We urge all members of the Tennessee General Assembly to vote no against these measures and other “English-only” efforts. We encourage N4AOU members, supporters and friends to voice their opposition to their representatives in the Tennessee legislature. Those interested can learn more about the SB63 and HB262 drivers test measures here.

Further information about N4AOU and its mission can be found at
http://www.nashvilleforallofus.org

Sincerely,

David Briley
Kenny Byrd
Sonnye Dixon
Mark Eatherly
Stephen Fotopulos
Dan Haskell
Tricia Hersfeld
John Lamb
Debby Dale Mason
Kathleen Murphy
Tom Negri
Alistair Newbern
Tom Oreck
Avi Poster
Lisa Pote
Floyd Shechter
Renata Soto
John Tighe
Hedy Weinberg
Stephen Zralek

On the heels of that victory in January 2009, many of us asked the question, “What’s next for Nashville for All of Us?”

Quite simply, our work is not done! As a city with so much promise, Nashville must continue to “fight the good fight” to remain a welcoming community for all of its residents. Our work last year called us to instant action, which we took with great success. Now, we are in the unique position of remaining a collaboration of diverse voices that can continue the important conversations of our time.

To that end, the steering committee for Nashville for All of Us (N4AOU) has been working to establish a more formal structure through which to engage in our work on an ongoing basis. We are writing to inform you that N4AOU is transitioning to an organization with the following mission:

We are an independent, diverse community coalition that challenges each other’s perspectives and informs and shapes public policy to promote a productive, just and welcoming Nashville for all.

Please consider this letter an invitation to continue on as part of that community coalition. We hope that, with the continued input of the diverse voices that made our initial effort a victory, N4AOU can serve as a table to host the conversations necessary to identify and address new issues relating to prejudice and exclusion in our community.

First and foremost, however, we hope that you will bring your voice, your ideas, and your energy to these critical conversations and to continuing the work of Nashville for All of Us. If you are interested in being a part of the discussion of N4AOU’s next steps, please click here to complete the attached brief survey to let us know what issues currently faced by our community are important to you. Completing the survey should take no more than 5 to 10 minutes of your time.

If you prefer not to move forward with our new direction, simply click the “opt out” link at the bottom of any e-mail we send you, and we will remove you from our mailing list.

We hope you will join us in the discussion of N4AOU’s next steps and the continued conversations about the future of our shared community. We look forward to your participation as our work progresses.

Many thanks,

Stephen Zralek
Chair, Nashville for All of Us

Mayor Karl Dean

Mayor Karl Dean told the Nashville City Paper here what the defeat of English Only means to him:

“You always need to make sure people feel welcome in our city and our city celebrates diversity,” Dean said. “I would look at the English Only vote as the confirmation of that. I said at the time, we’re the only major American city that’s been tested in that way and we passed the test.

“So I’m pretty proud of the way our city responded.”

Photo of Nashville Parthenon © Chris Wage. Used with permission. www.chriswage.com

Voters side with two mayors, new Council to defeat English Only

An English Only proposal was defeated Thursday night in Nashville after over 40,000 voters stood up in opposition to the measure.  The rejection aligns Nashville’s voters with the current Metro Council, current Mayor Karl Dean, and Dean’s predecessor Bill Purcell.

Former Mayor Bill Purcell vetoed a similar measure when it came across his desk in 2007; current Mayor Karl Dean has vigorously opposed this year’s version; and the current Metro Council passed a resolution by a 3-1 margin urging Nashville voters not to sign the petition putting the measure on the ballot in the first place.

English Only was defeated tonight by a margin of 57-43%.  Amendment #2 failed by an even larger margin.  An unprecedented, citywide coalition formed in opposition to both measures.

Image by Rex Hammock. Licensed via Creative Commons

The Tennessean reports here that the world is watching Nashville, and in some cases sending camera crews here, to see how we handle English Only.

Vote today.

For more information visit the Vote page of the Nashville for All of Us web site.  If you have already voted, visit the Volunteer page and volunteer – this is your last day to do so.

The polls are open from 7am-7pm across town.  The Vote page has a link to your voting location.

Image by Alexandre Duret-Lutz. Licensed via Creative Commons.

Even with approximately 70 posts to date, this blog has not reproduced all of the written opposition to English Only in Nashville, nor could it ever.  Because today is the day of the special election and the last day to vote, however, the best we can do with the “waiting list” of those comments, letters, columns, blog posts, other statements of support, and news that have so far gone unpublished here is to link to as much of them as we can in list form below.

Our apologies to those whose public statements and endorsements have not been included here – and there are many of you.  We know that everyone who has spoken out against the charter amendments in any context is a part of this effort.

Thank you! 

Letters, columns, blog posts, and other statements of support

The Tennessean’s editorial

Gail Kerr column

Multiple posts by Nathan and Sarah Moore

This post by David and Blair Macleod

Belmont UMC staff statement

Multiple posts by Southern Beale

This statement by Trinity Presbyterian Church

Multiple videos on Nashville for All of Us YouTube channel

Belmont Professor Andrew Watts’ column

Multiple posts by Carrie at Bilingual in the Boonies

The City Paper‘s editorial on financial disclosures

Diocese of Nashville statement

Nashville Scene Boner Awards

This post by Ben of Border Stories

Multiple posts by Mike Byrd at Enclave

Barbara Mathieson’s post

This Epiphany Sunday sermon at Second Presbyterian Church

Various posts by Mari Mancini

Conservative Vanderbilt columnist Katherine Miller

This post by Ricky on Robo Tripping

Beverly Keel column

Aunt B.’s post

Nancy Stetton in Tennessee Voices

This post by Scribe by Trade

DeeGee Lester’s letter to the editor

This post by the Nexotraditional Conservative

Ginny Welsch in Tennessee Voices

Faith leaders’ press conference

Maxine Schoggen’s letter to the editor

This post by A Disgruntled Republican

Vanderbilt Orbis cover story

John Ray Clemmons press release

Rally of opposition to English Only at Music City Ball

This e-mail from the St. Edward Social Action Committee

This Tennessean editorial on health

Rev. Enoch Fuzz statement

This post by Tim Chavez

Dan Cornfield in Tennessee Voices

News

As far as the latest news, this is a sampling:

Will Nashville go English Only?

World watching English-Only vote

Voters decide today if English is it for Metro

Nashville would be largest city with English Only

Miami repealed English Only after years of headaches

English Only is unclear

English Only designed to reverse itself

Translators vital to police services

Hiding the English Only money

Jones is wearing two inauguration buttons and also a Nashville for All of Us button.

The polls are open from 7am-7pm across town.  The Vote page has a link to your voting location.