Thread by @tequilamjohnson

If what is happening in #Nashville is constitutionally permissible then we may as well declare that democracy is Dead and stop acting like we’re going to change this by increasing turnout. A voter suppression timeline….

First the TN Republicans gerrymander Nashville into 3 unrecognizable congressional districts. It’s so bad that for the first time In history we don’t have a representative that lives in Nashville. The states capital. We have no congressional representation..

Next voters show up to the polls and literally vote in the wrong districts and it’s dismissed, because well…, it’s not enough votes to make a difference.

Then the state steps in and literally decides to take over some of our largest revenue generating local boards and commissions. Leaving no local input on who serves on said boards. Meaning our infrastructure and tax dollars are no longer governed by us.

Let’s not even get into education and how Nashville and Memphis- our most democratic and Blackest cities are being taken over by private Ed money. At the hands of the state.

Next our city council is being cut down from a 40 person body to 20 members. Rather you’re for it or not is irrelevant.. we literally have a month before municipal elections to draw brand new districts after candidates have already announced and pulled petitions.

Finally after 4 months of civil unrest from the horrific murder of Tyre Nicole’s at the hands of police to a mass shooting that claimed the lives of 3 children and 3 adults in a private Christian school. The state has yet to address gun violence or law enforcement.

Then to add insult to injury- they’re allowed to constitutionally remove 3 state representatives who WE the people elected to serve us. This is NOT democracy. At this point I don’t even know who represents me.

I don’t care if you’re an police abolitionist or a gun control activist, Black or white, lesbian or straight, Christian or Agnostic. Regardless of if you’re on the front lines fighting or not you should be pushing for equitable democracy.

This is not just an attack on education, families and/or communities of color….this is an attack on our freedom to choose. Listen @EquityAlliance1 we’re trying to put 100 organizers on the ground, across the state this summer. Help us