Demonstrate for Democracy plans 'People's Filibuster' against Trump admin in Murfreesboro
Demonstrate for Democracy organizers will hold a 25-hour "People's Filibuster" to protest President Donald Trump's administration in Murfreesboro May 1.
The event will start at 7 a.m. May 1 and end by 8 a.m. May 2 on the public sidewalk along Medical Center Parkway, organizer Lora Hortert of Murfreesboro said.
The demonstrators will be near the Murfreesboro office of Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais located in the Fountains at Gateway office, residential, restaurant and retail development, Hortert said.
"We strongly feel this president is violating the U.S. Constitution," Hortert said.
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The demonstrators have concerns about the constitutionality of deportations of immigrants who are "entitled to due process," Hortert said.
Courts should determine if immigrants can be lawfully removed or permitted to stay legally in the United States of America, suggested Hortert, who has worked as a 17-year paralegal and earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.
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The demonstrators also want DesJarlais, serving District 4 including Rutherford County, and other members of Congress to use their separation of powers authority to challenge the president.
"They have the power to check him," Hortert said.
The Daily News Journal reached out to DeJarlais office's spokesman Alex Swisher Monday for comment.
DesJarlais offered a recent comment to The Daily News Journal pertaining to the Trump administration decision to revoke visas of six MTSU international students.
'President Trump is fulfilling his promise to fix our broken immigration system," DesJarlais said.
"There are a myriad of reasons why a student visa may be canceled, and the American people hired President Trump to enforce the law − something the previous administration did not do.'
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Participants of the People's Filibuster will start with a couple of short speeches, Hortert said, before reading out loud the nation's founding documents.
Readings will include the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution, the oath of office of Congress members, and the Federalist Papers that are essays written by three of the leaders who joined others in crafting the Constitution: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.
The idea for the People's Filibuster came from the recent 25-hour filibuster of U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, in protest of Trump's administration, Hortert said.
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Hortert has about 30 participants committed to read in the People's Filibuster so far.
"We're hoping to get up to 50," Hortert said.
Those interested can email demonstratedemocracy@gmail.com or call Hortert at 615-995-9845. She and her 22-year-old daughter, Rachel Hortert, are the main organizers of the People's Filibuster.
The organizers also have a Demonstrate for Democracy Facebook page for more information.
This is a developing story.
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Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Demonstrators plan 'People's Filibuster' against Trump in Murfreesboro
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