Appeal Mike Maple/The Commercial

NoamGhomsky speaksat the 30th anniversary the Midof and JusticeCenter. SouthPeace

Center continues leader's legacy

Bv Sna Prrrznson pafters e l. on@omrnercialnppcom a

There was a standing ovation for Noam Chomskyat First Congregational Churchbeforehe even gave speech. his philosopher and The renowned linguist delivereda bleakkeynote addressat the 30th anniversary celebration of the Mid'South and Peace JusticeCenterSaturdaY night, touchingon a wide rangeof soiial issues,from racism to the war on terror. He saidDr. Martin Luther King "remainvery re Jr.'s aspirations mote,muchto our shame." The sold-outeventcamebarelY 24 houn after the 83'Year'old drewacrowdwellbeYond Chomsky capacballroom's College a Rhodes on ity Fridaynight for a speech the "Occupy Street" movement. Wall Saturday afternoon, during a presscoqference the National at Civil Rignts Museum, Chomsky also spoke of Kingis dreamsof justicefor peace and abroad social American poor, cut short bY the at his 1968assassination that very location. "He was already bitterly atfor tacked,substantially, trying to bring up crucial issues,classisfor sueJ. . . reasons povertYand the crimes abroad," ChomskY "That was his real dream. said.
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That one was terminated right herein fact." The Peace and Justice Center,which was founded in on Kinglsbirthdayin 1982 responseto the Cold War and U.S. military involve mentin CentralAmericaand the Middle East, pickedup Kingis fallen torch. , "They're ' erryir{i .out Kingis actual work and acsaid Chomtual concerns." sky."Not the onesthat you'll

hear rhetoric about in tion could celebrate many night. In on speeches Monday" dur- victoriesSaturday ing the holiday honoring his tenurehe hasbeenmost proud,he said,of the niche King. When the Peaceand Jus- non-profits organizations tice Centerwas founded,in- that sproutedfrom the juson ternationalcampaigns is- tice center, such as Grow sues such as apartheid in Memphis, which has taken SouthAfrica and the nuclear over the community-garden armsracewerechampioned movement,and the Sierra Club, which championsenby local members. focushasbe vironmentalissues. The center's "One of my real focuses; come more local in nature, I heresuch what "is hope to leave," he . tacklingproblems thatai#a*i predatory said, an organization as homelessness, lending qnd lack of healttry , yrll cpntinueto be a huh.ffgp*p justiceactivityhere." food optionsin poor neigh- social - Sara Patterstm: borhoods. (901) 529-2542 Flowerssaid the organiza'