Patricia Stokes
English Only “diminishes the value of individuals”
The Tennessean reports here that a group of African-Americans, immigrants, and others has formed to oppose English Only and held a recent press conference explaining their opposition. Here is an excerpt:
“It is wrong morally because it diminishes the value of individuals and it speaks against the principles of liberty for all,” said Patricia Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee.
Rep. Brenda Gilmore
Another excerpt:
State Rep. Brenda Gilmore, a former councilwoman who is Erica Gilmore’s mother, said the passage of the charter amendment would look strange to the rest of the world after the election of Barack Obama, an African-American.
“We cannot afford to send a message that Nashville and Tennessee is out of step with the rest of the country,” she said.
The Tennessean article lists the following groups as being part of the joint effort: the Urban League, the NAACP, the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship and the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition.
Nashville for All of Us Official Blog 