Advocates Call for Agenda of "Love and Hope" as General Assembly Returns

Activists gathered to share priorities with members of state legislature

A coalition of advocates joined an event hosted by the Southern Christian Coalition last week to call on the Tennessee General Assembly to embrace an agenda of "love and hope."

Pratik Dash, from Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Votes, said, "We are all here today on the first day of the 2024 legislative session - Black, Brown, White, younger and older, from different regions of the state because we love Tennessee. We’re here because we love our communities, our people, and our children enough to demand what we deserve. We deserve to live in a state where we can confidently say everyone – regardless of what we look like or where we come from, we are all safe from gun violence. Right now, all eyes are on Tennessee, but we know that our movement is bigger than this moment."

Juana Chavez, a local immigrant and college student shared her story as a DACA recipient. "We are here today from across the state because we believe that we all deserve rights, we all deserve freedoms, and we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. And we believe that immigrants and refugees are Tennesseans, too, and we help shape the future of our state."

Dr. Brian Marshall, Founder of MashUp Nation, shared his hope for a brighter Tennessee:

"Even though you can't see the sun right now the sun is shining right on this spot full of people that are hopeful for change. And what we need the Legislature to do is get on board with that hope."

Advocates gather at the Tennessee State Capitol/January 2024Photo bySouthern Christian Coalition