One pastor is standing against Tennessee's attempt to ban reparations.

The Tennessee Senate recently made headlines for their attempt to ban the study of reparations in their counties. The bill, SB0429, is sponsored by Republican Senator Brent Taylor, who argues that reparations should be addressed at a national level rather than a state level.

However, the bill is facing pushback from one Tennessee pastor, Rev. Earle Fisher of Memphis' Abyssinian Baptist Church. According to a report from WKRN, Fisher has started a petition opposing the bill, claiming that it is a ploy to maintain political power. "This is not about money," Fisher stated firmly. "It's about ideology and maintaining racial and economic inequities across the state. The truth scares those in power, and they don't want anyone to study it."

Fisher also spoke out to Capital B News, expressing his concerns about the current state of the Tennessee legislature. "It's clear that we have a white nationalist majority in our state," he said. "And it's not lost on anyone who has been involved in political organizing that this is who they truly are. When a legislative body is passing bills to prevent the study of a topic, it sends a message that they not only support injustice and inequality, but they are also against the truth."

Senator Taylor defended his decision to sponsor the bill, clarifying that it is not a judgment on the issue of reparations. "This vote is not a stance on reparations," he explained to WKRN. "It is an important issue for many, but it is a federal matter and not something that should be funded by city or county tax dollars."

Representative Justin J. Pearson, a Democrat, shared his thoughts on the bill, stating that it is a reflection of Tennessee's troubling history. "This is a prime example of legislating white supremacy and racism," Pearson stated. He also noted that while the bill is "terrible," it is also "accurate" in its representation of the state. "The Republican Party's opposition to reparations is an attempt to ignore the past and its impact on the present," he added.

In response to the bill, Fisher suggests that the key to creating real change lies in community organizing. "Sometimes you have to fight in Congress, and if that doesn't work, you have to turn to the courts. But in order to be effective, we must first organize within our communities," Fisher explained to Capital B. "We need to focus on electing leaders who are not swayed by white nationalism and supremacy. We have to look at the races where these individuals could potentially be replaced and put our efforts there."

SB0429 is set to be voted on by the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 10th. In the meantime, Fisher's petition on Change.org has gained over 1,200 signatures, showing that there is significant opposition to the bill.

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