Image Credit: Knoxville Community Media / YouTube
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
During their Monday meeting, the Knox County Commission volleyed in heated debates on two hot-button topics, a proposed ordinance designed to create safeguards against nonprofits using government grant money to aid illegal aliens and a resolution honoring the late Charlie Kirk, both of which received significant pushback.
Republican Commissioners Angela Russell and Andy Fox initially introduced a proposal comprised of two ordinances which would require nonprofits to meet 12 detailed criteria before they could qualify for grant funding from the county.
The proposal was designed to offer the county a comprehensive look into internal operations, finances, and accountability practices of any organization applying for public funds and ensure they are not being funneled into aiding illegal aliens.
Monday’s vote on the matter ultimately postponed the measure for six months after members of the clergy, nonprofit workers, and activists spoke against the measures during the public comment period, many invoking their interpretations of Biblical mandates to aid the poor and needy.
“You would threaten directors for refusing to betray what Christ commands: to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger and heal the wounded,” said one resident.
In rebuttal, Commissioner Andy Fox chided many of those who contextually weaponized Scripture to condemn the proposal. “You do not rightly divine the Bible,” he told one audience member. “Now, you can derive values from the Bible that you apply in public situations, but primarily the Bible is the book that is the Gospel message to the world, and its primary focus is to draw attention to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the need for repentance.”
While public officials say the total amount granted to nonprofits is less than 1% of the county’s total budget, these commissioners want to ensure every cent is accounted for and spent appropriately. Reportedly, Knox County issued $1.9 million in grants to charitable foundations through its general funds, though the additional amount distributed through its hotel tax was not available.
The other topic of great debate for the evening was a resolution sponsored by conservative Christian commissioner Rhonda Lee to honor Charlie Kirk. Extolling his accomplishments and virtues, the resolution names Kirk as a “devoted Christian who boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion” and a “fierce defender of the American founding and its timeless principles of life, liberty, limited government and individual.”
From its inception, the resolution saw resistance not only from Democrat commissioners who condemned any attempt to honor an individual who “built his national platform on division and a rhetoric that alienates and targets minorities”, but also Republicans who concurred with Democrat arguments that an honorary resolution should be unanimous and recognize only citizens or businesses of Knox County.
Those positions were reiterated during the Monday meeting, with Democrat members saying they were “appalled” Commissioner Lee would bring such a resolution and some Republicans standing beside their belief a resolution was not appropriate, despite their eventual “Yes” votes.
Andy Fox spoke to rebuke opposition to the resolution, especially as the crowd continually interrupted with shouts and boos. “Charlie Kirk had a message of ‘We need to engage in peaceful debate,’ and not this alternative that was rising in our culture of angry violence in favor of a political message, any political message. And of course, his other primary message was his Christianity… So we need to, as a body, acknowledge and honor Charlie Kirk’s message of peaceful debate in the face of shouting that message down,” he said.
Commissioner Lee invited members of the Turning Point USA chapters from Knoxville and Chattanooga to be present at the meeting and Vice President of the University of Tennessee chapter, Nick Subtle, addressed the crowd with his support for the resolution and Charlie’s direct impact on Knox County.
“His main message was the epitome of free speech. Regardless of if you’re a conservative or a liberal, Democrat of Republican, the ability to stand up and speak for what you believe in should be shared across everyone. That’s what Charlie was for and, unfortunately, what his life was ended about…And it is sad to see that so many people are trying to attack our shared principles, the ones that our Founding Fathers agreed upon,” Subtle stated.
Ultimately, the resolution did pass 7-3, with one abstention, but Knox County Moms for Liberty Chair Sherri Garrett, who attended the meeting, implied that some yes votes may have only come because several commissioners are up for reelection.
“Three democrat county commissioners made claims that Charlie was divisive, he spoke rhetoric, and his mission was to divide the country. One Republican commissioner lectured for 7 minutes with the attempts to get Commissioner Lee to withdraw her resolution. I thank God that He was with us, that my commissioner and another commissioner defended Charlie and his mission, which was to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and spread the Good News,” Garrett posted to Facebook. “This resolution passed, some of them voted yes because they truly believed in the mission, some of them because they were running for office and knew that in our county, it would be political suicide to vote no. But no matter what their motivation was, we made a statement that Jesus Christ is King and that we will carry on Charlie’s mission, to debate peacefully, to continue to try to unite and spread truth, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
