Help from Nashvillians -- attendance and input from your voices [View all]
If any DUers are in the Nashville area, we could use your presence this coming Monday, August 10th.
I'm making this request as a member of the group who has been occupying the plaza across from the capitol building in Nashville for 55 days. https://www.peoplesplazatn.com/
Date: Monday August 10th, 2020; 3:00 to 6:00 pm
Location: Legislative Plaza, 301 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37243
Event: Special Legislative Session of Tennessee General Assembly
As you may know, Governor Lee has called a special legislative session to propose laws that would protect business from coronavirus litigation,expand tele-health resources, and to impose more severe penalties against protestors.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/03/tennessee-legislature-return-special-session-covid-liability/5558829002/
Governor Lee's interest in protecting businesses from litigation can be traced to his donors pocketbook concerns, as opposed to protecting Tennesseans against coronavirus contagion.
Given the governor's lax coronavirus policies, in fact, the proposed legislation is likely designed to lower his own risk of being held accountable for the spread of coronavirus among Tennesseans in addition to currying favor with his moneyed supporters.
Further, the Governor has been completely uninterested in meeting with ordinary, non-lobbyist citizens seeking a voice in Tennessee legislative process, and has instead spent over 1 million dollars on monitoring protestors seeking audience with him.
Consider the implications of this level of spending for the purposes of denying the electorate an opportunity to address him as an elected official of the state, in conjunction with the proposal to impose harsher penalties against them.
His position makes it completely clear that he is willing to wield the power of his elected position only to protect his wealthy supporters, and to punish those who would question his agenda.
For these reasons, we are requesting your presence, and your voice at the upcoming legislative session, convening Legislative Plaza (renamed Ida B Wells Plaza).
We are planning on meeting at 3:00 to rally with groups and individuals interested in hearing their voices heard.
Please join us there, and share this message with anyone you believe would be interested in witnessing and participating this crucial event