Author: Kailynn Johnson

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Lawmakers Work To Remove Grocery Tax

Photo by Fikri Rasyid on Unsplash

Lawmakers are continuing work to repeal the state’s grocery tax with bills introduced in the legislature.

Tennessee is one of 10 states, including Alabama and Mississippi, that are looking to take away the grocery tax. In 2024, the state was recognized by the Tax Foundation as having one of the highest grocery taxes in the nation at 4 percent. According to a fiscal review by the Tennessee General Assembly, the average local sales tax is estimated to be 2.5 percent. Memphis’ current sales tax is 2.75 percent, meaning local shoppers pay 6.75 percent.

State Democrats have criticized Republicans for enacting legislation that would help the upper class and big corporations, as opposed to “working families in Tennessee.” To rectify this, legislation has been introduced to repeal the grocery tax.

SB1164 introduced by Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) would remove fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables from being included in sales tax. Action has currently been deferred on this bill in the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Revenue Committee.

Republicans have introduced HB0021 that would eliminate the state grocery tax of 4 percent and impose a tax of up to 2.75 percent. While Tennessee law allows funds from the tax to go towards education, the bill would remove this option.

HB0002 by  Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville), also known as the “End the Grocery Tax by Closing Corporate Loopholes Act) would eliminate the sales tax from groceries as well. For purposes of the bill, groceries are defined as “food and food ingredients for human consumption.” Similar to HB0021, this would not include alcoholic beverages, tobacco, candy, dietary supplements, or prepared food.

The bill also proposes that bigger corporations pay more in taxes to make up for the funds lost by removing the tax. Sen. Charlane Oliver (D- Nashville) is the Senate sponsor for the bill and said that abolishing the grocery tax could lead to investment in universal pre-K. Oliver made these comments during a press conference hosted by the coalition Tennessee For All, who gathered for their “Communities Not Corporations: Day on the Hill.” In addition to rallying against the grocery tax and “end of corporate tax loopholes,” the group advocated for worker’s safety rights and funding for pre-K education.

“For too long, our state has sided with billionaires and big businesses,” Oliver said. “We need to stop giving a break to corporations and start investing in our communities.”

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MATA Officials Reveal Reason For Missed Bus Routes

Photo: Justin Fox Burks

The Memphis Area Transit Authority’s leadership contributed to a majority of missed trips last year by removing routes from its published schedule. Interim CEO and TransPro consultant John Lewis called the move a “deliberate” decision by previous management to “mask service cuts from the public.”

This information was revealed during the Interim CEO report at the March 7th Board of Commissioners meeting. Officials said the schedule deletions had been going on “as far back as April of last year (2024).”

“We knew we weren’t delivering 20 percent of the published schedule,” an official said during the meeting.

With customer satisfaction being touted as a priority, officials are now working to improve their on-time performance (OTP). They reported 64 percent of buses arrived “between one minute early and 5 minutes late” in January 2025. 

Those numbers exclude the 29 percent of missed trips — which the agency said are trips that were never completed. Leadership went on to say in order for the schedule to be “executed,” drivers are able to pick their routes, but MATA leadership took 20 percent of the rides off of the published schedule.

“Even in a universe where we have buses and spares and operators we know are ready and willing to drive, we could not have delivered that because those weren’t available routes to drive,” the official said. “We never had a chance to perform them.

Lewis added that any schedule changes are subject to board approval.

“I’m mad as hell after hearing this,” Commissioner Cynthia Bailey said. “So, all this time they was violating and had the customers acting [a] ass here, it was their fault, or it never came out? So they was giving false information to the customers? I’m mad as hell.”

Lewis said they are “pursuing consequences” to the individuals who had knowledge of the schedule changes, and they are further investigating the issue.

“I have long stated that MATA had a priority problem and MATA was [more] concerned about the administration than the ridership,” said Johnnie Mosley, founding chairman of Citizens for Better Service. “Memphis must demand that MATA do right by bus riders. Bus riders have suffered too long as a result of lack of leadership.”

One of the key points that officials have tried to improve is the city’s trust in MATA — specifically as stewards of public funds. Leadership pointed to a September 2024 survey of 388 Memphians in which only 26 percent of responders said they deemed the agency trustworthy of taxpayer’s dollars.

“Over time, and with proper financial governance and transparency, the team will strive to improve the community’s faith in MATA,” officials said during a presentation at the meeting.

Lewis said TransPro performed a “preliminary review of FY24 General Administrative expenses,” which showed that out of $9.9 million, $848,000 was spent in discretionary spending. This included $603,000 in sponsorship of the Memphis Grizzlies and $144,000 in “other AMEX purchases.” 

Officials said this did not include charges for travel and meetings.

“We asked for detailed statements of that, had to do some digging with American Express — the agency at the time did not have itemized monthly bills, which was not a best practice to say the least,” Lewis said. “After we received itemized statements going back the last couple of years, we found within those purchases, seemingly non-business-related purchases.”

Lewis said these included $5,000 in payments via PayPal and Venmo, $7,000 in purchases at BestBuy, $10,000 in party equipment rental, $30,000 in customizable purchases, and $1,200 in Montblanc purchases to name a few. 

“These don’t seem to be necessarily transit related,” Lewis said.

He went on to say they brought this to the attention of the city auditor, and as a result the state comptroller has been notified. Lewis and his team has been advised to seek outside counsel for a more thorough investigation. 

The former leadership that had possession of the AMEX card has been placed on administrative leave, officials said.

The agency’s Board of Commissioners in conjunction with leadership have established that their main expectations are to enhance customer service, provide financial transparency, develop “public facing metrics,” and increase bus route coverage and frequency. 

MATA hopes these outcomes will result in improved trust in the community and satisfied customers, and optimization of the city’s investment. In terms of financials, the agency hopes to provide a balanced budget with “operating expenses [being] less than or equal to available revenue.”

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Homeless Encampment Bill Moves Through Legislature

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

A bill that seeks to keep Tennessee’s highways clear of encampments, tents, and personal items has been recommended for passage to the Senate Calendar Committee.

Senate Bill 0217 would require the Tennessee Department of Transportation and other agencies to regulate “the collection, storage, claiming, and disposal of personal property used for camping from the shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of a state or interstate highway, or under a bridge or overpass, or within an underpass of a state or interstate highway.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), was recommended for passage today through the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee. Taylor said he had experience in trying to clear areas of personal property and called it the “most complicated thing [he] had done as an adult.”

“What this bill does is simply allow TDOT to go into communities like Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, or any other community and to go ahead and pre-plan how they’re going to deal with homeless encampments and go ahead and work with social services networks in that community,” Taylor said.

Taylor said this network will include law enforcement, so that all the duties will already be spelled out when an encampment needs to be removed. He also said this bill does not criminalize homeless people.

“This serves not only the state and the local community, but this serves the homeless folks as well.” Taylor said. “When they identify a homeless encampment that needs to be cleared, there’ll be nonprofits and social services available to the people in homeless encampments. We all have empathy, but whatever has driven somebody to have to live under a bridge, their lot in life is not getting better by living under a bridge.”

Taylor said the bill will help communities develop a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to tackle this issue in a way that’s beneficial to both the city and the homeless. Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) asked if the bill outlines how their belongings will be stored, to which Taylor responded that the decision would be left to the board.

“I understand the intent. I have a similar thing happen in my district. I just am concerned without the direction from the legislation, the homeless peoples’ items and things need to be considered; that we’re putting the discretion to be able to take stuff away from homeless people in somebody’s hands where it might not have been before,” Campbell said.

Lindsey Krinks, co-founder of Housing for All Tennessee and Open Table Nashville, noted citizens’ concerns for the bill — specifically, the disposal of homeless people’s belongings.

“What this bill doesn’t tell you is that the campsite removal costs will be passed down to local governments; we’re really concerned about that,” Krinks said. “We all want to see the number of people living in encampments decrease, but the way we do that is not to play a game of Whack-A-Mole. It’s to break the cycle of homelessness through providing housing and support to people.”

Krinks said the bill does not address homelessness nor the deficit of housing or shelter. She noted that the bill’s “aggressive” deadline of removal three days after receiving a complaint does not allow people to secure permanent housing.

Taylor said this bill will address these concerns as the agencies and TDOT will help people get connected to the services they need. He said continuing to let people live in encampments without services does not provide them with extra support.

“If you support homeless people and want to get them the services they need and help them live in dignity, then you would support this bill, because we’re able to make that connection when we clear a homeless encampment between a person in need and social services they need to connect them,” Taylor said.

The bill passed the committee with seven ayes and one nay. 

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‘School Board The Musical’ to Tackle Feagins’ Termination

Photo Credit: Ladia Yates

The firing of former Memphis Shelby County School’s (MSCS) superintendent Marie Feagins will have a theatrical retelling from the students of Ladia Yates Entertainment (L.Y.E.) Academy.

Feagins’ termination sparked public interest from parents, students, and community members alike — prompting it to be the center of social media think-pieces and fodder. 

Ladia Yates, owner of L.Y.E. Academy, says it all could make a good documentary, which inspired her to create School Board The Musical.

“It’s actually a very interesting story,” Yates said. “It’s a revolving door. Something just keeps unfolding [and] keeping people’s attention. I think it’s a learning lesson, and I think it shows there’s a lot of corruption within the city of Memphis, the school system, the local government, that’s holding people back. It’s holding the city of Memphis back.”

Yates said Feagins “took the lid off” these things, which likely caused the fiasco to unfold.

“Whatever they’re doing is being revealed through her [Feagins],” Yates said. “Even if she didn’t try to do that, that’s just what’s happening. That’s why it’s such a big controversy.”

Controversy and drama is what draws people in, Yates adds. It also invites room for social commentary, and parody, which comedian Latoya Polk took advantage of during the height of the ordeal. Polk added humor by reenacting various meetings and embodying different school board members — an approach Yates found inspiring. Now, Polk will channel that same theatricality as the musical’s host.

“She’s bringing some sort of light to the situation through comedy,” Yates said. “That’s like how I’m bringing light to the situation through dance.”

These themes of light and laughter are integral in not only bringing the production to light, but for people to digest the mess in general. Yates said people were ready to “crash out” over Feagins, as the debacle was not just about her, but the welfare of students.

Feagins recently visited Yates’ studio for a public speaking class and recalls her students being immediately drawn to her. 

“She has an energy that will draw you to her, contrary to what the board is saying,” Yates said. “You see all the kids … they’re taking to her, she’s dancing with them. You see the photos and can see the camaraderie between her and the children and you can tell they naturally take to her.”

While it can be easy for Feagins’ termination to be marked by turmoil, Yates hopes the musical will represent resilience, and leave people inspired.

“It’ll be clean-cut. We’re not going to bash anyone, call out names, or use anyone’s likeness,” Yates said. “It’s more so for inspiration and just telling a story, and the moral of the story is don’t give up. Keep going no matter who stabs you in the back.”


School Board The Musical opens at 5 p.m. on April 13th at Crosstown Theater. Tickets can be purchased here.

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Public Concerns Grow as City Moves Forward With xAI Project

Elon Musk. Photo by Trevor Cokley / Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Members of the Memphis community have continuously voiced their opposition to Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer project, and the approval of a land deal along with recent news of the city’s investment into the Colossus Water Recycle Plant have amplified public dissent.

When the xAI deal was announced, community leaders and advocates openly opposed the project due to its negative environmental impact and disproportionate effect on minority communities.

Groups such as the Southern Environmental Law Center; Young, Gifted & Green; and Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) have written letters openly opposing the project, and these concerns have only grown louder.

Today, Mayor Young posted on Facebook that city council approved land acquisition for the future Colossus Water Recycle Plant, an $80 million “investment in green infrastructure to protect our aquifer and safeguard our water for the long term.”

“This is a big win for our entire community,” Young said.

According to the group Protect Our Aquifer, the Colossus Water Recycle Plant will be used to “reduce aquifer usage” of the Colossus supercomputer and “other nearby industries.” The plant will be placed in Southwest Memphis at the former Electrolux facility.

The mayor went on to say that environmental concerns were a “top priority” from the beginning, and that when the electrical grid is experiencing high demand, xAI will move to “100 percent battery power.”

“We have an opportunity to position Memphis as a leader in AI and technology, but we have to do it responsibly,” Young said. “Together, we’re charting a path towards a sustainable future that protects our aquifer and ensures this investment benefits all Memphians for generations to come.”

While the mayor’s post seemed to address the looming environmental concerns, citizens are still not satisfied with the city’s decision.

“This is a very bad business decision,” a Facebook user by the name Richard Faulkner said. “This was blatant disrespect to all Black people in this city.”

Local drag performer and community activist Moth Moth Moth (aka Mothie) is encouraging people to write to Mayor Young regarding “urgent concerns” on the project through an email campaign. Mothie has provided an email prompt on their social media account.

“We stand at a critical apex of our city’s history, ” Mothie said.  “As the world changes all around us, let’s future-proof Memphis against authoritarianism and environmental ruin. The people of Memphis are bigger and more powerful than a lame computer will ever be. Invest instead with the incredible people of Memphis and you will see this city blossom.”

These comments come a week after the Memphis City Council approved an $820K land deal for the xAI facility, which is projected to use over 10 million gallons of wastewater a day.

Over the weekend, The Tennessee Holler posted a video of last Tuesday’s council meeting showing the discussion between xAI representative Brent Mayo, who was joined by Mayor Paul Young during the presentation.

The video shows Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton saying that she wanted more transparency for the citizens of the city.

“We want to do good business with people,” Cooper-Sutton said. “Your boss doesn’t do good business.”

Councilman JB Smiley Jr. immediately intervened, advising Cooper-Sutton to stop and saying he would mute her microphone — which he eventually did. He said his reasoning was because the council’s rules of decorum do not allow “personal attacks from members of [the] body.”

“We have a situation here,” Councilwoman Pearl Eva Walker said. “I say this kindly and respectfully, but there is a lot of pushback in the community. Nobody says to us as a body how we should address that or handle that.”

The video, which was reposted by Memphis social media account @unapollogeticallyMemphis, allowed space for more users to echo these sentiments in the comments.

“Memphians, DO NOT TRUST ELON MUSHHEAD,” a user by the name @Randy.booktravel commented. “I do not remember any public information provided for this project he all of a sudden decided to put here.”

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Supreme Court Denies Petition To Hear Lawsuit On Drag Ban

Friends Of George's Cast at their show Drag Rocks in 2023 Photo Credit: Friends of George's

The United States Supreme Court will not be hearing the lawsuit filed by Memphis theater group, Friends of George’s, regarding the state’s ban on drag performances.

According to the Supreme Court website, a petition for the court to hear the case was denied on Monday.

In September, the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear the suit after all judges in the court received a petition to review it as a full court.

Prior to this decision, the same court reversed the U.S. District Court of the Western District’s decision to halt the enforcement of the controversial law. According to Friends of George’s the court decided in a 2-to-1 ruling that they lacked standing, which led to the lawsuit being dismissed.

Judge Andre Mathis of the Sixth Circuit Court wrote in his dissent that part of Tennessee’s Adult Entertainment Act (AEA) was an “unconstitutional content-based restriction on free speech.”

The law stated that these “adult cabaret performances” were “harmful to minors.” It made “adult cabaret performances” on public property or “in a location where the adult cabaret performance could be viewed by a person who is not an adult” a criminal offense.

Mathis said that the theater group had the right to sue since the law could stop them from doing their shows. However, the Tennessee Attorney General’s office argued that since the company hadn’t been harmed by the law, they couldn’t sue.

Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) called the ruling “very sad” in a post on Facebook, and noted that other organizations could  still sue on similar grounds.

“We are so grateful to Friends of George’s and their attorneys for all their work in defending our community,” Sanders said. “In the future, however, there could be other suits with other plaintiffs and the courts may decide they have standing to sue, which was the issue here. “

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti called the decision a “big win for Tennessee, adding that they will “continue to defend Tennessee’s law and children. … Free speech is a sacred American value, but the First Amendment does not require Tennessee to allow sexually explicit performances in front of children,” Skrmetti said.

Friends of George’s released the following statement:

“On February 24, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear our case, allowing Tennessee’s Adult Entertainment Act to stand. But this ruling does not define us. Friends of George’s Theatre Company will continue exercising our First Amendment right to bring joyful, LGBTQ+ inclusive art into our community while raising thousands for charities that uphold dignity and respect for all.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our legal team for their valiant effort in representing us over the past two years. We are forever grateful for their advocacy, dedication and unwavering belief in our constitutional right to free expression.”

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Tennessee Leads Coalition to Regulate Counterfeit Weight Loss Drugs

Photo: Roberto Sorin / Unsplash

Tennessee and other states are urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action against those who sell “counterfeit, unapproved and contaminated weight loss drugs.”

A press release from Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said he has led a “38-state and territory bipartisan coalition” that is asking the agency to regulate the sale of drugs with weight loss side effects. These drugs include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. 

The FDA has addressed concerns for these “unapproved” drugs. They noted that these are “options for weight loss” but noted that illegitimate versions “do not undergo the FDA’s review for safety” among other testing.

A letter from the coalition to the FDA noted that while the states have a role in “protecting their own customers,” they need the agency to regulate counterfeits that originate outside of the United States.

“With its broad jurisdiction and resources the FDA is uniquely positioned to lead the campaign against dangerous adulterations of GLP-1 medications in the U.S. drug supply,” the letter said. “We urge the FDA to exercise its statutory authority through investigations, inspections, and enforcement actions to safeguard consumers.”

Skrmetti noted that while many rely on these drugs for health reasons, there are people taking advantage of this need. The Attorney General said  high demand and “tight supply” have created a lucrative market for counterfeits. He added that not only have these bogus products not been tested but pose a threat to the country’s “national security” and they have “infiltrated the U.S. supply chain.”

“These counterfeit or copycat drugs can be contaminated through shady supply chains running from China, Turkey, and other overseas suppliers, or they can contain entirely different drugs manufactured and packaged to look like GLP-1 drugs,” Skrmetti said in a statement.  “We are asking the FDA to lead efforts to safeguard our American supply chain and to work with other federal and state agencies to stop bad actors from producing counterfeit drugs.”

In a consumer protection warning against these items — known as GLP-1 drugs — Skrmetti mentioned  that online marketing and social media have helped their spread. While these sellers advertise these products for a “fraction of the price” they could be offering an “ineffective alternative.”

“Online health/wellness companies might try to bypass prescription requirements by offering to sell the active ingredient of GLP-1 drugs (semaglutide or tirzepatide) and marketing them as ‘not for human consumption’ or for ‘research purposes only,’” the warning said. The websites, however, will often provide consumers with tips on how to use the active ingredients to make their own versions of GLP-1 drugs at home.

The letter to the FDA said that the fake items only offer “active ingredients,” which creates additional issues for consumers. Users are then required to supplement the medication themselves, without the proper knowledge on how to administer injections.

“Patient error in self-dosing has contributed to the dramatic increase in reports of semaglutide overdoses in the U.S. Consumers may also expose themselves to danger by improperly storing active ingredients or using non-sterile equipment,” the letter said.

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Stop Work Order to Affect Legal Services for Immigrant Children in Tennessee

Photo: Tingey Injury Law Firm via Unsplash

A notice from the federal government has impacted how advocacy groups can provide legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children in Tennessee.

Yesterday evening Advocates for Immigrant Rights (AIR), a subgrantee of the Acacia Center for Justice, was notified by the organization that a “stop work order” had been issued. The center, which helps support unaccompanied youth migrants through legal aid, provides funding to AIR for children in Tennessee.

In a letter addressed to the Acacia Center, the United States Department of the Interior said the group must “stop all work” associated with a contract between them and the department.

Photo: Advocates for Immigrant Rights

“This sudden decision cuts off legal services that help ensure due process for these kids, leaving 26,000 children across the U.S. vulnerable to deportation and potential harm,” AIR said in a statement.

Casey Bryant, executive director of AIR, said through their contract with the Acacia Center, they’ve accepted 200 cases. Bryant said the stop work order advises them to stop all work on their cases.

“This creates a serious quandary for us as attorneys who have a legal and ethical obligation to represent clients who we’ve agreed to represent,” Bryant said. “We’re representing them through universal representation.”

Bryant explained through this process they agree to be their client’s attorney for “anything that they need that has to do with their immigration proceedings.” They added this agreement lasts until the client receives legal status.

The population of unaccompanied immigrant children represent “some of the most vulnerable people in the country,” Bryant said. As a result, they don’t have access to immigration proceedings or representation in court.

Bryant said they are not changing the way they represent their clients at this point; however, they’re hoping they can reach a resolution through litigation. Even if there is no plan for the contract between the Acacia Center and AIR to be extended, Bryant hopes they can receive funding to represent their current cases.

“We’ve agreed to representation; we’ve already entered our appearance with the courts,,” Bryant said. “The courts are relying on us to provide representation. It’s impossible for us to not do work on these cases.”

This recent order is the newest addition of those issued by the Trump administration that targets immigrants including acts of mass deportations, family separation, and expansions of detention centers.

“We’re moving towards a dictatorship where a select group of people gets to make decisions about the way that we live and move through the country,” Bryant said. “I don’t think the Trump administration and these decisions speak for the people of the United States. He’s being influenced by big money, and they are making decisions to make this country — and the state — inhospitable to people who they don’t want to be here. That’s not how we as a country act or believe.”

Bryant mentioned they believe that governors like Bill Lee who have voiced their support for Trump’s mission and policies are “riding on the coattails of whatever authoritarianism the president and government are enforcing.”

“It’s not benefitting the people of Tennessee,” Bryant said. “It doesn’t benefit the people of Tennessee to act like this and to treat people who are residents, who pay taxes, and who add to the diversity and fabric of our communities.”

Update February 2, 2025: According to the Acacia Center, the order has been rescinded. Both the Acacia Center and AIR can resume their services.

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Memphis Groups Attend Housing and Homelessness Day on the Hill

Shelby County participants at Housing and Homelessness Day on the Hill (Photo: Housing for All TN Coalition)

Representatives from Memphis homelessness advocacy groups joined other advocates yesterday for the third annual Housing and Homelessness Day on the Hill.

Officials said the group, comprised of 125 renters, unhoused residents, and concerned constituents from across the state, went to the state capitol in Nashville. Participants convened under a coalition named Housing for All Tennessee.

Organizers met with 50 state legislators to encourage lawmakers to address housing issues, homelessness, and protections for renters.

“The intensifying housing crisis is one of the most pressing issues in Tennessee, impacting rural and urban areas alike,” officials said in a statement. “Rents, evictions, and homelessness are on the rise and homeownership is increasingly out of reach. Twenty-eight percent of Tennesseans, and nearly half of all renters, are cost burdened — paying over 30 percent of their income on housing — while the state faces a shortage of over 121,000 rental homes for extremely low income renters.”

Mauri Pinckney, an organizer from the Memphis Tenants Union, said not only is rent constantly on the rise in the state, but landlords often have more rights than tenants. 

“[There’s] little to no affordable housing in Memphis,” Pinckney said. “It’s not in a good state at all. Most people are one paycheck away from being homeless. That’s just not acceptable — especially with most of the residents in Tennessee being a part of the working class.” 

Pinckney went on to say that the purpose of yesterday’s event was to introduce legislators to the coalition, and to see what their stances are on housing issues and the current state of housing. They also worked to get data on renters and how they can move the affordability crisis forward in a “progressive way.”

Kiera Sowell, youth action board chair for Community Alliance for the Homeless (CAFTH), said they also wanted to convince them to pass bills that would assist the homeless population and tenants.

“[We’re trying] to push them away from the bills like the highway bill,” Sowell said. “We would like people to be able to protest. We want people who are living on the streets and the highways to be able to not have all their stuff taken away, and be able to live comfortably as much as they can while we get assistance to them.”

The proposed legislation in question is Senate Bill 0217 which would require the Tennessee Department of Transportation and other agencies to regulate “the collection, storage, claiming, and disposal of personal property used for camping from the shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of a state or interstate highway, or under a bridge or overpass, or within an underpass, of a state or interstate highway.”

“I just want our legislators and representatives to see that there are real people in these communities, collectives, and companies that have struggled with homelessness and housing insecurity,” Sowell said. “It is something that affects every single person whether or not they’re aware of it. Not only are we in danger of losing our homes and security, but across the nation people are [as well]. If we can be an example to the rest of the states of effective housing assistance, direct change, and advocacy — I hope we can expand that to the rest of the country.”

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Downtown Protest Condemns Trump, Musk, and Current Government

Patty Crawford holds sign during protest. Photo Credit: Kailynn Johnson

Protesters gathered in front of City Hall today to condemn President Donald Trump and his administration, Elon Musk, and the country’s political climate. The protest was organized by an activist group called “901 Memphis Area Indivisible.”

“We are protesting the loss of our democracy and are part of a national movement to stop the destruction by Trump and his gang of vandals,” Tony Cernosek, a member of the group, said in a statement. “This effort must and will succeed or millions of citizens will suffer terrible hardship — mostly the poor and marginalized.”.

Activists carried signs while chanting things such as, “Donald Trump’s a Nazi,” “This is what democracy looks like,” and “Deport Musk.”After circling around Memphis City Hall, protestors continued to march downtown.

Patty Crawford said as someone who has lived in the South for most of her life, she’s become used to “this mess,” but said “it’s never been this bad.”

“There’s really no issue Musk and Trump have not had their finger on in the last month,” Crawford said. “They are destroying funding for all kinds of social programs. The first thing they went after is U.S. aid, so people are dying overseas because there’s not enough food to eat.”

Crawford added that the current administration is against LGBTQ+ rights, and openly condemned Trump’s increased focus on deportations. Another participant, Bill Stegall, added that the administration is also working to eradicate important resources.

“They’re not carefully making sure these programs are working,” Stegall said. “They’re simply doing a word search, and anything that says poor, underserved, impoverished,  or African American, they’re just shutting that down. They’re  just shutting down help for people who need it.”

Stegall said he and others gathered today to get connected to commemorate the beginning of a “very large movement” that will “culminate in the next vote.”

“Your silence will not protect you at this point,” Crawford said. “You can stay at home and think you’re safe, but you’re not safe.”

Sue Lynn is a retired teacher who said she’s concerned about too many things to mention.

“I’m just totally upset, disgusted, and reviled by what’s going on in Washington and the people who are supposed to be leading us,” Lynn said.

Sue Lynn. Photo Credit: Kailynn Johnson

Lynn said she was there for her students — whom she referred to as “our saving grace.”

“I have only a limited amount of time left on this earth, but they’re going to take over and by golly they’re going to do it,” Lynn said.

Adults were not the only group of people protesting. Nine-year-old James Wofford and his mother Callie Bugg were there to show their opposition to what’s going on in America.

Wofford and Bugg hold signs at protest. Photo Credit: Kailynn Johnson

“We’re here to be heard [and] to be a part of the voice that says no,” Bugg said.

Bugg said she hopes the voices that say “no” are further amplified by today’s movement.

“I hope this is the start of a lot of people standing up.”

 Wofford added that he’s looking forward to his 13th birthday when “Trump is not our president.”