It's becoming clearer who will boycott, protest or participate in the opening ceremony Saturday at the new Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History in downtown Jackson. MPB's Ashley Norwood reports.
The Mississippi Chapter of the group Pantsuit Nation is leading hundreds of Mississippians in a plan to protest in silence as President Donald Trump arrives at the Civil Rights museum in downtown Jackson this Saturday.
Talamieka Brice is with the Pantsuit Nation.
"His presence and involvement in the city let alone the stage is an insult to those honorees like Rep. Lewis, Myrlie Evers and Gov.William Winter who fought for decades to dismantle white supremacy," said Brice.
Civil Rights icon, Georgia Congressman John Lewis, says he will not attend this weekend's opening. Lewis and Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson both declined to attend in a joint statement saying "President Trump's attendance and his hurtful policies are an insult to the people portrayed in this civil rights museum."
Governor Phil Bryant says the people of Mississippi should put aside political differences and welcome the President.
"I truly believe that Mississippians are going to come together, we are going to listen to the President of the United States, we're going to allow him to see the history of Mississippi and the civil rights struggle and I think he will be moved by that and that will be all the better for all of us," says Bryant.
Myrlie Evers Williams is the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers. When asked if she will still attend, she told the New York Times “If God gives me the breath and the strength, I will address his attendance when I stand to speak.”
