American Notes MEMPHIS

Since the 1988 closing of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Martin Luther | King Jr. was assassinated, there have been two constants at the scene: a steady stream of sightseers looking at the unofficial shrine, and the motel's last manager, Jacqueline Smith, who stubbornly refuses to say goodbye to the facility. Night and day, through storm and sunshine, Smith, 39, has camped out in a pup tent in front of the fenced-in property, courteously greeting tourists and adamantly opposing plans to renovate the Lorraine and construct a $9 million Lorraine Civil Rights Museum. She thinks the place should be used to house the homeless in tribute to King.

Smith was still there last week, forcing crews to work around her as they began gutting the motel. With city and state officials wary of being drawn into the fray, the construction company, facing possible delay penalties, reluctantly petitioned a chancery court judge to order Smith's removal. The court directed Smith to vacate the property or face arrest. Sheriff's deputies are expected to try to enforce the court order this week.