Tennesseans Endorsing Bernie Sanders for President

Local Leaders, Pastors, Activist in Nashville and Memphis Tennessee Endorse Bernie Sanders for President

WASHINGTON (February 29, 2020) －Days before the Super Tuesday primary, seven elected officials, community and religious leaders in Nashville and Memphis have announced that they are backing Bernie Sanders’ candidacy for President of the United States.

“We are proud to announce the endorsements of these progressive champions,” said Kara Turrentine, Tennessee State Director for the Sanders campaign. “With their help, we are building an unrivaled grassroots movement in Tennessee and across the nation that will ensure success on Super Tuesday and a decisive victory over Donald Trump in November.”Today’s endorsements demonstrate the growing support for Sanders’ presidential run in Tennessee and come on the heels of a recent trip to Nashville by Dr. Jane Sanders, Bernie’s wife. During her visit, Dr. Sanders drew a massive crowd of hundreds of energized supporters to a Tennessee for Bernie Rally at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church. She also joined roundtable discussions with Nashville Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield and local small business owners, in addition to meeting with local faith, union, and community leaders.

The slate of endorsements includes:

Michalyn Easter-Thomas － City Council (District 7), Memphis
Councilmember Easter-Thomas was elected to the Memphis City Council District 7 seat in November 2019. Councilwoman Thomas is an educator and community advocate. The Councilwoman is focused on bringing integrity and transparency to the government, and on engagement over apathy and action over complacency. She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Our Grass Our Roots (OGOR), a grassroots movement centered around the North Memphis community, informing the community of resources, resisting gentrification, and advancing the community and individuals in the community.

“I’m voting for Bernie Sanders because of his willingness to use our tax base in America to effectively ensure that all people receive health care, a good education, and the social service support they deserve.”

Sean Parker － City Council (District 5), Nashville
Councilmember Parker is a lifelong organizer currently serving his community on Nashville’s Metro Council. He’s committed to bringing equity and balance to his corner of the “It City.”

“Bernie beats Trump and once in the White House, he’ll fight for every one of us in red and blue states alike. Bernie will preempt anti-worker policies, raise wages, invest in affordable housing, and win Medicare for All. He’s the right candidate for Nashville, for Tennessee, and for every working person in this country.”

Napoleon J. Harris, V － Pastor, First Baptist Church of South Inglewood, Nashville
Pastor Harris is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of South Inglewood, whom he calls “the best bunch of people God ever put together.” He has served God through the pastoral ministry for nearly ten years with a ministry characterized by a holistic approach to ministry aimed at justice, community outreach, and a dedication to transformative preaching and teaching to lead believers into deepening relationships with God.

“I believe that our country needs an overhaul and Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that is pushing for just that. When it comes to our great country, we, the everyday people of America, deserve a government that works to improve our lives, not just for the wealthy. My prayer is that we select a candidate who embodies the social concerns of Christ for the ‘least of these’. The Bible called Jesus’ disciples people who turned the world upside down and Bernie is trying to turn upside down the current practice of socialism for the wealthiest among us.”

James C. Turner, II － Pastor, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Nashville
Pastor Turner is known for his ministries’ focus on inner-city communities. Pastor Turner is a former President of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship and serves on various community groups. Turner is an expert on youth and gang violence and author of the newly published book “How To Be A True Gentleman.”

“Senator Bernie Sanders is committed to racial, social, environmental and economic justice for all families and specifically and intentionally the African American community. Issues like access to health care, a strong public school system, and criminal justice reform are critically important to those of us fighting in the trenches every day where we see the disparities of injustice play out in our communities. I believe that Bernie Sanders’s presidency will have a tremendously positive impact for the working people of Tennessee and across the nation, and I wholeheartedly support Bernie Sanders for president.”

Brenda Ross － Community Activist, Nashville
Brenda Ross is a community organizer and activist for criminal justice reform. A native of Philadelphia, TN, Ross moved to Nashville to attend Fisk University and Tennessee State University. She has been a resident of Nashville for nearly 50 years and has been essential to shaping the political landscape throughout the city. Her main passions have been Medicare for All, criminal justice reform, and the creation of the Community Oversight Board to address police brutality.

“I have been a Bernie Sanders supporter since 2016. I believe that health care is a human right and that working people everywhere and specifically within the African American community will benefit greatly from a Sanders administration. Now, more than ever, we must work to make this a reality.”

Gicola Lane － Community and Political Organizer, Nashville
Gicola Lane is a Black, Southern community and political organizer from the East Side of Nashville, TN. She started organizing at fourteen years old before she even knew what organizing was, and she has led campaigns around the issues of predatory lending, police accountability, ending money bail, voting rights restoration, and the criminalization of poverty.

“Senator Sanders’ stances on key issues that impact my community aligns with my community’s expressed needs. I am proud to support Bernie Sanders’ policy platform and the greater movement surrounding the campaign. As noted in his campaign slogan, “Not Me. Us,” my support is not about the candidate, but about the ideas that inform the movements around him.”

Aftyn Behn － Political Organizer and Activist, Nashville
Behn is a political organizer and activist in Tennessee and Kentucky. Prior to southern politics, Aftyn worked for the United Nations in Europe and returned home to East Tennessee following Trump’s election.

“I’m voting for Bernie because his vision for our foreign policy is rival to none. Bernie is the only candidate who will end needless wars, build bridges of diplomacy, and reign in the American empire. Having worked abroad, I believe Bernie is the only candidate who can combat the creeping rise of global fascism and build a progressive worldview for posterity.”