OPINION: TN Pastors Issue Condemnation of State's Anti-Immigrant Policy

Advocacy group claims some state policies are harmful

A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition says Tennessee state law and some policies represent a pattern of discrimination against immigrant communities.

The group released a video statement calling out two specific policies it says harm certain groups of people in Tennessee.

In the statement, Rev. Wesley King, an ordained Disciples of Christ minister, says:

"Friends, to be an American is to value democracy. That's why we must value the voices and votes of all those who are qualified to vote. That's why I'm so horrified to hear of these voter intimidation tactics from the Tennessee Secretary of State. You might have seen that the State Election Commission sent out over 14,000 letters to naturalized citizens demanding them to re-send proof of their citizenship even though they have already provided it before. This is just blatant voter suppression and as Christians we must speak out against this attempt to silence the voices of those who have every right to vote!"

Additionaly, King notes that a law requiring local law enforcement to report suspected illegal immigrants to federal officials creates a climate of racial profiling:

"Immigrants and new Americans are a part of the fabric of our society. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, and our friends. Governmental actions like this are not consistent with Tennessee values and they are also not consistent with the Biblical mandate to treat others the way you wish to be treated. This attempt to silence voices and scare entire communities goes to show how important it is that we show up for every election for candidates that believe all our voices and votes matter- not just a select few of us."

Photo byTanner BoriackonUnsplash