Jan 23rd, 2009
Posted by Tricia Herzfeld, ACLU of Tennessee at 12:42pm	Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights

Nashville Still Friendliest City in the World "English First" Law Fails

Yesterday the people of Nashville showed that they will continue the city's fine tradition of openness, inclusiveness and hospitality. In an expensive special election, they roundly rejected councilman Eric Crafton's divisive "English First" law. The law would have barred government employees from communicating with businesses, tourists, hospital patients and crime victims in languages other than English.

The ACLU opposed the law because the initiative's restrictions on the delivery of government services would have violated free speech protections of the First Amendment and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

The community was not about to let this measure pass and came out in record numbers. Normally, a special election in Nashville only brings out about 40,000 people, but this one brought out nearly double that amount. It was incredibly moving.

Our country is full of new hope and progress. If this law had passed, it would have felt like everyone else was moving forward, while Nashville was moving backwards. But the vote last night proved that there is new sense of pride and unity in Nashville too.

The broad coalition that came together to defeat this law from business, faith, civil rights and health and safety groups was truly amazing. We are a city that joined together to change for the better. We in Nashville look forward to more good work for change as a unified and welcoming community and country.

Permalink |	Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights

1. john Says:
   Jan 26th, 2009 at 8:40am

   Great, now no one will bother to learn English.

   "The ACLU opposed the law because the initiative’s restrictions on the delivery of government services would have violated free speech protections of the First Amendment and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment."

   How would making people learn English do that? People can speak any language they want. But when they want government services, they speak English. If they choose not to learn English, it is there own fault.

   By killing this law, people who come to this county will not bother to learn English.

2. Nancy Says:
   Jan 26th, 2009 at 8:13pm

   Que esto es? Muy bueno. Entonces nosotros aprendamos mas palabras por muchas personas y nationaledas.

   Or something like that. This world is smaller all the time- rather than see something like this as an intrusion on us, we should view this as a challenge-if you want the U.S. to have a say. learning words of languages can be fun-

   Bon nuit!

3. huberto Says:
   Jan 26th, 2009 at 8:55pm

   bueno eh

4. Military guy Says:
   Jan 27th, 2009 at 7:16pm

   We are Americans, English ia the language of this country. Our language is what bonds us a country. If your desire is American Citazenship the Law requires you have an understanding of English. Learning another tongue is a personal choice, not a national need. If I move to France, Germany, Italy, Chile, Korea I would learn the language of the land. In your former home country you spoke your mother tongue. You wanted to live in America be an American. The language of this land is English. This is called standardazation. We speak English, so if say "help me, I think my mothers having a heart attack, she's not breathing!" Help will come. My famly come from Scotland and Netherlands. Who would know what I need if I said the former statement in Gealic or Flemish. This isn't about restricing services to poeple, by not embracing the language of the country you choose to reside, you choose to restrict yourself. It is not me being uncaring of there culture rather should not the new Americans embrace there new home language.

5. Let's get real Says:
   Jan 29th, 2009 at 7:23pm

   Not everybody gets here at the same time. You can't expect people to learn the language over night. In the mean time, what's to say a person might not have need of some sort of assistance...medical emergency, etc.

   Especially in government positions, medical facilities, etc., you have to be able to communicate with people to find out their needs. There have always been people in this country that spoke different languages. It hasn't changed our overwhelming use of English here. Why is it different now? What are people afraid of? Have we become a nation of cowards?

6. Hmm Says:
   Feb 18th, 2009 at 11:54pm

   Well, I'm not English, I'm and American.
   Lets all reach a "compromise"

   We are all Americans here, your native language is Spanish, my Fathers is German, my mothers is Japanese,that man speaks French, but We will all COMPROMISE with you and speak English.

   Your welcome.

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