At 3 pm on Saturday September 14 at Clinton Chapel AME Zion church, Knoxville City Councilwoman at Large Seat 3 Amelia Parker along with City Council Movement held an interactive, engaging meeting about Knoxville City Charter Amendment #2.
Councilwoman Parker kicked it off and then Z led and moderated the meeting. It was educational, presenting the history of Knoxville Council representation, voter activity (only two districts are the heaviest in voting).
It was said that Knoxville’s NAACP has a neutral position on the City Council Charter Amendments. However, the National NAACP Legal Defense Fund has a position paper opposing at Large voting. The position paper was distributed to everyone at the meeting. Rep. Sam McKenzie sent a video that was played of his opposition to Charter Amendment 2. According to McKenzie he was in Washington DC at the National Black Caucus meeting. McKenzie’s former spouse is District Six Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie (former Vice Mayor).
Dr. John Butler, Member of the Knox County School Board was present along with Larsen Jay the Knox County Commissioner at Large Seat 10. Also in attendance were notable activists R. Bentley Marlow, Rick Roach and Deidra Harper.
