Groups travel by busload to protest at state Capitol

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Wednesday was a day of action for more than 20 grassroots organizations meeting at the state Capitol.

The group met at First Congregational Church and drove by the busload to Nashville to march, rally and protest a number of new bills and laws they say have a negative impact on Tennesseans–specifically people in Memphis.

One bill that organizers are particularly upset about has to do with arming teachers in the classroom, which is making its way to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.

That bill in particular bothers Memphis For All’s Political Director Tikeila Rucker.

“Teachers are a pill and a bottle away from their sanity,” Rucker said. “So you put guns in the hands of teachers in a room full of children that are unruly, and disrespectful, it’s no telling what can happen. Like, it’s as if they’re setting us up for mass destruction; they’re setting us up to go against each other. This is not okay.”

Speakers also addressed fully-funded public schools over vouchers, fully funding Tennessee State University and reproductive freedom for women, among other issues.

”Memphis in particular has always been attacked at our capital for so many years,” Antoine Dandridge of Planned Parenthood said. “We are impacted so much about what’s happening with these bills that are happening–so many Memphians are upset and don’t know what to do. In this movement today we are hoping that all Memphians who are watching this realize that we have to make more trips to Nashville. We’ve got to stay on top of these people making decisions, because we are not just this little city on the bluff, we’re a major part of this state.”

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