In the face of personal attacks, bullying tactics, and the relentless push for racist, dehumanizing policies, backing down is not an option.
This week at the Tennessee legislature was an emotionally charged battlefield with a series of personal attacks, bullying tactics, and the relentless push of racist, dehumanizing policies.
In the Senate Education committee, I passed SB1014 – a child care bill to help expand access by allowing more child care centers to open in vacant/underutilized schools. I even collaborated with a Republican senator on an amendment to make sure the bill language was in good posture. But before I could even bring my legislation to the Senate floor on Thursday, a Republican colleague swooped in with an identical bill, attempting to bully me out of my own work so he could take the credit.
I had a decision to make: I could be defiant and run my legislation anyway at the risk of getting it killed on the senate floor, or I could be amenable and send my bill back to Calendar and let it sit on the shelf. Since my bill was last on the agenda, I had time to have a long negotiation with myself about the benefits and consequences of each decision.
In the end, it was more important for me for Tennessee families to get the policy win—but I made damn sure it was on record that the real work was done by Democrats:
On Wednesday, the House Education Committee advanced a bill to deny undocumented children their constitutional right to a free public education—all in an effort to overturn a landmark 1982 Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe, where the Court ruled that states cannot deny undocumented children a free public education, as doing so violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Rep. Ronnie Glynn asked tough, necessary questions in the committee, only for the Republican majority leader to respond with veiled threats about his re-election chances. That’s how fragile their ego – and power – is.
Witnessing undocumented children, who bravely showed up to protest and were sobbing while arrogant white men debate their worth like they weren’t sitting right there in the audience listening, is a jolting feeling that pierces through your heart. I couldn’t just be a bystander; I wanted to comfort these children and let them know they’re not alone. That’s what servant leaders do.
Earlier that same day, Rep. Justin Pearson introduced a bill to restore gun permits in honor of his late brother who died by gun suicide last December. Instead of engaging in a real debate, a Republican legislator seized the moment to publicly attack him for missing legislative session—blaming him for doing what any real leader would do: stepping up as the primary caregiver for his grieving nieces and nephews.
It’s easy to sit back and criticize from the couch about what tHe DeMoCrATs aren’t doing. But when do we start redirecting those daggers towards the real ‘culprits of chaos’ and demand accountability from extremist Republicans for their cruelty, their abuse of power, and their blatantly racist and vile disregard for humanity?
How would YOU respond when they come for your deceased family?
When they send attack ads against your family during campaign season then mock you for it to your face?
When they try to bully you out of your hard-fought legislation on the Senate floor?
When they tell you that you, your children, your neighbors are not worthy of an education?
You want to lecture me about civility??? In this political climate? GTFOHWTBS.
Miss me with the respectability politics.
It’s giving “you should’ve complied” energy.
Ain’t nothing civil about watching privileged white men dismantle your right to exist.
Ain’t nothing respectable about watching your government use your own tax dollars to deny you education, healthcare, and a decent quality of life.
Leadership isn’t just being calm, collected and letting cooler heads prevail—it’s knowing when to stand your ground and chin-check a heaux.
This work ain’t for the faint or the weak. Honestly, that’s why your messages, emails, and notes of support fuel my strength to fight back. Thank you for letting me know I’m standing on the right side of the issues.
I may not be the loudest or most flashy person in the room, but I will always show up. I will be present. I will lead by example and with action.
No matter how many times they kill my bills, I will keep pushing impactful solutions for the working class and most marginalized.
Count on me to keep showing up, holding your hand, reminding you that we will be alright. Because truth and love always win.
They can try to erase our history and deny our humanity. But they can never defeat us. We will keep showing up. We won’t lay down. We won’t make it easy for them. We will make them fight for every inch of progress they are hell-bent on rolling back.
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”
— Robert Jones, Jr.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Republicans used to be civil and respectable. Now they’re just evil and claim to be Christians. Ain’t no Jesus in any of their hearts. Just evil!
The GOP lacks leadership. Rep. Farmer should have been stopped and censured. It is the same old playbook with them. They like chaos and provoking democrats and holding the dems to a different standard. Farmer should publicly apologize to Rep. Pearson. Thank you for absorbing all of the nonsense and trying to improve the lives of Tennesseans, Senator Oliver.
Senator Oliver, why do you and other democrats call republicans “colleagues “? The definition of a colleague is someone who works WITH you in the same profession or business. Republicans do NOT work with you; they work against you. They don’t play nice so why not return the favor?
As for your hard work and genuine interest in trying to make sure children living in Tennessee,documented or not, have access to education, THANK YOU! You are on the right side of our Constitution, federal and state!!
I wish you were my Senator! Thank you.