on June 2nd to 7th. “Beauty and the Beast has been here five times, but this is a new production that Disney has produced, new staging, new costumes, new scenery, that kind of thing,” Batterson says. 

“I’m just really glad to bring this season and have people come and enjoy themselves with the Orpheum because I think they’ll enjoy every single show on the lineup this year.”

Current season ticket holders can renew now. Ticket packages for new season ticket holders will be available starting Friday, May 2nd. Those interested in becoming a season ticket holder can join a special priority list starting now until April 25th to secure access to a 48-hour presale ahead of the public on sale. More information can be found at orpheum-memphis.com/season. The public sale for individual shows and group tickets will be announced later.   

The Orpheum’s current season continues with Some Like It Hot on April 8th to 13th and Kimberly Akimbo on June 24th to 29th.

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News The Fly-By

MEMernet: Fun Muddin’, Monday Mood, Cohen on Musk 

Posted to Facebook by JP Stephens Youtube

Memphis on the internet.

Fun Muddin’

You’re in luck if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go muddin’ in the Wolf River bottoms near Covington Pike. ATV content creator Jp Stephens Youtube posted a Facebook Reel that takes you there without getting your work clothes dirty. 

Monday Mood

Posted to X by Memphis Zoo

Yawning gibbons drowsed in the spring sunshine last week in a post with the hashtag #mondaymood. I mean, you’ve gotta rest up if you’re going to entertain kids at the Cat House Cafe.

Cohen On Musk

Posted to X by Steve Cohen

U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) promised to fight a DOGE proposal to close the Odell Horton Federal Building in Memphis. The closing would leave no place for federal court to meet, Cohen argued, while the Trump administration considers new judges to be named.

“Maybe we just take this bill and hold it for awhile until the greatest, most brilliant, smartest, most absolutely phenomenal judicial and real estate mind in the world, Elon Musk, can come and tell us what he’s going to do with the judges,” Cohen said.

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xAI Buys 1M SF Facility for Expansion in Whitehaven

Credit: Greater Memphis Chamber via X

Elon Musk’s xAI will further expand its Memphis operations with the purchase of a 1 million-square-foot facility in Whitehaven, the Greater Memphis Chamber announced on Friday.  

The acquisition builds on xAI’s December 2024 announcement regarding the expansion of its Colossus supercomputer facility and the attraction of major tech partners. The facility at the former Electrolux building in Southwest Memphis, which opened last year, powers “Grok,” the company’s artificial intelligence system.

“xAI’s acquisition of this property ensures we’ll remain at the forefront of AI innovation, right here in Memphis,” stated Brent Mayo from xAI. “We’re committed to expanding alongside this community and doing what’s best for the city. As we transform this property and enhance our facility, we’ll bring more employment opportunities and economic growth to the area.”

The expansion announcement follows news of an $80 million water recycling facility to be in Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park. The facility will process up to 13 million gallons of wastewater daily, eliminating the need to draw from the Memphis Sand Aquifer for industrial use. This facility is expected to save about 4.7 billion gallons of water in the aquifer annually, a 9 percent reduction in demand as it will serve other major industrial users in the region.

The new facility also features the world’s largest Tesla Megapack system, designed specifically for supercomputing and data center operations, ensuring the facility won’t draw from the grid during demand response periods, prioritizing the energy needs of Memphis residents and surrounding communities, according to the Chamber.

The price tag of the investment on the new facility was not given by the Chamber.