Memphis City Council sues Shelby County Election Commission [Video]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis City Council members filed a lawsuit against the Shelby County Election Commission, which was announced during a press conference Friday, Aug. 30, after state and county officials said they would not allow gun control measures to appear on the November ballot.

Memphis City Council Chair J.B. Smiley was joined by fellow councilmembers Jana Swearengen-Washington, Pearl Walker, Jerri Green and Yolanda Cooper-Sutton.

“Why do you want us to be unsafe? And why do you want us to be so poor?” asked Councilwoman Walker during the press conference, a question directed at the Tennessee state government. 

Councilman Smiley said they anticipate being in court as soon as the first week of September. He said this is a unified decision by the city council to fight for the rights of Memphis voters. 

He and his colleagues repeated that the state government chose the wrong city and the wrong city council to mess …