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Beginning Friday night and continuing Saturday rumors were circulating
about a potential Black Panther and KKK conflict in Alamo, In The Newsroom News Director Keith Sherley went to Crockett County to find out and report on just what was happening. Law Enforcement had also heard the rumors and were preparing for the unknown. Crockett County Sheriff Troy Klyce had his department ready and was receiving assistance from Alamo Police Department and surrounding local police agencies as well as the TN Highway Patrol. Around 1:30 activity started to increase and News Talk was the only media on the scene at the time. First law enforcement officers moved to secure an area around the Crockett County Courthouse. About 5-6 black African Americans dressed in paramilitary clothes got out of a vehicle parked on the square and a photographer emerged with them. The small group made a lap around the square. People inside began to come out of the shops curious about the strangers. After one time around the square the men went back to the vehicle they had arrived in and stood there. I made my way over to them and introduced myself to a man calling himself Najee Muhammad, Field Marshall for the National New Black Panther Party. Another member of the group had made his way to the steps of the sidewalk in front of a business and started to speak to a few citizens gathering around. For about 15 minutes this man spoke to the crowd which had grown to about 20 or more blacks ranging in age from school age to elders about the mission of the Black Panther party and what these people and others like them could do to support their cause. Flyers were handed out with information about joining the Party. I was allowed to stand with the crowd and listen. I recorded the comments as best as I could without drawing any attention. The comments sounded like something between a rally and a call to revolution. It is worth noting that the entire time at least two members who appeared to have a security purpose kept constant watch at times using binoculars. At 2:00 promptly the group which was now in the numbers of 70 -75 moved to the area of the courthouse. Across the street staying at a distance white residents were congregating. Field Marshall Najee spoke first then the man who had been speaking to the crowd spoke. They read from a prepared statement saying they were there to show solidarity in light of the recent arrests of two skinheads who alleged to have a plot to kill 102 black African Americans and attempt to assassinate Presidential candidate Barack Obama. They led the crowd in chants of Black Power and asked all present to go to the polls on Tuesday November 4th and vote for Barack Obama. I attempted to get an interview but they said they would have no comment or take any questions. Afterwards they returned to their vehicles and drove away the same way they arrived. The crowd quietly dispersed. Across the street the white residents that had gathered could only see and hear chants of BLACK POWER still they wanted nothing to do with it. One of them was taken into custody by law enforcement but it was for unrelated warrants. For In the Newsroom… I’m Keith Sherley
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