NASHVILLE – Tennessee State University (TSU) student leaders sounded the alarm alongside invited national faith and civil rights leaders, today about extremist legislatures across the country that are attacking and defunding historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
In Tennessee, the Senate Education Committee recently voted to vacate TSUs board of directors and empowered extremist Republican Gov. Bill Lee to appoint eight new members to the 10-member body. While the action was spurred in part by financial challenges at TSU, a 2023 Biden Administration study shows that TSU is owed over $2.1 billion in state funds that have been held back since 1987. The study shows how historic land grant colleges are being attacked and underfunded by extremist legislators across the United States.
These same state legislatures are also suppressing the vote, attacking women’s rights, and refusing to raise the minimum wage while undermining HBCUs, which have a long history of promoting equality for all people. While President Biden, Vice President Harris and progressive congressional leaders have taken action to get more resources to HBCUs, extremist-led state legislatures like this one in Tennessee are trying to dismantle HBCU leadership and disenfranchise these schools by holding back critical funding.
At the press conference, student leaders, invited national faith and civil rights advocates will announce steps they’re taking to sound the alarm, and mobilize action including:
- Calling on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and extremist in the legislature to stop the unfounded and overreaching attacks on TSU;
- Mobilizing alumni and supporters to defend HBCUs;
- Calling on all people of goodwill to challenge attacks by extremist in state legislatures towards HBCUs around the country;
- Demanding equitable funding after years of underfunding; and
- Mobilizing voting power to challenge state legislatures.
Roland Martin, of Black Star Network, broadcasted his show live from the event. Watch the broadcast below.
Leaders in attendance included:
Student leaders & hosts: Shaun Wimberly, Jr. (co-host), TSU Student Trustee
Derrell Taylor (co-host), TSU SGA President
Invited national leaders: Bishop William J. Barber, II, President and Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach
Latosha Brown, Founder, Black Voters Matter
Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, President, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
Tamika Mallory, Founder, Until Freedom
Roland Martin, Black Star Network