Fed up with what they call the continued decline of Harrisburg, a group of residents plan to march Saturday morning to protest absentee landlords and drug activity in the neighborhood.

The two go hand in hand, organizers say.

"I am sick of this element ruling this neighborhood," homeowner Lori Davis said. "This is just a start for us. We've had enough."

About 20 to 30 people are on board for the Fourth of July demonstration, she said.

The group will meet at 10 a.m. at the fire station at the corner of Ellis and Eve streets, then, carrying placards, will protest in front of what they term "nuisance" properties.

Concerned about potential libel/slander litigation, she would not say specifically why they will focus on these locations. She wants to get landlords' attention -- she's considering protesting in front of their homes and businesses next -- but she's trying to walk a fine legal line, Mrs. Davis said.

"These are nuisances in our neighborhood because of multiple complaints we're getting from people around these properties," she said. "Just know that there are complaints over and over and over."

Mrs. Davis is vice president of the Harrisburg-West End Neighborhood Association, and another protest organizer is Butch Palmer, a board of directors member and the founder of HONGKONG -- Harrisburg Organization Networking for Gentrification to Keep Our Neighborhood from becoming a Ghetto.

But Mrs. Davis stressed that no particular group or church is behind the march, just "concerned citizens" who either own property or live in the historic former mill village. She acts as landlord liaison for the neighborhood association, and she said that as she has tried to persuade owners to clean up their properties several have involved their attorneys.

"It's rare that we get a landlord that is willing to look into the problem, to do anything about it, to even get back in touch with us," Mrs. Davis said.

Col. Gary Powell of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office said the protesters won't need a permit Saturday because the city's protest ordinance was ruled unconstitutional by an 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel in 2004, after the Martha Burk-Augusta National Golf Club case. Deputies will be monitoring, though, the colonel said.

Mr. Palmer said he has reasons for planning the event on Saturday.

"Because it's Independence Day, and we want freedom from drug dealers and irresponsible landlords," he said. "I think it will send the message that they're being watched by people from all over the neighborhood."