+34
Chattanooga native Chicoya Gallman was shocked and disappointed to realize she was the only eligible and registered voter out of her more than twenty cousins.
Since 2020, TABL has actively combatted decreased access to the ballot box in the state of Tennessee by researching, authoring and advocating for legislation to expand voting rights in the state. Named for the nineteenth-century African American journalist and abolitionist who called Tennessee home, the TABL-authored Ida B.
Wells Voting Rights Act would provide Tennesseans with translators at the ballot box, ensure returning citizens receive proper documentation to regain the right to vote and remove unnecessary barriers to obtaining absentee ballots. TABL’s campaign to expand voting rights in the state builds on the legacy sowed by previous generations. Gallman, Marshall Hayes and their colleagues follow in the footsteps of generations of civil rights activists who used their voices to protest against societal inequities and systemic ills. In 1960 Gallman’s grandparents marched out of Howard High School in downtown Chattanooga for a peaceful sit-in to demand the right to vote. Beyond passing the Ida B. Wells Voting Rights Act, TABL aims to catalyze a grassroots movement dedicated to educating Tennesseans about the voting process. Through voter registration drives and civic engagement outreach events, they want people in their communities to understand why voting is important and how to vote. To start, they will be partnering with Tennessee high schools to educate and register new voters. “Our goal is to start this movement through schools as soon as possible to drastically increase the participation of younger voters,” Marshall Hayes explained. Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers She has the following advice for other activists: “Stick to it, take care of yourselves and each other and never give up. But always be willing to learn and grow in your understanding.” More tactically she adds, “The best time to email legislators is in the morning!” The work is only beginning. TABL plans to expand its voting rights campaign by seeking volunteers with digital skills and raising funds to continue the work.
Scratch the next story
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Country A-Listers Are Playing Indoor Concerts at a Texas Honky-TonkAfter not performing in front of a crowd for more than a year, stars like Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, and Midland are taking the stage at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth
Read more »
Why so many people are skipping their second Covid shot — and why they shouldn'tWhen the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that almost 8% of the millions who have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine hadn't returned to get the second shot they need, it raised concerns that the country might not be able reach herd immunity.
Read more »
Why Social Media Companies Can Censor Trump, And Why Your Boss Can Censor YouIn response to the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, various social media companies suspended or banned President Trump from using their platforms. Private companies have similar power over the free speech of their employees, depending on the context.
Read more »
Why Social Media Companies Can Censor Trump, And Why Your Boss Can Censor YouIn response to the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, various social media companies suspended or banned President Trump from using their platforms. Private companies have similar power over the free speech of their employees, depending on the context.
Read more »
Why Americans are panic buying fuel -- and why you shouldn'tA growing number of gas stations along the East Coast are without fuel as nervous drivers aggressively fill up their tanks following a ransomware attack that shut down the Colonial Pipeline, a critical artery for gasoline. Here's how we got to this point.
Read more »