From government forums to town-hall meetings, there are more ways than ever to become engaged in Knoxville’s civic and social discourse. Each week, we’ll round up noteworthy public events that come to our attention.
April 8
Knoxville People’s Assembly
Place: Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (2931 Kingston Pike)
Time: 9 a.m.
The Rescue and Restoration Knoxville, an African American advocacy group, is sponsoring this meeting to discuss its campaign to fill City Council seats. Info here.
April 9
‘The White Helmets:’ Film Screening & Discussion
Place: Annoor Academy of Knoxville (724 Foxvue Rd.)
Time: 3-5 p.m.
Winner of Best Documentary (short) at the Oscars, White Helmets tracks a group of volunteer rescue workers of the Syrian Civil Defense as they risk their lives daily amid civil war. Maryville’s Dr. Jaber Hassan, a member of the Syrian-American Medical Society, and Yassin Terou of Yassin’s Falefel House will share their experiences. RSVP here. Info here.
April 12
Vigil And Community Gathering Against 287g
Place: City County Building (400 Main St. SW)
Time: 8 p.m.
The immigrant community and its allies will express its disapproval of the Knox County Sheriff’s effort to enact a 287(g) program here, which would allow the sheriff’s department to enforce immigration laws as deputies of the Department of Homeland Security. Info here.
April 13
Women for Syria Vigil
Place: Market Square
Time: 6 p.m.
Sponsored by the Women’s March Coalition of East Tennessee, the vigil invites participants to bring signs and peacefully protest “the Trump Administration’s ban the very refugees trying to escape the same terrorism we are claiming to fight in Syria.” Speakers will include Joud Hassan, a Syrian American who graduated from the University of Tennessee and wrote her thesis on Syria and Assad. Info: womensmarchcoalition.org.
April 15
Knoxville Tax March
Place: Market Square
Time: Noon
On tax day, Knoxvillians will march to demand President Trump reveal his tax returns. More info here.
April 18
Third Parties and the Left: Problems & Prospects
Place: Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
“Electoral politics are a longstanding problem for the U.S. left. In recent decades, a number of parties have formed as an alternative to the Democratic Party: the Labor Party, the Green Party, and now, the Justice Party. However, these parties risk becoming little more than networks of activists or pressure groups on the Democratic Party, and it still remains unclear whether a serious electoral challenge to the Democratic Party is possible.” Panelists include: Travis Donoho (Democratic Socialists of America), Barbara Bridges (Green Party US), Jason Dawsey (UT Department of History). More info here.
April 22
Knoxville March for Science
Place: Ayres Hall, South Lawn, UT
Time: Saturday, April 22 at 11 AM – 2 PM
A demonstration for science — especially “Evidence-based public policy and regulations that serve public interest and protect vulnerable communities rather than further corporate greed and political gain.” Info here.
April 29
Knoxville Climate March
Place: Downtown
Time: 10 a.m.
“On April 29th, we will march for our families. We will march for our air, our water, and our land. We will march for clean energy jobs and climate justice. We will march for our communities, the people we love, and for peace.
“We will gather for the March between 9:30 and 10am at the East Tennessee Tribute to Country Music Park on the NE corner of Summit Hill and Gay street. At 10am, we will march down Gay street and down Clinch Ave to come down World’s Fair Park Dr., ending at the Amphitheater in World’s Fair Park for a Rally from 11am-12pm.”
Editor Coury Turczyn guided Knoxville's alt weekly, Metro Pulse, through two eras, first as managing editor (and later executive editor) from 1992 to 2000, then as editor-in-chief from 2007 to 2014. He's also worked as a Web editor at CNET, the erstwhile G4 cable network, and HGTV.
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