Andrea Williams

1 week ago | tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams

Tennessee House Bill 793 and Senate Bill 0836 aim to allow schools to deny enrollment to undocumented students, potentially violating the Supreme Court's Plyler v. Doe ruling. Critics argue this legislation will create financial burdens for the state, including potential loss of federal funding and legal challenges. The author argues that denying education to undocumented children perpetuates a cycle of poverty and reinforces socioeconomic disparities.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams

There is no justification for House Bill 793 and Senate Bill 0836, the sister bills that in the legislature that would allow Tennessee’s public and charter schools to deny enrollment to undocumented students. First, as critics have mentioned, the argument that undocumented students create a financial drain on education systems holds little weight. Even undocumented immigrants pay taxes that support local schools.

1 week ago | tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams

For those who think DEI is an attack against meritocracy, or some evil, Democrat-hatched strategy to 'divide America,' Jackie Robinson’s signing is an unassailable counterpoint. Branch Rickey, president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, signed Jackie Robinson in 1945, breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier. Robinson's signing was a calculated risk, reflecting the growing Civil Rights Movement and the need for diverse talent in baseball.

3 weeks ago | tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams

Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson returned to the Capitol after his brother's death to advocate for gun reform. Pearson's impassioned plea was met with resistance from Republican representative Andrew Farmer, leading to a heated exchange. While understanding the emotional weight of the issue, the author argues that emotional outbursts are ultimately ineffective in achieving legislative progress.

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams

It’s been two years since the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, which claimed the lives of three students and three adults. Following the tragedy, Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, has pushed tirelessly for gun reform − though his appeals, as well as those of likeminded others, have gone unheeded. Sadly, in a devastating display of injury to insult, Pearson lost his brother to gun suicide at the end of last year.