NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators said it will hold a town-hall-style forum in Chattanooga on Friday as part of a statewide listening tour, with stops planned this week and next in the state’s three other major cities.
Organizers said the purpose of the tour is to hear from citizens across the state and discuss new laws and bills sponsored by Black Caucus members.
The Chattanooga town hall meeting is scheduled 6-7:30 p.m. Friday at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd. A reception will be held earlier from 5-5:45 p.m. at the center.
“We are very excited to get to the people,” Black Caucus Chairman Antonio Parkinson, a Democratic representative from Memphis, said in a news release. “Each stop gives us an opportunity to listen, discuss and be responsive to citizens of our state.”
The Black lawmakers’ tour kicks off Thursday in Knoxville with other events planned June 6 in Nashville and then Memphis on June 16, which is a federal holiday commemorating Juneteenth, the date the last enslaved Black people in America, in Texas, learned of their emancipation.
Organizers said there are plans underway to add other towns and cities in July.
– Compiled by Andy Sher