, 12 tweets, 7 min read Read on Twitter
New Gov. @BillLeeTN before speaking at the same MLK Day event as @RevDrBarber. "I think he would think we have much to do," Lee says of King. Asked about wage inequality, Lee says raising minimum wage is not "the approach," but "creating opportunity" is.
Gov. @BillLeeTN gets some applause from the audience here when he says he wants to focus on reentry programs as part of his criminal justice reform efforts. He tells the story he frequently referenced while campaigning about mentoring a teen in an urban neighborhood.
So @RevDrBarber is saying God commanded nations/government to take care of their poor, etc., not individuals, which is sort of the opposite of what @BillLeeTN says about government not solving our problems. I'm guessing he is uncomfortable sitting on stage behind Barber.
OK guys it's getting awkward up there! @RevDrBarber just called out @BillLeeTN. He just told everyone who doesn't support a wall, who wants universal healthcare to stand up. Lee did not. "If you can't stand up for that, then don't say you love Dr. King," he says to applause.
.@RevDrBarber keeps calling out @BillLeeTN, who just has to sit there on stage and take it. "You cannot say you love Tennesseans and then stand against the passage of a living wage in Tennessee," Barber said. Then calls opposition to Medicaid expansion "a shame and a disgrace."
Meanwhile Gov. @BillLeeTN keeps chugging the bottled water as this drama unfolds
They just brought him out another bottle
And @BillLeeTN offered his bottle of water to @RevDrBarber, who apparently needed water too as he continues to talk about how the government does not care about poor people
As @RevDrBarber lists causes like living wage, gun control, supporting voting rights, environmental justice, affordable housing, etc. that he says people on stage at #MLKDay events should pursue, Gov. @BillLeeTN has shifted in his seat some. Happy first week of being governor!
Now @RevDrBarber has called students on stage as they pledge to join @UniteThePoor movement. "You've got to stop these folks who just want to come pontificate," he says, telling them to meet with Gov. @BillLeeTN and "don't accept no for an answer."
Somehow @BillLeeTN escaped the stage as the large crowd of students gathered around @RevDrBarber at the podium. I think this thing is over!
Just got a statement from Gov. @BillLeeTN's press secretary. He does hope to be invited back to the event next year!
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