Blount County holds a public meeting to discuss immigration and voting rights, H.R. 22 and Senate Bill 0836

A public town meeting at the Blount County Court House on Aug. 23 opened dialogue about immigration and voting rights in Tennessee. Intended to offer a forum for US Representative Tim Burchett to answer questions about his in-favor vote on House Resolution (H.R.) 22, his absence at the event, as well as lack of explanation, was noted by attendees.

Bill H.R. 22, also called the SAVE Act, which stands for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, has passed the House vote and is making its way to the Senate. H.R. 22 would require individuals to show proof of citizenship to vote in elections. In some areas, non-citizens are permitted to vote in local elections. Passing this bill would give states the ability to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls, according to a public press release by Burchett. 

Despite Burchett’s lack of appearance, Blount County citizens showed up and spoke their truth. Tonya Martin, the mayor of Alcoa, Tennessee, was among them. 

Martin gave the welcome and Statement of Occasion, followed by several other activists, reverends and student speakers, all of whom shared stories of their personal experience or the experiences of their loved ones fighting for immigrants’ rights.

Martin was not available for comment. 

Additionally, a local advocacy group called Blount County Public School Strong took this opportunity to spread information on other ongoing, passed or defeated bills by introducing a petition at the beginning of the meeting to dismantle Senate Bill 0836. 

Bill 0836 aims to prevent students without documentation of citizenship from enrolling in public schools.

Blount County Public School Strong collaborated with Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM). According to their website, “SOCM is a 53-year-old, member-driven organization dedicated to empowering Tennesseans in their efforts to have a greater voice in determining their own future.” This organization also forms coalitions to “raise our collective voices […] and oppose harmful legislation.”

 For the attendees of this Blount County meeting, these two bills are close to home, as their main purpose is to give equal rights to all immigrants. 

“We are looking for anyone in Blount County who is concerned about the future of public schools to get involved,” said Cassie Watters, the leadership coordinator for SOCM.

The majority of attendees signed the petition to dismantle Bill 0836 if reintroduced in later legislative sessions. The resolution for this bill has not yet been passed. 

SOCM, Blount County Public Schools Strong and Blount County citizens still hope Burchett will make himself available for questioning, and that answers will be given in regards to immigrants’ rights, state and countrywide.

There was no talk of how this particular legislation might reach college students at this time, the bills focus on students in high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. 

Attendees gather outside Blount County Court House before the public Blount County meeting. Photo courtesy of McKenna Marr