Black Tennessee lawmakers fielded questions about third grade retention, juvenile justice and marijuana from Hamilton County residents at a town hall meeting Thursday.
It was the first of four town halls the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators plans to hold across the state this summer. Next, caucus members will travel to Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis.
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga, was joined Thursday by caucus members and Memphis Democrats Sen. Raumesh Akbari, Rep. Joe Towns, Rep. Antonio Parkinson and Rep. Jesse Chism, as well as caucus Chair Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville.
The Black Caucus is a nonpartisan group, though there have been no Republican members yet, Akbari said Thursday.