Tennessee Senate Bill SR0277

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/2/24

Caption

A RESOLUTION relative to the release of a certain TBI report concerning the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

Impact

If SR0277 is enacted, it would not change existing state laws but would represent an official request for transparency concerning historical events that are significant to both Tennessee and U.S. history. The resolution emphasizes the citizens’ right to access historical records that pertain to notable events in the state's past. The move is seen as an effort to reclaim a piece of Tennessee's legal and historical framework that has been obscured for decades.

Summary

Senate Resolution 277 (SR0277) concerns the release of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) report related to the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. This report, completed in 1969, is viewed as a significant historical document that has been under seal since its inception. The resolution urges Congress to release the report to the State of Tennessee to restore it to its rightful place in the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The resolution highlights the historical importance of the document and the ongoing efforts to have it returned since its initial sealing by the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979.

Contention

While there may not be direct contention surrounding the resolution as it is largely a request for the release of a document, the underlying issues involve broader discussions regarding accountability and historical integrity. There could be opposition from parties concerned about potential sensitivities surrounding the assassination and the need for historical contextualization in light of changing societal views on civil rights and justice.

Notable_points

The resolution serves as a reminder of the unresolved questions surrounding King’s assassination, particularly emphasizing James Earl Ray's recantation of his guilty plea shortly after his conviction. This aspect opens up discussions about historical narratives and the documentation of events that have shaped civil rights in America.