Sharpton group plans protest at MGM

Jace Radke

Friday, Feb. 15, 2002 | 9:42 a.m.

The Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network, along with area religious leaders and the Black Panthers, will protest on the Strip in front of the MGM Grand Saturday evening in an effort to launch a national boycott against MGM MIRAGE.

The group, which planners say will include as many as 500 demonstrators, is slated for 6 p.m., and Sharpton is scheduled to speak about 7:30 p.m., National Action Network local spokesman Stan Washington said.

"If the reverend wants us to go inside we will," Washington said. "This is going to be the beginning of something, not the end of something. We'll be out there every Saturday if we need to be."

The protest centers around allegations of racial discrimination in the company's Detroit casino. Sharpton's network asked the state Gaming Control Board to investigate whether similar alleged discrimination was occurring at the company's local properties.

MGM MIRAGE maintains its diversity initiative is the first of its kind in the gaming industry.

The program includes diversity boards at the corporate level and at each property. The boards are responsible for examining diversity through all phases of the company, including purchasing, contracting and hiring, MGM MIRAGE spokesman Alan Feldman said.

"We've made some very strong progress in some areas, but it is clear that there is still work to do," Feldman said. "We are moving forward, and on (Feb. 25) we will meet with community leaders and give them our annual report."

Feldman said the same service extended to all visitors to MGM MIRAGE properties will be extended to Sharpton's group.

"We welcome hundreds of thousands of people, and as long as they aren't interfering with public access we don't have a problem with them coming down," Feldman said. "If their goal is to create a public disturbance, they will be treated the same as anyone who comports themselves in that fashion."

Metro Police doesn't anticipate problems, department spokesman Vincent Cannito said.

"We've met with both sides, and we'll be out there to make sure everything is peaceful and orderly and both sides' rights are respected," Cannito said.