President Donald Trump will not speak publicly at the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on Saturday.
He will tour the museum in the morning, then speak in the Two Museums Auditorium to civil rights veterans, museum patrons and elected officials, according to Gov. Phil Bryant’s office.
Trump’s visit to the museum, officially announced earlier this week, sparked protests and boycotts. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who was a Freedom Rider incarcerated in Mississippi in the 1960s, was scheduled to speak during Saturday’s opening ceremonies. On Thursday, he and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton, declined their invitations, calling Trump’s scheduled appearance an “insult.”
Former Gov. Ray Mabus also announced he would not attend the opening ceremonies.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba also will not attend. On Friday he issued a statement: “The opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum represents a
beautiful celebration of struggle, an epic story of glory, horrible suffering, tragedy, sacrifice and courage. I believe the celebration of this history is a compelling tribute to the Civil Rights Movement, however, the greatest salute to civil rights is a continuing commitment in pursuit of its ideals. The legacy of these heroes will not allow me to share the stage with a president who continues to denigrate their work.”
Lumumba, Thompson, The Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement and Derrick Johnson, national president of the NAACP, will host a press conference at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Smith Robertson Museum in Jackson to recognize civil rights activists.
Trump backlash: Officials boycott Civil Rights Museum opening
Late Thursday, the governor’s office has released the order of events for the ceremonial opening of the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on Saturday.
10:30 a.m. President Donald Trump tours Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
10:47 a.m. Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson introduces Gov. Phil Bryant
10:48 a.m. Gov. Bryant introduces President Trump
10:50 a.m. President Trump delivers remarks inside the Two Museums Auditorium to Civil Rights veterans, museum patrons and elected officials
11:10 a.m. Public celebration to mark Mississippi’s Bicentennial and to ceremonially open the two museums begins with procession to outside stage
11:15 a.m. Chorale Prelude: Madison Central High School Brass Ensemble
11:18 a.m. Welcome by Reuben Anderson, master of ceremonies
11:22 a.m. Anderson introduces Gov. Bryant
11:23 a.m. Gov. Phil Bryant speaks
11:30 a.m. Anderson introduces former Gov. William Winter
11:32 a.m. Gov. Winter speaks
11:36 a.m. Anderson introduces civil rights activist Myrlie Evers
11:38 a.m. Evers speaks
11:48 p.m. Anderson introduces Katie Blount, director, Mississippi Department of Archives and History
11:50 p.m. Blount speaks and introduces former Gov. Haley Barbour
11:52 p.m. Gov. Barbour speaks
Noon Blount introduces Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn
12:03 p.m. Reeves speaks
12:06 p.m. Gunn speaks
12:28 p.m. Anderson introduces Kellogg Foundation President and CEO La June Tabron
12:30 p.m. Tabron speaks
12:34 p.m. Anderson introduces Rep. Gregg Harper and Sen. Roger Wicker
12:36 p.m. Harper and Wicker present Bicentennial Resolution
12:45 p.m. Anderson gives instructions on next phase of ribbon-cutting
12:46 p.m. Musical performance by Bicentennial Choir with Cynthia Goodloe Palmer while stage participants and select audience members move to ribbon-cutting area
12:54 p.m. Ribbon-cutting
12:58 p.m. Gov. Bryant and Gov. Barbour hold two center doors open for Evers and students to enter museums.
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