By 1991 it was evident that Memphis TN would never have an African American Mayor without selecting a consensus candidate that would be supported by the entire community A movement created by the late State Representative Dedrick Teddy Withers was formed to hold a Peoples Convention that would allow the citizens of Memphis to select such a candidate The Convention was held at the MidSouth Coliseum in Memphis and was supported by people representing the majority of Memphis African American voters Dr WW Herenton was selected as the candidate With the support of the citizens and Congressman Harold E Ford Herenton was elected Mayor of Memphis in 1992 It was only the second time in the history of Memphis where the African American community had come together on on accord The other event was to morn the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King June in April of 1968