Proposed amendment would ban slavery as punishment for a crime
Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co. (TCI) amassed enormous profits by enslaving Tennessee prisoners through the convict leasing system and forcing them to work as coal miners. It moved most of its operations to Alabama after violent protests over its use of convict labor. Its furnaces in Ensley, Alabama, are pictured here. (Library of Congress)
The Tennessee constitution states “that slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, are forever prohibited in this state.” The third constitutional question on the Nov. 8 ballot proposes deleting the exception.
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slavery 2022 elections Joe Towns Kevin Vaughn Raumesh AkbariIan Round
Ian Round is The Daily Memphian’s state government reporter based in Nashville. He came to Tennessee from Maryland, where he reported on local politics for Baltimore Brew. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in December 2019.
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