Protestors lined the outside of the Capitol building in Nashville on Tuesday ahead of a special legislative session called by Governor Bill Lee to redraw Tennessee’s congressional districts.¶
The redistricting bill’s actual parameters will likely not be set until Wednesday’s committee sessions, but maps shared by conservative activist Steve Gill and gubernatorial candidate U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, would carve up the state’s 9th Congressional district, currently held by Congressman Steve Cohen, D-TN, and provide an opportunity for Republicans to pick up a House seat.¶
Legislators opened Monday’s meetings by suspending their usual rules of order, allowing them to pass the bill more quickly. The General Assembly has hearings scheduled for Wednesday and is expected to vote on the final map on Thursday.¶
If approved, this would be the second time in four years that the congressional map has been changed.¶
Protestors Oppose Plan
Beginning in the early hours of Tuesday morning, hundreds of protestors began to arrive at the Capitol with signs calling the redistricting efforts “fascist,” “racist,” and “bigoted,” with many drawing comparisons to Jim Crow laws. The crowd included activists from Memphis, Nashville, and other communities across the state.¶
Senator Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, as well as other senators, stopped by the protests and spoke to the media amidst “hands off Memphis” chants from the crowd.¶
“This is a moment in history that we will look back on, and we want to be able to say we were on the right side of it, that we stood up, that we spoke out for what was right in the face of grave injustice,” Akbari said.¶
Once protestors were allowed to enter the Capitol building, they shouted “shame, shame, shame” at legislators as they began making their way into the special session.¶
What Led to the Special Session
The special session comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled regarding the Voting Rights Act, deciding race should not be the primary factor in creating districts, which in turn allows states to create maps based on political affiliation. The decision weakens protections for majority-minority districts and has opened the door for southern states, including Tennessee, to potentially reduce Democratic representation.¶
Senator Blackburn originally called for the redistricting efforts last Wednesday, which in turn led multiple Republican leaders to express support for the move.¶
Governor Lee officially called for the session on May 1, following President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post the day before that called on the governor to “correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps” in the state.¶
“We owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters,” Lee’s post said. “After consultation with the Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, I believe the General Assembly has a responsibility to review the map and ensure it remains fair, legal, and defensible.”¶
