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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
A polarizing figure is firing back at those who don't want to hear him speak. Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan returned to Nashville tonight and talked openly about not being able to speak at Tennessee State University the last time he was here. Farrakhan was supposed to be at TSU last April, but the speech was moved to a nearby church. 2 student groups asked him to come back and the religious leader made it clear how he felt about his last visit and the unexpected challenges with this one.
"And even those who tried to make it very difficult," says Farrakhan. "We thank you too."
Farrakhan arrived at TSU with a message for those who don't want him here.
"I'm sure after you hear the message you'll kind of be in a spirit of repentance."
Days before his speech tonight, someone took off with the chairs and the podium he was supposed to be using. That followed a rather controversial venue change during his last attempt to speak at the University.
"They said he could come, they said he couldn't, they said he could, then they said he couldn't, so it was back and forth until finally he was not able to come," says Nation of Islam Student Association's Samuel X.
Officially, the University said a scheduling conflict prevented the speaking engagement. Farrakhan himself said the University purposefully kept him from speaking. The religious leader has been a polarizing figure for decades, making a number of comments some view as anti-Semetic.
"If you hear him, I think you'll walk away with a different opinion," says Farrakhan supporter Carr Johnson.
Fans like Johnson say critics need to listen closer to a man who speaks his mind, even if some may not want to hear it. Another challenge is organizers say initially they were told there would be no costs in holding this event, but were later told that's not the case. Samuel X, the student we spoke with, took out thousands of dollars to take care of clean up costs and security. That's one reason why they were passing the hat tonight to help.
"And even those who tried to make it very difficult," says Farrakhan. "We thank you too."
Farrakhan arrived at TSU with a message for those who don't want him here.
"I'm sure after you hear the message you'll kind of be in a spirit of repentance."
Days before his speech tonight, someone took off with the chairs and the podium he was supposed to be using. That followed a rather controversial venue change during his last attempt to speak at the University.
"They said he could come, they said he couldn't, they said he could, then they said he couldn't, so it was back and forth until finally he was not able to come," says Nation of Islam Student Association's Samuel X.
Officially, the University said a scheduling conflict prevented the speaking engagement. Farrakhan himself said the University purposefully kept him from speaking. The religious leader has been a polarizing figure for decades, making a number of comments some view as anti-Semetic.
"If you hear him, I think you'll walk away with a different opinion," says Farrakhan supporter Carr Johnson.
Fans like Johnson say critics need to listen closer to a man who speaks his mind, even if some may not want to hear it. Another challenge is organizers say initially they were told there would be no costs in holding this event, but were later told that's not the case. Samuel X, the student we spoke with, took out thousands of dollars to take care of clean up costs and security. That's one reason why they were passing the hat tonight to help.
Friday, November 2 2012, 11:23 PM CDT
Tennessee News
Pipeline work can continue at state natural area
May 24, 2013 11:16 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee environmental officials have given Piedmont Natural Gas permission to resume drilling on a Nashville pipeline project.
Work was halted on May 11 when a mixture of bentonite clay and water spilled from a drill into Otter Creek at the Radnor Lake State Natural Area.
The mud was later scraped out of the creek using buckets and hand tools.
Meredith Benton, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/199LA54 ) that Piedmont agreed to 11 new terms and conditions to prevent a recurrence of the spill.
Those include creating a pit to capture any spilled slurry and daily water quality monitoring.
Benton said the department has not decided whether to issue fines or citations.
Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com
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