Truck strikes protesters in Overton Square
A protest in the Overton Square area of Midtown turned confrontational late Saturday as a vehicle appeared to strike protesters who had shut down the intersection of Madison and Cooper.
After several cars turned around and yielded to a group of protesters at the Midtown intersection, a man in a white truck continued to move forward into the group.
A protester, Chris Jordan, who was part of the group, told The Commercial Appeal none of the protesters sustained significant injuries.
Later in the evening, protester and activist Regina Clarke said seven people had been hit directly with the truck’s front bumper. Two sustained injuries, she said, but both declined immediate medical attention. One went to seek care later in the night, Clarke said.
Jordan said several cars turned around while the protesters took the intersection for roughly 20 minutes without incident.
“What makes you any different?” he said about the driver.
“I was trying to hold the truck off ... He didn’t want to stop,” Jordan said.
The driver, identified as William Day, 57, was later arrested and is facing misdemeanors charges of reckless endangerment and reckless driving, Lt. Karen Randolph, spokesperson for MPD, confirmed Saturday morning.
Memphis Police officers arrived at the protest less than 10 minutes before the incident occurred.
An officer came to interview the driver and instructed him to back up, moving west on Madison Avenue, where another officer was stationed.
About 15 minutes after the incident the officer began to collect witness statements. He directed comments to the MPD’S public information officer, who did not immediately respond to an email.
MPD later released a statement about the incident around 11 p.m. stating that the driver of the vehicle had been detained. By that time, MPD Felony Response officers had also arrived to the scene.
Shortly after midnight, the truck was towed away.
MPD’S statement is listed in full at the bottom of this story.
This is the second time in the past three weeks where a protest in Midtown had vehicles interact with protesters. Two drivers have been arrested in the earlier incident.
Saturday’s demonstrators arrived in Midtown around 9 p.m. to protest outside Porch & Parlor. The restaurant is co-owned by the same people who own Flight, which has been accused of racist and sexist actions toward customers and employees.
Russ Graham and Tom Powers coown four total restaurants: Flight, Southern Social, Porch & Parlor and Coastal Fish Company.
Friday, after several allegations of racism and sexism toward customers and employees were posted online, Graham said an investigation would be launched into Flight and Southern Social.
“We have learned of accusations of discriminatory behavior at Flight,” Graham, co-owner of Flight and Southern Social, told the Commercial Appeal Friday. “These accusations were posted online, and we are committed to determine their validity. We take all allegations of discriminatory behavior seriously and refuse to tolerate this type of behavior at our restaurant. To the extent that we learn that any of these accusations are true, these employees will be terminated immediately.”
It’s unclear who will conduct the investigation. Though Graham said he takes the accusations seriously, his own behavior was repeatedly questioned in the social media firestorm.
Protesters started Downtown outside Flight but moved to Porch & Parlor because Flight was closed. About seven tables of customers were being served as protesters arrived.
The group, which grew to nearly 40 people, blocked off the Monroe Avenue and Main Street intersection outside the restaurant beginning at 7 p.m.
Organizer LJ Abraham stated that Memphis is a majority Black city.
“If you hate us and you love your money, we’re calling you out,” she said.
Among the crowd were former employees and friends of former employees, as well as a former job applicant. All were calling for the restaurant to stop racist and sexist practices, including to stop racially segregating its customers and employees.
MPD’S statement about the Midtown incident:
At approximately 9:30 p.m., officers responded to an incident at Madison and Cooper, where a large crowd had gathered in the roadway. The preliminary investigation revealed that while individuals were standing in the street, blocking the roadway, a male driving a pickup truck attempted to drive through the crowd.
No injuries have been reported. The driver of the truck has been detained. Officers and investigators are speaking with witnesses and the driver to gather additional details.
This investigation is ongoing. Commercial Appeal reporter Desiree Stennett contributed.