"Sunday Funday" might get a little more fun now that Tennesseans can now buy liquor on Sunday.
Gov. Bill Haslam signed the bill Friday making it legal for liquor stores to be open seven day a week and for grocery stores to sell wine on Sundays.
Extended liquor store hours begin immediately, while grocery stores won’t be able to sell wine on Sundays until January 2019.
The bill narrowly passed in the Senate last week with a 17-11 vote. One less vote and the bill would have failed.
It’s official, wine and liquor can now be sold on Sunday in the state of Tennessee 🍷🥃 pic.twitter.com/6OKJkVJmPN
— Everything TN (@Everything_TN) April 20, 2018
Woke up to $60,000+! Meeting with @MayorMemphis today to discuss transfer and use of these funds. Stay tuned for an update, and in the meantime, keep spreading the word! https://t.co/Bp0tXZ9l3S pic.twitter.com/uWB2YKHRG6
— brittneymemphis📎 (@brittneymemphis) April 20, 2018
.@brittneymemphis Hi, Brittney — we love your initiative and we love every single Memphian who has already shown support!
— Mayor Jim Strickland (@MayorMemphis) April 18, 2018
We'll find a way to make this work. And I'll be reaching out so we can meet soon.
I remember having ideas for the mayor & being met at the door of City Hall by the police. No response over the course of #takeemdown901 from @mayormemphis ever but @brittneymemphis gets invited immediately. What's the difference?
— Tami Sawyer (@tamisawyer) April 18, 2018
No shade to @brittneymemphis but I can't help but call out the inequity. It's what I do. It's further interesting that the mayor called me and other activists "Facebook warriors" for #takeemdown901 but he/@kyleveazey def hopped all over this social media trend.
— Tami Sawyer (@tamisawyer) April 18, 2018
"If spending a large chunk of time finding ways to spank Memphis weren't enough to earn the Tennessee House the "most racist legislature" award for 2018, they doubled down on their actions by twice refusing to denounce white nationalism and neo-Nazism," Sawyer wrote in the piece..@tamisawyer: Tennessee's legislature is acting like it's still 1968 https://t.co/Q1hEHKZnip
— CNN Opinion (@CNNOpinion) April 19, 2018
Moreover, to think that by donating to the City of Memphis you are taking a brave stance on civil rights is laughable https://t.co/C8Lj6yjrPb
— Meaghan Ybos (@mey621) April 20, 2018
And by laughable I mean it is literally LOL laughable to donate, in the name of civil rights, to a GoFundMe for a government entity, much less the City of Memphis
— Meaghan Ybos (@mey621) April 20, 2018
No disrespect to ppl who have donated to the city’s fundraiser, but if you donate money to that, the joke is on you
— Meaghan Ybos (@mey621) April 18, 2018
What the TN House did yesterday was ridiculous, but miss me with a GoFundMe over this. That $250K was to plan for the city’s bicentennial events. Let @MayorMemphis go ask whoever gave the city $6M for police bonuses to drop off that $250 thou.
— Wendi C. Thomas (@wendi_c_thomas) April 18, 2018
Woke up to $60,000+! Meeting with @MayorMemphis today to discuss transfer and use of these funds. Stay tuned for an update, and in the meantime, keep spreading the word! https://t.co/Bp0tXZ9l3S pic.twitter.com/uWB2YKHRG6
— brittneymemphis📎 (@brittneymemphis) April 20, 2018
Hundreds of students at about 20 high schools here took a stand against gun violence Thursday by participating in a citywide walkout.
Some marched, some toted posters with messages against violence, and some held moments of silence.
See scenes from Thursday's events below.
Today, thousands of our students participated in a peaceful walkout in an effort to draw attention to improving school safety. Our students spoke out, read poems, sang anthems, created art installations, and led marches in an effort to have their voices heard.
— Dorsey Hopson, II (@SCSSupt) April 20, 2018
Today, students from across the district participated in the #NationalSchoolWalkout and did an incredible job discussing solutions to school violence. They led workshops, rallies, marches, and vigils. We are proud of their leadership. #Youthsolutions901 pic.twitter.com/CsKhu176m4
— Shelby Co. Schools (@SCSK12Unified) April 19, 2018
More photos from today’s #NationalSchoolWalkout and our students generating #Youthsolutions901 to school violence. pic.twitter.com/cTqCVpWP6I
— Shelby Co. Schools (@SCSK12Unified) April 19, 2018
Students “chalk it out.” We protest today so he is never again in this position. @SCSK12Unified #youthsolutions901 pic.twitter.com/ElIgxhdBtC
— Kristy Sullivan (@kristyph1908) April 19, 2018
Cordova High #youthsolutions901 Walkout is officially underway. They have student speeches planned and music by a talented soloist. pic.twitter.com/o6JL8hP1Gt
— SCS PIO (@PIO_SCSk12) April 19, 2018
#Youthsolutions901 Overton ‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/ClHpCtGhmZ
— DesignerDaKidd✨ (@bryanmalone545) April 19, 2018
Students at @EastMustangs marching on campus. #youthsolutions901 pic.twitter.com/DVcRJkmYij
— SCSNewsroom (@SCSNewsroom) April 19, 2018
.@EastMustangs stand together in protest of gun violence during the SCS Student Walk Out. #Youthsolutions901 pic.twitter.com/lVX3Dmwryz
— SCSNewsroom (@SCSNewsroom) April 19, 2018
#NeverAgain901 #YouthSolutions901 pic.twitter.com/JTrCDZobq3
— IG @http.t0ny (@httpt0ny) April 20, 2018
#youthsolutions901 pic.twitter.com/mnq1Aw54lN
— Savanah Thompson (@s_thompson94) April 19, 2018
@SCSK12Unified #youthsolutions901 #kirbyhighschool pic.twitter.com/Gk9dxEEwlP
— Jasmine (@SavageSimba3) April 19, 2018
#youthsolutions901 #NationalSchoolWalkout #neveragain901 #SCSDayOfPeace kingsbury high school pic.twitter.com/dZelKqGJrN
— -🍬ailin (@flowsindaegu) April 19, 2018
Peaceful day @chap_k8
— Jenae'Scott-Robinson (@JAkA_iTeach) April 19, 2018
One protester with a message...
(protested with parent approval)@SCSK12Unified #youthsolutions901 pic.twitter.com/RblIHPUS3Z
Students at about 20 high schools here plan to walk out of class at various times on Thursday to protest gun violence and other ills in schools.
Responding to the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida that resulted in 17 deaths, the walkout is ahead of the 2,100 walkouts planned across the country as a part of national school walkout day on Friday — the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School, where 13 people were killed.
Organized by students, the national walkout has three goals: hold elected officials accountable, generate solutions to gun violence, and to engage students in the political process.
In Memphis, students will have 17 minutes of silence, honoring each Parkland victim. They also will use the time as an opportunity to brainstorm solutions to gun violence. Via social media, using the hashtag #YouthSolutions901, students can make suggestions for ways to increase school safety.
The strongest recommendations from students will be presented at the school board meeting on Tuesday, April 24th, according to the walkout’s organizers.
At some schools, students will also take part in “know your rights” discussions, touching on issues like sexual harassment and police brutality. Students will also be given the chance to register to vote.
Students are also asking the Shelby County School administration to improve mental and emotional health services in school, hire more guidance counselors and social workers, to expand their restorative justice practices, and to provide protection for students and their families from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Dorsey Hopson, SCS superintendent said ahead of Thursday's events that no students or teachers will be punished for participating in the walkout.
April 19, 2018, is about #Youthsolutions901 and supporting the students' right to free speech/expression in a safe, peaceful and productive way. SCS students participate in the #NationalSchoolWalkout. https://t.co/sh2MMBBvn8
— Shelby Co. Schools (@SCSK12Unified) April 19, 2018
A training session to prepare for the Poor People’s Campaign's 40 days of nonviolent direct action will take place here Saturday, April 21st at 1 p.m.
Memphis is one of many cities across 30 states with residents planning to take part in the Poor People’s Campaign’s National Call for Moral Revival movement, which is aimed to “expose and engage in moral witness against injustice.”
Specifically, the movement is calling for the overhaul of voting rights laws, programs to help the 140 million Americans in poverty, attention to be brought to ecological devastation, and the curbing of militarism and the war economy.
Leaders of the Poor People’s Campaign, Revs. William Barber and Liz Theoharis unveiled the “moral agenda” last week during a national press conference in Washington D.C.
“Fifty years after Rev. Dr. King and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign declared that silence was betrayal, we are coming together to break the silence and tell the truth about the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and our distorted moral narrative,” the moral agenda reads. “We declare that if silence was betrayal in 1968, revival is necessary today.”
The 40 days of action will begin on May 14th and continue through June 23rd, ending with a mass mobilization in Washington D.C.
During the first of the six weeks of action, the focus will be on fighting poverty among children, women, and those with disabilities.
Systematic racism, veterans and the war economy, ecological devastation, inequality, and the nation’s “distorted moral narrative” will respectively be the focus for the five subsequent weeks.
“With systemic racism and poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and the often-false moral narrative of Christian nationalism wreaking havoc on our society, people of all races, colors, and creeds are joining together to engage in moral direct action, massive voter mobilization and power building from the bottom up,” Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign said. “We will no longer allow attention violence to keep the poor, people of color and other disenfranchised people down.”
The demands of the moral agenda are drawn from The Souls of Poor Folk audit that the Poor People’s Campaign, along with the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and the Urban Institute completed. The audit assesses the trends of poverty during the past 50 years, while addressing certain myths society holds about poverty.
John Cavanagh, director of the IPS said the study provides the data proving that poverty is a structural and systematic problem.
“There’s an enduring narrative that if the millions of people in poverty in the U.S. just worked harder, they would be lifted up out of their condition,” Cavanagh said. “But here we’re proving—with data and analysis spanning 50 years—that the problem is both structural barriers for the poor in hiring, housing, policing, and more, as well as a system that prioritizes war and the wealthy over people and the environment they live in.
“It is unfathomable, for example, that in the wealthiest nation in the world, medical debt is the No. 1 cause of personal bankruptcy filings, and 1.5 million people don’t have access to plumbing.”
To sign up for Saturday’s training session here, visit the Action Network site.
might I suggest melting down the Jeff Davis statue, striking 2500 bicentennial medallions from the bronze & selling them for $100 apiece?
— jeb hill (@memphistigerjeb) April 18, 2018
The gall of someone on the other end of the state, from a town with a population the size of White Station High School, to lecture the people of a city that has BEEN THROUGH SOME SHIT about culture and history. What a freaking joke.
— Jen (@jensized) April 18, 2018
Chump change, you racist dipshits. https://t.co/LAOLW5X8SA
— Bruce VanWyngarden (@sylamore1) April 18, 2018
It starts with a $250K financial penalty against the City. It might not be long before we have penalties against Memphis elected officials. Right after, someone will suggest elected officials should be forced from office or even jailed for their decisions or views. Disaster.
— Senator Lee Harris (@SenDemLeaderTN) April 18, 2018
Ever wondered what it’d look like if racism and paternalism had a baby? Behold @AndyHolt4TN as he scolds Memphis like he would a child. pic.twitter.com/ztTB17Wevf
— Wendi C. Thomas (@wendi_c_thomas) April 18, 2018
Yet again, this TN GOP supermajority has shown its true colors & humiliated our great state. This time by targeting Memphis & stripping its budget line item bc of its legal removal of Forrest statue (as admitted on House floor). pic.twitter.com/hv6DnxF4GF
— John Ray Clemmons (@JRClemmons) April 17, 2018
An extremely racist, retaliatory measure that highlights the oppressive relationship between the state gov’t & Memphis. From mandatory prison fill rates to lack of funding for our education budget to this move, Nashville continues to operate with caustic disdain for our city. https://t.co/fEf0coh0CN
— Tami Sawyer (@tamisawyer) April 18, 2018
In an attempt to retaliate against Memphis for taking down the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue, Reps. M. Hill and McDaniel introduce an amendment to take $250k allocated to Memphis OUT of funds already appropriated by Gov. in budget. pic.twitter.com/PyZv6nc3Cg
— TN House Democrats 🌊 (@TNDemocrats) April 17, 2018
We're at $3,000, y'all! And I am in touch with @kyleveazey to see how we can ensure the funds go to @CityOfMemphis for the bicentennial. Spread the word! https://t.co/0CpPGuKiLr
— brittneymemphis📎 (@brittneymemphis) April 18, 2018
Thanks to the Shelby County members of the Tennessee House, who stood up for Memphis last night on the House floor. We have a great local delegation in the General Assembly, and I look forward to continuing to work with legislators to move Memphis and our state forward.
— Mayor Jim Strickland (@MayorMemphis) April 18, 2018
This year, The TN legislature has refused to denounce growing white nationalism & nazism. They’ve removed funding for planned parenthood from TennCare. TN has been involved in massive ICE raids and deportations. And is now using budget to punish Memphis for removing statues.
— Tami Sawyer (@tamisawyer) April 18, 2018
From Scopes Monkey Trial, to 10 Commandments resolution of '96, &now to punishment of #Memphis for removing statues that honor leaders of the Confederacy,the TN House of Representatives sadly continues to embarrass #Tennessee across the nation https://t.co/8xgYxhYTvg #CivilRights
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) April 18, 2018
Never test a town that has had to struggle the whole way. We struggled then and we struggle now and we move forward imperfectly. But don’t ever think you can bully a town that struggles for everything we have. #MEMPHIS https://t.co/vlYqhLlOMV
— Kelly English (@kelly_english) April 18, 2018
Can we get 25,000 Memphians to bring $10 each downtown to the @CityOfMemphis? I’m in for $10. Someone who doesn’t deserve the brunt of a political stunt and who needs that job or program will get it, no matter what you believe on the topic. I’ve got $10 to give. Who is with me? https://t.co/4DPTLMjMAq
— Kelly English (@kelly_english) April 18, 2018
The annual fine arts festival, RiverArtsFest, will be moving to the riverfront beginning this year, the nonprofit announced Tuesday.
For 11 years, RiverArtsFest has been on South Main between Webster and Huling, but with construction ramping up at Central Station and the festival growing larger each year, the organizers had to consider a change of venue.
“We have loved our time on South Main and working with the South Main Association,” Lee Askew, longtime festival director, said. “But the neighborhood today has more residents and businesses than when we launched RiverArtsFest 12 years ago.
Now, the two-day festival will take place on Riverside between Jefferson and Union, in step with Askew's stated goal of keeping the event Downtown.
“Logistically our footprint no longer fits within the streetscape of South Main, given the recent street closure and the reboot of the trolley line,” Askew continued. “We raised the idea of moving RiverArtsFest to Riverside Drive to the Downtown Memphis Commission and the Riverfront Development Corporation, and both were enthusiastic in their support.”
Carol Coletta, president and CEO of the Riverfront Development Corporation said the festival will be one of the first public events in the new Mississippi River Park at Fourth Bluff, which is expected to be completed by the fall.
The RiverArtsFest will be from October 27-28th this year and will feature a juried artists market with art from close to 200 artists from around the country. Types of art include paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and glassworks.
Each year, a portion of festival profits goes toward funding fine arts scholarships at local colleges.
Terrell later added #metoo to a January tweet including a Memphis Flyer story on the suit.1. Stood up to sexism.
— Kimberly Terrell (@SnotOtters) December 27, 2017
2. Got fired.
3. Filed charges.
Memphis Zoo Sued For Alleged Gender Discrimination #metoo https://t.co/F1u1PviBWU
— Kimberly Terrell (@SnotOtters) January 9, 2018
A city park in Whitehaven will get a $5.4 million makeover as a part of a new BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee program providing healthy spaces in neighborhoods.
Under the BlueCross Healthy Place program, David Carnes Park could get amenities like a walking track, playground, and a fitness area, all totalling $4.5 million. The remaining $900,000 would be used for ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the park.
BlueCross announced the project Monday during a community meeting in Whitehaven. It will be the first of many community meetings that are slated to take place during the planning phase of the project. At the meetings, members of the community will be able to give input on the what features they want in the park.
Kevin Woods, BlueCross president of the Memphis market said input from residents is “crucial” to the project.
“The space will be an asset to their community — an area where they can be active and form new connections,” Woods said. “It will truly be a hub of renewed civic activity and a jewel in the Memphis park system.”
The site was selected for the project because of a recent outpouring from citizens, expressing the need for more resources in the park.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the BlueCross Healthy Place program shares one of the city’s top priorities of providing “healthy, inviting public spaces.”
“That’s why we’re so grateful for this partnership with the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, and we’re looking forward to enhancing this park for neighbors here in Whitehaven,” Strickland said.
— Memphis Area Transit (@RideMATA) April 16, 2018Here's a full statement about the return from MATA: