80-Year-Old Lynn McFarland on Why She Wouldn’t Leave Her Seat

Eighty-year-old Lynn McFarland was arrested and carried out of a Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee meeting at the Tennessee State Capitol on April 1 after the group passed a bill that would give power to local school boards to deny enrollment to undocumented students or charge them tuition to attend. Tennessee State Troopers carry Lynn McFarland, 80, out of a Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 1. Photo by Alvine

McFarland said when she showed up to protest that day, she didn’t plan on planting herself in a seat and getting physically removed by Tennessee State Troopers. But the thought of cooperating with punishing children was enough to make her stay in her seat when protestors were asked to leave the gallery. A small group stayed in their seats when asked to leave, but eventually also left their seats.

Cover Story

On Feb. 11, students and their parents filled the Cordell Hull Building to denounce a bill attempting to deny education to undocumented immigrant children. On Feb. 5, the daughter of a World War II veteran demonstrated as part of Fifty Capitols, Fifty States, One Day, an effort to fight fascism across the country. Various other actions have happened as the legislature gathers: housing rights actions, trans rights, calls to keep education equitable, protests against genocide in Palestine and more.

News Briefs

News Briefs

OHS Monitoring Federal Funding Challenge

In January, Nashville was awarded more than $11.8 million from the U.S. The Department of Housing And Urban Development to fund the FY 2024 Continuum of Care Program. As incoming President Donald Trump announced a funding freeze in his first days in office, organizations reliant on funding to serve vulnerable populations scrambled to understand how to proceed. While a temporary restraining order halted the funding freeze, the risk for similar actions or a continuation of Trump’s initial freeze are high. Across Tennessee, organizations that work in homelessness were awarded more than $40 million to help folks in various ways on a path toward housing. The Metro Office of Homeless Services says they’re working with community partners to ensure collaboration on using the funds.

Know Your Rights

The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) has intensified its efforts to inform and protect immigrant communities and empower their allies.