Tennessee adopts new law that could strip some protesters of voting rights

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

Colby Itkowitz, Amy Gardner 9 hrs ago

Tennessee adopts new law that could strip some protesters of voting rights

Protesters who camp out on state property, such as the activists who have demonstrated for months outside the state Capitol against racial injustice, could now face felony charges punishable by up to six years in prison. Convicted felons are automatically stripped of their voting rights in Tennessee.

The new law, which went into effect immediately, outraged civil rights groups, who say the move is Tennessee’s latest attempt to repress voting ahead of the November elections.

“The racial motivation underlying the law is undeniable,” said Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “It’s a clear backlash response to the Black Lives Matter movement and to people who are decisively protesting racial injustice and police violence.”

Clarke said her organization is considering a sweeping lawsuit addressing all the ways she believes Tennessee Republicans are trying to suppress and intimidate voters.



Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/tennessee-adopts-new-law-that-could-strip-some-protesters-of-voting-rights/ar-BB18gzzY?li=BBnb7Kz

[Sherman A1]

1. One suspects that the ACLU

Will be seeing them in court.

[ananda]

6. They should be all over this asap!!

!!!

[BlueIdaho]

10. That reminds me

I need to send the ACLU more money to keep up the good fight.

[Roy Rolling]

2. America's Waste

How much of the U.S. Human resources are wasted with bullshit like this? People who could be engaged in making America a better place to live, are paid a salary as politicians and waste their time with useless legislation to impress the stupid base.

[maxrandb]

3. How much American wealth and prescious time

is wasted on shithole Dumbfuckistan Murika places like Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi.

A new Dem majority needs to pass a law that states get back not one fucking cent more in federal funding than they pay in.

I'm fucking sick of these racist, backwardass fucking "takers" ruining and ruling the entire direction and policies of the country.

There needs to be no Kumbaya moment, or "let's all get along" moment.

There should be no more half measures. Retrumplicans have shown us how you treat the states that don't vote for you.

We've tolerated the tyranny of the minority for way too long.

Let Moscow Mitch explain why his states military bases are closing, federal employees are leaving, and why their mail is weeks late.

Grab your fucking bootstraps you worthless taker states.

[eggplant]

9. You do realize that would punish the left for the behavior of the right.

[maxrandb]

11. So we allow the state of Kentucky

that is less population than one county in California to block everything because they send Dipshits like McConnell and Rand Paul to the Senate?

They won't change, because no matter how fucked up their state is, the federal government props them up and comes to their rescue when there's flooding or other natural disasters.

Moscow Mitch and Donnie Shit for Brains have told CA and NY to go fuck themselves.

[Nasruddin]

12. Proportional representation

We should consider a proportional representation system, like what is used in Germany, for Senate seats.
How we would ever get the appropriate amendment of our archaic constitution is one real problem, but some kind of national proportional system might be better. There's something inherently unfair and contrary to the spirit of our revolution that Mitch McConnell or Nancy Pelosi can effectively dictate terms of legislation for the whole country, who have virtually no say in their position. Perhaps if its framed this way there might be some traction. I think the problem of the Senate is greater, the House is inherently a little more representative of the country, & the Senate is a lot more powerful nowadays.

[Bayard]

15. That's right

There are a lot of Dems here in KY, and in TN. That's why the TN legislature wants to shut down protesters--they are probably Dems for the most part.

I was very encouraged when we elected Gov. Beshear last year. Hopefully, Amy McGrath will be knocking McConnell out of the ballgame in Nov.

[Nasruddin]

14. Performative

I agree: a lot of legislative time is wasted on circus acts like this.

What if we had some kind of 3rd party objective rating system - if you vote for unconstitutional or ineffective laws, you lose part of your vote. So after a few blunders a legislator would have effectively, say, 0.3x vote. If it drops below 0, you're out, & disqualified for the next election cycle. Feedback loop is probably too slow,tho.

[FirefighterJo]

4. I said it before

And I'll say it again. It might be a good idea to ship a few regiments of blue helmets to the US, to monitor the elections... Sadly to say, like they do when compromised elections are expected in shithole countries 😔

[bucolic_frolic]

5. People with MAGA hats have already voiced their opinion

which is tantamount to voting. Next!

[progressive nobody]

7. So they are trying to destroy a person's right to vote because they exercise their 1st amendment?

ACLU!!!!!!

[paleotn]

8. The Fascist State of Tennessee

They've gone full on authoritarian. But if they want to be 1970's El Salvador, they need to do it on their own dime.

[bronxiteforever]

13. New state motto "The Anti Bill of Rights State"n/t

[marble falls]

16. That will not last very long.