Crowds protest Tennessee special session aiming to redraw the state’s congressional map

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]All right, we'll see you then, Trevor.

[00:00:01]Thank you. Tonight, tensions are rising as Republican lawmakers look to redraw the state's congressional map. Now, critics say this could eliminate the only majority black congressional district.

[00:00:12]>> So, the special session that we've been talking about for several days sparked a massive protest at the state capital.

[00:00:17]You're seeing some of that right there on the screen where thousands of people have demanded their voices be heard.

[00:00:22]ABC24's Lauren Turman begins our begins our live team coverage from Nashville with how that rally unfolded and the next move in the legislature. Lauren.

[00:00:35]>> Yes, that's right. And all of those protesters and ralliers filled all of these capital grounds right here around me as they were chanting and saying that they are demanding fairness at this time. Now, this of course concurs with all of the Tennessee state legislators coming back for a special session in a decision that could reshape political power in Tennessee and who has a say in it. Now, Chancefield filled the Tennessee capital and nearly a thousand protesters gathered both inside and outside of Senate chambers. Right before that, though, there was a rally on the east side of the state capital.

[00:01:10]Demonstrators say they're fighting for fair representation and the right to choose their own leaders. Today, in what lasted less than an hour, committee members were appointed to discussing congressional redistricting in both the House and Senate, and the resolution on the table was approved on a first reading. But hundreds of people then filled the halls of the capital, booing and cursing at the Republican senators expected to throw their support behind this plan. At the center of this debate is District 9, the only Democratic held seat in Tennessee, covering Memphis and Shelby County, which could be redrawn to favor Republicans. Civil rights leaders and Democratic lawmakers are pushing back, warning that the move could weaken minority representation. Now, all of these efforts follow a recent Supreme Court decision that removed a key protection requiring states to preserve majority minority districts unless discrimination can be proven in those instances. But for many protesters, the issue here goes beyond politics. They say they are fighting for future generations.

[00:02:11]>> It's no longer democracy. It's a regime.

[00:02:13]I stand against that and I stand and as a pastor, I stand against, you know, there's nothing Christlike about what's going on. Our governor says he's a Christian man. He need to ask himself, is this is this what Jesus would do?

[00:02:32]And lawmakers adjourned after that initial discussion, setting some of those committees up and adjourning until tomorrow morning. Now, the House floor session will begin at 9:00 a.m. with all of the Congressional Redistricting Committee convening at 11:00 a.m. The Senate, however, starts a little bit earlier at 8:30. We will be here at the state capital to continue covering it all and bringing you up to the final decision on this plan. For now, live in Nashville, I'm Lauren Turman, ABC24 News.