Memories of 1968 National Guard Deployment in Memphis Resurface

Recalling the 1968 Sanitation Strike

• 💡 At 17 or 18 years old, Joe Calhoun was a youth participant in the 1968 sanitation workers strike in Memphis.
• 🛠️ He helped create the "I Am a Man" signs and served as a marshall for the marches during the strike.

Imposing Presence of the National Guard

• 📸 Calhoun remembers photos of the National Guard with tanks and rifles with bayonets lining Beale Street.
• ⚠️ The sight of weaponized soldiers was described as imposing and threatening for young people on their way to school, church, or other activities.

Concerns Over Current Deployment

• 🚨 Calhoun states that the presence of soldiers, regardless of number, is threatening and constitutes overreach.
• 🎭 He believes the current situation is a "show" to claim Memphis saved itself, rather than a genuine solution.
• 🗣️ The mere presence of soldiers can terrorize people and negatively impact tourism by portraying Memphis as a dangerous city.

Hopes for the Future

• 👨‍👧‍👦 Now 75, Calhoun's actions are motivated by a desire to create a better world for his four grandchildren.
• ⏳ He acknowledges that achieving this better world has taken longer than he anticipated.