CLEMMONS, HARRIS FILE JOINT RESOLUTION DENOUNCING WHITE NATIONALISTS AND NEO-NAZI GROUPS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rep. John Ray Clemmons
(615) 415-4086
August 17, 2017
CLEMMONS, HARRIS FILE JOINT RESOLUTION DENOUNCING WHITE NATIONALISTS AND NEO-NAZI GROUPS
Legislators want it known that discrimination will not be tolerated in Tennessee
NASHVILLE – Today, State Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, with the support of State Sen. Lee Harris, D-Memphis, filed House Joint Resolution 583 denouncing and opposing white nationalists and neo-Nazis and their actions.
The Joint Resolution states that “our State, the great State of Tennessee, and its people will not tolerate discrimination or hate in any form or manifestation and that we stand united with resolve to promote and ensure equality for all Tennesseans.” The legislation further denounces and opposes the totalitarian impulses, violent terrorism, xenophobic biases, and bigot ideologies that promoted by white nationalists and neo-Nazis and urges law enforcement to recognize white nationalist and neo-Nazis as terrorist organizations and to pursue the criminal elements of these domestic terrorist organizations in the same manner as other manifestations of terrorism.
“We fully recognize that mere words will not solve the problems we face as a society, but passage of this resolution would serve to make it known to all that our state does not and will not tolerate discriminate in any form,” said state Rep. John Ray Clemmons. “We have come too far to allow those with hate in their hearts to stand in our path to full equality.”
“Despite the retrograde views of a small minority, we know that different people can come together in this country,” said State Sen. Lee Harris. “In fact, individuals from all kinds of backgrounds are coming together right now, across America, to reject racism and bigotry. That’s what makes this country a special place.”
HJR 583, a full copy of which can be found here, will be considered when the General Assembly reconvenes in 2018.
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State Rep. John Ray Clemmons represents House District 55 (part of Nashville) in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Follow him on Twitter at @JRClemmons.
State Sen. Lee Harris represents Senate District 29 (part of Shelby County) and serves as Senate Minority Leader in the Tennessee Senate. Follow him on Twitter at @SenDemLeaderTN.