Editor’s Note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available. 

The Bowling Green Police Department received a shooting threat towards “groups who intend on protesting in front of the Justice Center & the 1000 blk of Shive Ln,” according to a public safety alert sent this morning. 

A ‘Justice for Emmett Till’ protest is being held Saturday at noon at the Justice Center and at Carolyn Bryant Donham’s apartment on Shive Lane. 

The protest was planned after it was reported that Carolyn Bryant Donham – the woman who originally said that Emment Till whistled at her – is living in Bowling Green, as reported by the Bowling Green Daily News. 

Till a 14-year-old African American boy who was tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of offending Donham’s in her family’s grocery store.

Ronnie Ward, public information officer, said that the alert was important to make sure the public was aware. 

“We have had a plan in place for the protesters since we learned they were coming,” Ward said. “We’re in the process right now of activating that plan for today. It actually started early this morning. We are doing everything in our power to make sure that the protesters and everyone in the community are safe. That’s one reason why we thought it prudent to alert the community of this threat just to let them know it existed.” 

BGPD and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department has not been able to “to determine the validity of this threat,” according to a video posted on Facebook. 

As a result of the threat, numerous events are canceled including the Kentucky Museum’s “Christmas in KY,” the Mistletoe Market at SOKY Marketplace and the annual Christmas parade. Organizers of the Jaycee Christmas Parade decided to cancel the Christmas parade downtown that was set to begin around 9:30 a.m. this morning.

“The safety of our participants and spectators is ALWAYS the main focus,” the organizer posted on Facebook. “We have been in constant communication with law enforcement and have felt, all week, that we could provide a safe, fun event. With this latest information, we knew that postponing was our best option. We will be working, today, to come up with another date for the parade.”

Co-Editor-in-Chief Debra Murray can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @debramurrayy.