Fire destroys Clayborn Temple, historic Memphis church with ties to MLK and Civil Rights Movement

A historic Black church in downtown Memphis, Clayborn Temple, which was pivotal to Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 campaign, caught fire early Monday, leading to significant damage, with the interior declared a total loss. Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat indicated that investigations are ongoing, involving local authorities and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The temple, currently undergoing a $25 million restoration, is revered as a symbol of the civil rights movement, and Mayor Paul Young emphasized its importance to the community and history.