RELEASE: TENNESSEE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS COALITION (TIRRC) HOSTS 'DAY ON THE HILL' TO ASSERT: IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ARE HERE TO STAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2025
CONTACT: Luis Mata, media@tnimmigrant.org

TENNESSEE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS COALITION (TIRRC) HOSTS 'DAY ON THE HILL' TO ASSERT: IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ARE HERE TO STAY

NASHVILLE– Today the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) hosted its annual Day on the Hill, where more than 200 Tennesseans representing more than 20 countries took to the state capitol in a powerful response to the challenging current political climate characterized by increasing legislative attacks on immigrant families across the state.

The event coincided with the hearing of HB793 (Lamberth)/SB836 (Watson) in the Senate Education Committee at 3PM CT. HB793 (Lamberth)/SB836 (Watson) seeks to exclude children from public education based on their immigration status in direct defiance of constitutional protections and long-standing Supreme Court precedent.

Immigrant families are deeply rooted in Tennessee and play a vital role in the state's economic, cultural, and social landscape. Immigrants and refugees are essential to Tennessee's growth. Hundreds of them united today on the steps of the capitol to send a clear message: Tennessee is home, and they deserve the freedom to live, work, and thrive, regardless of their background or the color of their skin.

“Today, we were joined by Tennesseans from Memphis to Mountain City; Tennesseans of all races, genders, and backgrounds; Tennesseans who, like most of us, believe in the freedom to give our families a better life, the freedom to learn and get an education, and the freedom to thrive in our communities. But certain politicians in the Tennessee General Assembly have no interest in protecting the freedoms, families, and futures of Tennesseans. Instead, they shame and blame new immigrants, pointing the finger to divide and distract us. They hope that instead of noticing their failure to make it easier to put food on the table, we will blame our neighbor for our hardships. They hope that instead of calling them out for giving millions in kickbacks to wealthy corporations, we will quietly allow them to take away our freedoms. But we know the truth. That's why we're here today, to amplify our voices and demand that our leaders protect ALL of our freedoms, our families and our futures,” said Judith Clerjeune, Advocacy Director for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC).

"We know most Tennesseans agree: all of us should have the freedom to thrive—to be safe in our communities, to have access to an education, to earn a living wage, to care and provide for our families, and to contribute to our country. We are integral to this state’s past, present, and future, and we are here to stay. We are channeling the strength and power of the decades-long fight for justice in our nation, the movement leaders who came before us, and how we collectively fought to defend our communities in the past. The power of the people is stronger than the people in power, and together, we can build a vibrant future where our kids have the freedom to learn, our communities have the freedom to stay, and our families have the freedom to thrive," said Berenice Oliva, member of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC).

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The Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) is a statewide, immigrant and refugee-led collaboration whose mission is to build power, amplify our voices, and organize communities to advocate for our rights in order to build a stronger, more inclusive Tennessee where people of all nationalities, immigration statuses, and racial identities can belong and thrive. Since its founding in 2001, TIRRC has grown from a grassroots network of community leaders into one of the most diverse and effective coalitions of its kind, a model for emerging immigrant rights organizations in the Southeast and throughout the United States.