A chat with a Tennessee legislator responsible for the ejection of young blacks turfed for working for their constituents

'We had such a good time. It would be fun to do it again. Our supporters love it."

‘They’re giving us a bad name - we tend to ignore or make ourselves unavailable to our constituents for the most part, at least until an election is called. These guys actually care about their constituents concerns, problems and needs.”

I asked why the GOP would target these young reps.

“They were making us look bad. They were getting stuff done, passing laws and stuff Making life better for their constituents. Not good for us. And the boys were black. This is Tennessee. We silence our colored folk. This here is a white state.”

I asked if he and his friends knew anything about the people they were persecuting.

“Yeah, me and a few of my friends drove past their house late at night, once or twice a week just to see what was going on. It was really weird how normal it looked. Like white people could live there.

“I expected to see broken down old Chevys in the front yard. And old sofas. But it looked like any white folk’s house.

“And I was surprised to find out he had a university degree Just a normal guy, too bad about his color, he could’ve fit right in with us.

“But that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop trying to boot hit out. He’s got a hard road ahead of him - doing a white man’s job in Tennessee.

‘It’s been pretty much like this since that pretty black guy, Martin Luther King. Black people used to watch their step, but since King, they tend to be a bit uppity.

“Anyway cat, it’s been most enjoyable chatting with you, but I got a meeting to get to and it’s my turn to light the cross.”

#BlackLivesMatter