According to various conservative media outlets, left-wing activists and legislators in Tennessee perpetrated their own version of the January 6 attack last week in Nashville.
Maybe this is just the start of nonviolent protests led by schoolchildren and their parents to stop gun worship in this country. Enough is enough. We, the people, demand to be heard by our so-called representatives. We will require that our votes be fairly counted and that legislation reflect what the majority wants.
Sadly, I have been a parent chaperone many times for my child and his school to protest a lack of gun control and to elevate the fact that they don't feel safe in school. Nothing happened. Kids keep speaking up and have for years. Too many adults don't care. Makes me incredibly frustrated and sad.
Tennessee Republicans must feel mighty comfy in their voter suppressed, gerrymandered seats to put the fascism and love for an armed citizenry on such open display. But maybe they should be careful what they wish for, nothing lasts forever.
And with a fair, non-MAGA controlled Court, the people of WI will get fair election maps, and as we just saw in Michigan, the GQP/Scott Walker Reign of Error will be brought to an end.
43 state legislatures are controlled by Republicans. They all could become Tennessee, Texas, Florida Missouri, etc, etc. It is very frightening to see what has happened while the silent majority has been asleep.
Elected officials that are for the people and by the people, can be tossed out on their cans. I am told by a concerned relative the Wisconsin Supreme Court electee from last night can be impeached if one more Repub is elected to the state senate, making a 2/3rds majority. Unreal.
Democracy may not win the battle, but we must try.
It is frightening and hopefully galvanizing to a lot of people who are trying to live their lives and ignore what is happening. Here in NC, a legislator who campaigned as a Democrat on gun safety, access to reproductive healthcare, etc., has just switched parties, handing a supermajority that can override Cooper’s vetos. The silent majority better wake up. Youth and urban voters did not come out in the midterms. It feels complacent here to me. I’m worried and hope that people will start to take VOTING--electing people to represent their interests more seriously.
This is what happens when the Republican Party of today has unfettered control of government. They become ideologues, advocating for everything they preach against. They support religious freedom as long as it’s their chosen religion. They support free speech as long as they agree with what is spoken. They support the constitution, as long as they can interpret it. It’s scary and disturbing. The bigger question is how and when does it end? They own the courts, thirty state legislatures, the US House of Representatives and they are no longer hiding their white supremest, bigoted, anti-gay agenda. It’s minority rule and it never ends well. True governance take a coalition representing those who are being governed. Remember Lincoln said “Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people, by the people.” It won’t work any other way.
Just a factual note: The TN legislator accused in 2019 of sexually assaulting minors when serving as a basketball coach was Rep. David Byrd (R-Waynesboro). He retired in 2022.
So a couple Black men and a woman break the rules by speaking out of turn, and too loudly? That's a good reason to deprive Tennessee citizens of their duly elected representatives? Getting post-Reconstruction vibes
As discouraging as this is, I take some hope from the election results in Wisconsin. Many of those students protesting in Tennessee will be eligible to vote in 2024 and essentially all of them by 2028. Very few of them or their generation will ever vote for a Republican. A change is gonna come.
This is what I hang my optimism on, Bill. It is also what I blame so much of this recent behavior on. The generation that is governing now is dying and they don’t see anyone replacing them.
There is a whole group of voters turning 18 every day now who have lived through “code red drills” at best, and lost friends at worst. These same voters have friends who are gay, trans, black, brown, and white.
I live in a rural county that went for Trump twice by big margins and even the “conservative” kids don’t really even think about being gay as a thing anymore. It’s terrifying to these legislators. Why else would there be a “Don’t say gay” bill? They see no choice but to take extreme action because their end is near and they know it.
This is a level of corruption that Citizens United was designed to do...and the Crime Syndicate aka RNC has to cling to the NRA in order to maintain their money laundering operations for foreign donations from Russia, the Saudis, etc.
as usual, another example of the GQP's fascist attempts to suppress free-speech - they're terrified of dissenting opinion and criticism from people who are not NRA puppets and Con artists like them #votebluetosaveamerica
For many years I attended Arrowmont Crafts School in Gatlinburg TN. Haven't gone since 2018. Now I'm on the fence.
As much as I want to spend a week among other artists, between the lax gun laws, the lousy response to covid, and this incident, I wonder if by attending I am complicit in the state's turn to fascism, not to mention putting myself at risk of being gunned down by a crazy person who thinks artists are all communists. I would love to hear what others think. Should I go? Would you?
I agree 100%. We should, unfortunately, now choose states like we choose another country to visit. Belize or Costa Rica? Great! Haiti right now? No thank you.
Maybe this is just the start of nonviolent protests led by schoolchildren and their parents to stop gun worship in this country. Enough is enough. We, the people, demand to be heard by our so-called representatives. We will require that our votes be fairly counted and that legislation reflect what the majority wants.
Sadly, I have been a parent chaperone many times for my child and his school to protest a lack of gun control and to elevate the fact that they don't feel safe in school. Nothing happened. Kids keep speaking up and have for years. Too many adults don't care. Makes me incredibly frustrated and sad.
Me, too.
Yes! Having children of all ages speak up and demonstrate will be powerful. I love, "I just want to live through high school"!
We can hope
Indeed.
Tennessee Republicans must feel mighty comfy in their voter suppressed, gerrymandered seats to put the fascism and love for an armed citizenry on such open display. But maybe they should be careful what they wish for, nothing lasts forever.
Look to WI Supreme Court on nothing lasts forever, YAY!!
And with a fair, non-MAGA controlled Court, the people of WI will get fair election maps, and as we just saw in Michigan, the GQP/Scott Walker Reign of Error will be brought to an end.
So they are expelling two black men and a woman? How very southern of them. Are they planning on wearing the white robes to the vote?
Tennessee, racing Mississippi and Texas to the bottom.
Missouri says “hold my beer”
So true.
And don’t forget Floriduh.
Don't forget 🤬 FL.
43 state legislatures are controlled by Republicans. They all could become Tennessee, Texas, Florida Missouri, etc, etc. It is very frightening to see what has happened while the silent majority has been asleep.
Elected officials that are for the people and by the people, can be tossed out on their cans. I am told by a concerned relative the Wisconsin Supreme Court electee from last night can be impeached if one more Repub is elected to the state senate, making a 2/3rds majority. Unreal.
Democracy may not win the battle, but we must try.
It is frightening and hopefully galvanizing to a lot of people who are trying to live their lives and ignore what is happening. Here in NC, a legislator who campaigned as a Democrat on gun safety, access to reproductive healthcare, etc., has just switched parties, handing a supermajority that can override Cooper’s vetos. The silent majority better wake up. Youth and urban voters did not come out in the midterms. It feels complacent here to me. I’m worried and hope that people will start to take VOTING--electing people to represent their interests more seriously.
Non stop organizing is the answer.
I agree. We need a lot more people contributing actual effort to organizing that gets results.
This is what happens when the Republican Party of today has unfettered control of government. They become ideologues, advocating for everything they preach against. They support religious freedom as long as it’s their chosen religion. They support free speech as long as they agree with what is spoken. They support the constitution, as long as they can interpret it. It’s scary and disturbing. The bigger question is how and when does it end? They own the courts, thirty state legislatures, the US House of Representatives and they are no longer hiding their white supremest, bigoted, anti-gay agenda. It’s minority rule and it never ends well. True governance take a coalition representing those who are being governed. Remember Lincoln said “Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people, by the people.” It won’t work any other way.
Unbelievable! What idiot would want to make it easy for a child to obtain a weapon?
I mean, yes you are "technically" an adult and can vote at 18, but voting can't immediately damage or possibly end a life can it?
It boggles the mind. Think of the worst 18 year olds you ever knew. Now imagine them armed.
Think of the most troubled teenager you know and realize one bad day at school and they can now buy a gun and kill themselves before you get home.
And the killing doesn't have to be limited to themselves.
https://everytownresearch.org/report/the-rise-of-firearm-suicide-among-young-americans/
On average, 3,100 kids kill themselves every year with a gun and that number is rising.
Yes, we should prevent mass shootings. Yes, mass shootings are on the rise.
But suicide attempts involving a firearm are more likely to be successful and they are the third leading cause of death for kids.
And they are no less of a tragedy than mass shootings.
Yes, too many under the age of 21 have killed too many with AR 15's or AK 47's.
🎯
Just a factual note: The TN legislator accused in 2019 of sexually assaulting minors when serving as a basketball coach was Rep. David Byrd (R-Waynesboro). He retired in 2022.
So a couple Black men and a woman break the rules by speaking out of turn, and too loudly? That's a good reason to deprive Tennessee citizens of their duly elected representatives? Getting post-Reconstruction vibes
It's about being drunk on power and utterly unable to abide disagreement. "My way or the highway."
As discouraging as this is, I take some hope from the election results in Wisconsin. Many of those students protesting in Tennessee will be eligible to vote in 2024 and essentially all of them by 2028. Very few of them or their generation will ever vote for a Republican. A change is gonna come.
This is what I hang my optimism on, Bill. It is also what I blame so much of this recent behavior on. The generation that is governing now is dying and they don’t see anyone replacing them.
There is a whole group of voters turning 18 every day now who have lived through “code red drills” at best, and lost friends at worst. These same voters have friends who are gay, trans, black, brown, and white.
I live in a rural county that went for Trump twice by big margins and even the “conservative” kids don’t really even think about being gay as a thing anymore. It’s terrifying to these legislators. Why else would there be a “Don’t say gay” bill? They see no choice but to take extreme action because their end is near and they know it.
What is their recourse? Is that where it ends for democracy in TN?
This is a level of corruption that Citizens United was designed to do...and the Crime Syndicate aka RNC has to cling to the NRA in order to maintain their money laundering operations for foreign donations from Russia, the Saudis, etc.
Does this expulsion action violate these lawmakers' First Amendment rights? ACLU to the rescue?? Lawsuits???
Methinks there is nothing they can do. Separation of powers.
as usual, another example of the GQP's fascist attempts to suppress free-speech - they're terrified of dissenting opinion and criticism from people who are not NRA puppets and Con artists like them #votebluetosaveamerica
For many years I attended Arrowmont Crafts School in Gatlinburg TN. Haven't gone since 2018. Now I'm on the fence.
As much as I want to spend a week among other artists, between the lax gun laws, the lousy response to covid, and this incident, I wonder if by attending I am complicit in the state's turn to fascism, not to mention putting myself at risk of being gunned down by a crazy person who thinks artists are all communists. I would love to hear what others think. Should I go? Would you?
I agree 100%. We should, unfortunately, now choose states like we choose another country to visit. Belize or Costa Rica? Great! Haiti right now? No thank you.