Tennessee lawmaker claims she feels 'like a slave' in state senate as pro-police bill passes

Tennessee Senator London Lamar remarked that her experience in the Republican-controlled state legislature makes her feel “like a slave.” 

Lamar's impassioned statement, made on Friday, accused the Republican supermajority of stifling dissenting voices, suggesting that disagreement on certain bills leads to attempts at silencing opposition—a sentiment she equated to a form of slavery. 

“What we see here is drunk on power,” Lamar ranted. “‘I don’t like that you take this position on this bill so imma silence you.’ That’s a form of slavery. I feel like a slave sometime in this building.” 

Lamar’s comments echo her frustration about recent legislation approved by Tennessee Senate Republicans that reverses policing reforms established following the death of Tyre Nichols last year.  

The law aimed to curb pretextual traffic stops, a practice where officers stop vehicles for minor infractions as a pretext for further investigation. Republicans argued that such measures hinder law enforcement's ability to carry out their duties effectively. 

“It’s time to take handcuffs off police and put them on criminals where they belong,” said Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor. 

In response, Lamar vehemently criticized the Republican-backed legislation, characterizing it as a setback for local governance and an insult to the intelligence of city councils and other governing bodies in the state. 

“It’s a slap in the face,” Lamar said. “Not only for our city council, but all the local governing bodies in this state, because we’re telling them you are not smart enough to decide policies to help govern your own city.” 

Lamar's remarks about feeling like a "slave" within the legislative environment coincide with a backdrop of heightened tensions between Democrats and Republicans in the Tennessee state legislature. Last year, the state house expelled two out of three Democrat representatives who participated in an anti-gun protest that included storming the state capitol.  

The republican lawmakers accused them of "disorderly behavior" and said they "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions."  

One of the expelled members, Justin Pearson, decried what he perceived as a lack of inclusivity and openness to debate within the House. He stated that the Tennessee House has “not been a place of debate” for Democrats, transgender-identify individuals, and people who are LGBT. Pearson also suggested that Jesus was “lynched” for supporting the LGBTQ community.