MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Latest on a federal civil rights lawsuit filed against the city of Memphis and Elvis Presley’s Graceland (all times local):
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11:45 a.m.
The owners of Elvis Presley’s Graceland say the tourist attraction has a “world-wide reputation for inclusion” in response to a lawsuit filed by five people who claim they were discriminated against at a protest by a coalition associated with the Black Lives Matter movement during the annual vigil commemorating Presley’s death.
In a statement, Elvis Presley Enterprises says Graceland has welcomed more than 20 million visitors in the past 34 years from “nearly every country on earth, and they have all been welcomed without incident.” The statement says Graceland is proud of its reputation for inclusion and hospitality.
Elvis Presley Enterprises and the city of Memphis are named in a complaint filed in federal court Wednesday. The statement does not directly address the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims several people were denied entry to the vigil by Memphis police because they are black. It says others were asked to leave a public sidewalk after saying, “Black lives matter.”
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8:30 a.m.
A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed on behalf of five people who say they were discriminated against while trying to take part in a demonstration at Elvis Presley’s Graceland.
The protest coincided with an annual candlelight vigil held by fans at the singer’s home on the Aug. 16 anniversary of his death.
Graceland owner, Elvis Presley Enterprises, and the city of Memphis are named in the complaint filed Wednesday.
The lawsuit claims several people were denied entry to the vigil by Memphis police because they are black. It says others were asked to leave a public sidewalk after saying “black lives matter.”
The group is demanding unspecified damages.
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This story corrects Presley’s death anniversary to Aug. 16 in bottom entry
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