NEWS
Oaks day protest may be changed
Posted: Monday, April 03, 2000
Plans for a civil rights march led by the Reverend Jesse Jackson in Louisville on Kentucky Oaks (G1) day may be changed after city officials requested a switch. Jackson announced plans late last week to conduct the march with a goal of "reconciliation and healing." The plan to march reportedly comes after tension grew in the city following Mayor Dave Armstrong's decision to fire Police Chief Gene Sherrard on March 2 after Sherrard awarded medals of valor to two white police officers who fatally shot an African American.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that a new date of April 24 has been mentioned for the march, which is not supported by city officials. Armstrong said through a spokeswoman the march was the "last thing we need."
Louisville Fraternal Order of Police representatives reportedly met with Jackson for nearly two hours on Saturday in Chicago.
The Kentucky Oaks is the second busiest day of the season at Churchill Downs, annually drawing a crowd in excess of 95,000, and comes the day before the Kentucky Derby (G1), which annually draws more than 100,000 racing fans. Last year's Oaks drew an announced crowd of 101,034.
It is unclear if Jackson and other leaders of the march planned to demonstrate near Churchill Downs.
