AUGUST VIGIL HAD HUGE TURNOUT
August 7, 2002
On August 7, the day the state legislature reconvened in order
to react to the Governor’s veto, a silent vigil was held for those Tennesseans
who would suffer due to the current state budget. The vigil, entitled "Voices
of the Unheard," was held at the 6th and Deaderick corner of
Legislative Plaza, and was sponsored by concerned people of faith, and by organizations
and individual that wanted to see Tennessee provide quality services for its
citizens. It was sponsored by Tennesseans for Fair Taxation, Interfaith Coalition
for a Caring Tennessee, Tennessee Community Economic Development, the Compass
Project, the Tennessee Green Party, Tennessee Citizen Action, Tennessee Disabilities
Coalition, Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State
Killing and many other groups.
Participants first gathered at St.Anne’s Episcopal church
for meditation, non–violence training, and organization for security.
Rev. Michael Waldrop and Rev. Kaye Hereford Voorhees led us in
the non-violence training. Then the group, with gags over their mouths symbolizing
the lack of a voice for many folks in Tennessee’s budget deliberations,
moved to Legislative Plaza. They held signs that read, "Voices of the Aging,"
"Voices of Higher Ed Students," "Voices of Public School Kids,"
"Voices of Foster Children," etc. AND WE MATCHED THE ANTI TAX PROTESTORS
IN NUMBERS WITH OUR CROWD OF 500 PEOPLE.
Even though it was East and West Tennessee media, not Middle Tennessee
media, which noted our numerical success, we knew within ourselves that we had
gained respect and a moral victory. The anti- tax crowd came over and tried
to disrupt us, ridiculing us and calling us the usual names. But our non-violence
training, and good work by marshals like Randy Tatel, enabled us to maintain
our non-violent, message-oriented approach. The armor of the Anti crowd was
tarnished, and our true colors of integrity and compassion were forever imbedded
in the public mind.
By Herman C. Lawson
Interfaith Coalition for a Caring Tennessee
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