VIDEOS

TNGOP Hypocrites Outdo Themselves on MLK Day

January 18, 2021/in Civil Rights, racial justice, Republican hypocrisy, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

Few things are more disgraceful than Tennessee Republican Party legislators claiming to appreciate MLK on this day every year when they spend the other 364 fighting against everything he stood for. Here are some examples of their glaring hypocrisy and some quotes reflecting what MLK actually stood for.

One of our all-time favorites, Rev. Dr. William Barber calls out Governor Lee…with Lee sitting right behind him:

WATCH: “Politicians can’t say they love Dr. King, and how he stood for love & unity… but then refuse to support his agenda. RIGHT GOVERNOR?”

2019, NASHVILLE — @RevDrBarber calls out @GovBillLee and his party of hypocrites TO HIS FACE.?? #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/bSzTibwrAG

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 18, 2021

Governor Bill Lee:

.@GovBillLee refuses to expand Medicaid to 300,000 Tennesseans and spent $1 MILLION keeping peaceful protestors off a public plaza this summer before passing a law making what they were doing a felony. He also attacks unions and is an enemy to public education. #MLKDay https://t.co/WIZAZTybFq

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 18, 2021

Rep. Mark Green:

Mark Green blocked health care expansion to 300,000 poor folks, voted to disenfranchise millions of black voters after his lies helped incite a deadly mob??

He is the antithesis of MLK in every way, his calls for love over hate & division are laughably hypocritical. #MLKDay https://t.co/5nSyAjyFDQ

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 18, 2021

Senator Blackburn:

Marsha was going to vote to throw out the votes of millions of black Americans until the insurrection fueled by her endless lies threatened her personally…. she also once invited a Neo-Confederate secessionist to give the prayer on the House floor. #MLKDay https://t.co/jFPcvmR2M9

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 18, 2021

Rep. John Rose:

ROSE VOTED TO DISENFRANCHISE MILLIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE EVEN AFTER A DEADLY, VIOLENT INSURRECTION ??#SitDownJohn #JimCrowCaucus @CvilleHoller https://t.co/gqixpB9xqM

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 18, 2021

State Rep. Lamberth:

Accountability isn’t “hate”, majority leader @WilliamLamberth.

Here’s a couple other pertinent MLK quotes for you to chew on… Legislators who just criminalized protest should probably keep his name out of their mouths. https://t.co/QtgJ6M9hKE pic.twitter.com/Un41ziIQ5Y

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 18, 2021

Rep. Faison:

.@tnhousegop caucus leader Faison apparently doesn’t realize MLK wrote that after being arrested for protesting… meanwhile Faison and his caucus just passed a law felonizing protest this summer??#MLKDay https://t.co/P68wabwSI7

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 18, 2021

Rep. Kelsey:

Senator Kelsey is currently championing Right to Work legislation attacking unions. MLK was murdered while supporting striking sanitation workers right here in Memphis. ?? #MLKDay https://t.co/QtjwQfVVUD

— The Memphis Holler (@MemphisHoller) January 18, 2021

Here are a couple of quotes that you’ll never see Republicans use in their disingenuous tributes:

Insurrection GRITS

January 18, 2021/in Federal, GRITS, Podcasts, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories

LINKS

Sign this petition to take down Steve Berger,

Gov. Lee’s extremist pastor at Grace Chapel

How to speak to people who believe in conspiracy theories

Republican Attorney Generals launch robocalls

Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver’s Tennessean patriot profile

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

LISTEN ? "We have to figure out how to deal with the banality of evil."

On @gritspodcast, @louisiannamal & @AftynBehn talk about how seemingly normal people participated in the insurrection and how a bad ideology can creep up if we don't push back.

Pod: https://t.co/oekPW2M2po pic.twitter.com/4DspX7HWgS

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 16, 2021

Tennessean Insurrectionists and the Importance of Antifascism

January 18, 2021/in climate justice, Environment, Federal, Podcasts, Rocky Top Sunrise with Sunrise Movement Tennessee, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

Journalists Abby Lee Hood and Matt Bastin join to talk about Tennesseans’ involvement in the undemocratic coup attempt by MAGA insurrectionists that took place at our Capitol last week. We explore the moment we are in and where to go from here, including how it is more important now than ever to include antifascism into everything we do. Not only is supporting antifascism the right thing to do, but we will never pass a Green New Deal or any other progressive legislation if we don’t both practice antifascism and push for democratic reforms.

Read Matt and Abby Lee’s piece in Tennessee Lookout that inspired this episode

Support Abby Lee

Support Matt

Read Angela Davis’ Abolition Democracy Beyond Empire Prisons & Torture

Sunrise Tennessee Interest Form

Join DSA

Volunteer for The Equity Alliance

Find out what Native Land you are living on

Follow Sunrise Tennessee on Twitter and Facebook.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts and wherever else you like to listen.

"You have a group with an intent to do harm that let the disorganization of the moment cover for them."

Journalists @AbbyLeeHood & @mort713 join @cassjacks on #RockyTopSunrise to talk about the MAGA coup attempt and the importance of antifascism.

Pod ? https://t.co/oekPW2M2po pic.twitter.com/3HBTiMh07e

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 15, 2021

How Small Farmers Have Handled the Pandemic

January 15, 2021/in Jobs & The Economy, Podcasts, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS, What About Us? /by Justin Kanew

Jess Wilson joins again to talk about local food farming programs during the Covid pandemic as well as issues our farmers continue to face as they try to bring income and work equality to a rural industry.

Jess’ Business: In Town Organics and Summer Fields

National Young Farmers Coalition

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts here, and wherever else you like to listen here.

"If we want to encourage young people to move into our rural communities, then they have to be able to access land and have access to capital."

Small Farmer Jess Wilson talks about how fair wages, healthcare, etc, are all issues that impact farmers.

Pod: https://t.co/oekPW2M2po pic.twitter.com/FO4qyAh7W2

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 15, 2021

Rep. Dixie on How GOP “Savings” Don’t Help Tennesseans

January 15, 2021/in Health Care, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

“I keep hearing a lot of numbers about cost-cutting, savings…we should be getting health care to all Tennesseans.” – Caucus Chair Vincent Dixie points out Medicaid “SAVINGS” the GOP brags about aren’t necessarily good when it means less care for Tennesseans. #NotABlockGrant

The State House passed this rushed “not-a-block-grant” bill 70-22, making Tennessee the only state to have one once Governor Lee signs it into law. TNGOP did this on a Friday to sneak it in before Biden takes office. Expect lawsuits.

Rep. Clemmons Slams TNGOP’s Rushed “Not-A-Block” Program

January 15, 2021/in Health Care, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

“We’re blowing up a system that is working in the middle of a pandemic…or we could EXPAND MEDICAID and start realizing BILLIONS without reinventing the wheel.” – Rep. John Ray Clemmons on the TNGOP’s rushed, probably illegal not-a-block-grant program. The bill passed the State House. #ExpandMedicaid

Lamberth Doesn’t Seem to Understand Tennessee’s Budget

January 14, 2021/in Republican hypocrisy, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

“Gov. Bill Lee’s own budget says we get 36% of our budget from the federal gov. It doesn’t seem like TN House GOP majority leader William Lamberth knows what’s going on.” Kanew and Cassie blast Lamberth on #HollerHour for not seeming to understand Tennessee’s budget, as noted by Representative Jason Hodges.

Watch the full Lamberth/Hodges clip here.

TN’s Secretary of Voter Suppression Tre Hargett Reconfirmed

January 13, 2021/in Civil Rights, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

Despite pushing for in-person voting during COVID, criminalizing voter reg, and pushing racist voter suppression legislation, TN Secretary of Voter Suppression TRE HARGETT was just confirmed for another 4 years.

All 6 TN SENATE DEMS and these 8 Reps did NOT vote to confirm: CLEMMONS, G JOHNSON, DIXIE, BECK, FREEMAN, POTTS, MCKENZIE, SHAW, CAMPER, STEWART

Sen. Johnson: “GET OUTTA MY FACE”

January 12, 2021/in Republican hypocrisy, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

Williamson County Senator Jack Johnson was unenthusiastic about discussing the role a letter from Tennssee state legislators encouraging Tennessee reps to challenge Biden’s win played in the deadly attack on our Capitol by Trump supporters.

Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver: “I DID NOTHING WRONG”

January 12, 2021/in Republican hypocrisy, State, TOPICS, VIDEOS /by Justin Kanew

Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver ducks questions about her presence in DC during the deadly Trump insurrection (which she posted fondly of afterward) as her husband INITIATES PHYSICAL CONTACT with our reporter.