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House opens with invocation and floor recognitions, members mark Black History Month
Summary
The Tennessee House began its session with a chaplain’s invocation and a series of floor recognitions and condolences, including a speech urging support for Black history and local nonprofit work.
The Tennessee House opened its floor session with a prayer and a slate of recognitions that included condolences for recently deceased community members, a welcome to former members and students, and floor remarks noting Black History Month.
Representative Fritz introduced Randy Griffiths of Liberty Baptist Church in Kingston as the chaplain of the day; Griffiths offered an invocation that asked for wisdom for members and for healing from division. Later in the recognitions period, members asked for moments of silence for individuals who had recently died and welcomed visiting students from Clayton Bradley Academy.
One member used the recognition period to mark Black History Month and to criticize contemporary efforts to remove diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from government programs; the speaker called for the House to "stand up for racial justice" and to reckon with historical injustices associated with the statehouse.
Other recognitions included praise for Company D, a nonprofit providing performing arts opportunities for young adults with Down syndrome, and a call to remember victims of a school shooting in Antioch.
Why it matters: Opening recognitions and invocations are customary floor business but signal priorities and concerns members choose to elevate publicly. The Black History Month remarks and the calls to remember victims and nonprofits point to issues (race, school safety, disability inclusion) that members flagged for broader attention.
Closing: The session moved to its legislative business after the recognitions and prayer.
