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A resolution recognizing January 22, 2024, as Language Justice Day in Nashville and Davidson County.
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WHEREAS, on January 22, 2009, Nashville voters rejected a proposed Charter amendment that would have required that all Metropolitan Government business be done in English; and
WHEREAS, known as "English Only", the proposal would have required that all official actions and communications of the Metropolitan Council be done exclusively in English and would have required all meetings of Metropolitan boards and commissions be conducted in English as well; and
WHEREAS, Nashville voters rejected this proposal by a percentage of 56.4% to 43.6%, with a significant voter turnout for a special election; and
WHEREAS, Nashville for All of Us brought together a diverse, cross-sectional coalition of nonprofits, community groups, unions, businesses, and residents spanning the Metropolitan area including the Coalition for Education about Immigration, Conexion Americas, TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Kurdish American Youth Organization, American Civil Liberties Union, Nashville International Center for Empowerment, Scarritt Bennett, Bridges, TN Equality Project, the Nashville Area Chamber along with the Hispanic, Latin American, and Chinese Chambers of Commerce, Justice for Our Neighbors, Catholic Charities, 11 presidents of local colleges and universities, religious organizations including the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship, Islamic Centers, Jewish Federation, the Catholic Diocese, Unitarian Universalist Church, Clergy for Tolerance, multiple law, marketing, media and public relations organizations such as NPR Law, Ozment Law, McNeely, Pigott, & Fox, Bone Law, La Noticia, as well as many other organizations and people from across the social and political spectrums to defeat this proposal; and
WHEREAS, a prior effort to implement "English Only" policies had been made in 2007 by the Council and was vetoed by Mayor Bill Purcell; and
WHERE...
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