The New Tri-State Defender - May 26-June 1, 2022

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VOL. 71, No. 21

May 26 - June 1, 2022

www.tsdmemphis.com

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Again with term limits, City Council tells voters Ballot question gets OK for August election by Jerome Wright jwright@tsdmemphiscom

Dr. William Barber carves out the path forward during his address to “movement” supporters on the plaza of the National Civil Rights Museum. (Photos by Karanja A. Ajanaku/The New Tri-State Defender)

The way forward for the Poor People’s ‘Movement’ by Karanja A. Ajanaku kajanaku@tsdmemphis.com

While movements rise in response to acute needs, planning and strategy drive them forward. The Poor People’s Campaign stop in Memphis provided a glimpse into that reality this week. Dr. William Barber, who chairs the campaign with Dr. Liz Theoharis, made that clear from beginning to end at the mass rally on the plaza of the National Civil Rights Museum on Wednesday evening. He was there waiting as marchers com- More photos pleted their trek from Page 6 Robert R. Church Park on Beale Street. First, Barber orchestrated the look from the podium, inviting up participants from varied states and backgrounds. “We don’t ever stand at the podium alone because this is not about one person,” he said. He then started to paint a picture, with the initial strokes reflecting that “this movement” was called into being in 2019 after two national tours visiting over 40 states, where they were invited “by the people. “This was not a movement that some folks in D.C. decided they wanted to have and then start telling the people what they had to do. (It was) the people from the bottom up.” And for the record, said Barber, “We don’t have any interest in doing no more commemorations. That’s part of the prob-

Marchers head out of Robert R. Church Park and head for the National Civil Rights Museum for a mass rally. lem. We don’t need any more commemorations, we need re-engagement. We don’t need to keep talking about crucifixions, we need to start having some resurrection.” Bringing the crowd forward, Barber noted that the Mass Poor People’s Assembly, or Poor People’s Low-Wage Workers Assembly on Washington, was initially set for June 2020. Then COVID hit and some urged a delay. “But poor and low-wealth people from all over this country of every race, creed, color said, ‘No. Even if we’ve got to go online, somebody’s been hurting us, and we’ve been silent too long.’” That led to an online assembly where 2.7 million people showed up, he said. Reiterating his point that the focus was

not commemoration, Barber brought forward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a man with a commitment – even against opposition within his ranks – “to organize the wretched of the earth.” Noting the work put in and the ground covered, Barber said, “We must give ourselves to this movement. And nothing would be more tragic than for us to turn back now.” There is work to be done, he said. “I heard there were a lot of politicians that wanted to march for us today, but what I’m interested in is what you do when you vote. Because for 50 years, we’ve been talking about what he (King) did, but no-

SEE POOR ON PAGE 2

Memphis voters in August will get a second chance to extend the number of terms the mayor and City Council members can remain in office. The council, on third and final reading Tuesday (May 24), approved an ordinance that, if approved by voters on Aug. 4, would extend the current limit of two consecutive four-year terms to three consecutive fouryear terms for City Council members, and three consecutive four-year terms for the mayor. Current term-limited council members, along with Mayor Jim Strickland, who also is term limited, could seek a third term if they choose to do so. Memphis voters rejected a similar ordinance in 2018 and Martavius Councilmember CheyJones enne Johnson predicted voters will reject it again. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland recently dismissed the idea of a third term as a remote possibility and that he did not spend much time thinking about. However, Tuesday evening, the mayor said “over the next several days, my family and I will seriously consider the opportunity.” Memphis municipal elections are Oct. 5, 2023. The referendum ordinance’s original sponsor council member Martavius Jones cast the only no vote Tuesday. His version called for extending the limit to three terms for just the council and not the mayor. He explained it was a move to strengthen the role of the council in city government. Council attorney Allan Wade said for the ordinance to pass, it must receive 50 percent, plus one, of the total votes cast by Memphis voters. Much of the discussion for the council focused on whether there should be separate ballots for extending the terms of council members and extending the term of the mayor. Wade and Johnson cautioned that having separate ballot questions could result in the approval of extending the number of terms the mayor could serve and not extend the terms of council members. A motion by Councilmember Rhonda Logan to have separate referendum questions for council members and the mayor failed. There also was general agreement among council members that current term-limited members should be included in the referendum.

SEE LIMITS ON PAGE 2

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