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Sharpton speaks in Martin


Cheers, and some tears, surrounded the Rev. Al Sharpton at the University of Tennessee at Martin Tuesday night as the New York civil rights minister appeared to garner support for the launch of a local chapter of his Harlem-based National Action Network (NAA).

Speaking to a crowd of nearly 400, Sharpton expressed pride in the formation of the new Union City chapter and for Rodney Davis and Patrick Smith, the two Union City men responsible organizing the new chapter.

Also, Sharpton said it is the urge to “do the right thing” that motivated him to start the organization 11 years ago.

Another local issue of concern, Sharpton said, centers on the difficulty some residents have in voting.

“We need to talk about how, in some West Tennessee cities, they tell people to vote, but the voting machines are not in certain communities and areas of the city. And you make it difficult for people who are poor and black to vote, then you talk about how the (voter turnout) is low?” he said.

But agree or disagree, Sharpton told the crowd that the only way to have a say on the issues is to get involved and to vote.

“We need to show our concern by using the vote to register where we are,” he said. “Now, you may agree or disagree with me, it really doesn’t matter, but you ought to vote.”

Sharpton said the individual responsibility placed upon each person goes beyond just fixing what is wrong around them.

Sharpton said it is each person’s responsibility to make the most of the opportunities that are available, regardless of the obstacles in one’s way.

“You should never consent to unfairness with silence,” he said. “It is better than it was, but the reason it is better than it was is because some people fought for it. But they didn’t fight for us to get all the way there.”

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Robert Muilenburg

The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks to UTM student Tuesday night in Watkins Auditorium. Sharpton was in to set up a chapter of his National Action Network.