Write a letter this week about a recent story in a newspaper

Your letter could shape the views of your neighbors and key decision makers and it provides a record that people are speaking out for the values of justice, equal protection of the law, and inclusion. You can increase engagement by sharing the link to your letter on social media. 

If you submit a letter and it is published, send us the link at [email protected] . Here are some stories in recent papers to which you could respond with a letter to the editor. Not every paper will have a relevant story every week. We simply provide some suggested stories for your focus. NOTE:  Beside the name of each paper is information about how to submit your letter.

USA Today (nationwide):   https://static.usatoday.com/submitletter/  .

1. Civil rights groups are fighting back as DEI comes under attack.  https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/09/19/civil-rights-groups-fight-dei-backlash/75283959007/ 

The Tennessean (Nashville area):  https://static.tennessean.com/letter-editor/ 

1. The Rutherford County Board of Education is removing books.  https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2024/09/20/banned-books-week-tennessee-schools-removes-toni-morrison-beloved-wicked/75307290007/ 
2. Sumner County activist named youth chair of Banned Books Week.  https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2024/09/20/tennessee-julia-garnett-national-youth-chair-banned-books-week/75162441007/ 
3. Kentucky bans conversion therapy for minors. What is its status in Tennessee?  https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2024/09/19/what-is-conversion-therapy-does-kentucky-ban-tennessee-laws-lgbtq-youth/75289225007/ 
4. How the state government underfunded TSU.  https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2024/09/22/tsu-underfunded-tennessee-more-than-2-billion/74895495007/ 

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis area):  https://static.commercialappeal.com/submit-letter/ 

1. Gov Lee not attending fundraiser of scandal-ridden North Carolina Lt. Gov. Robinson. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/2024/09/20/bill-lee-host-fundraiser-mark-robinson/75310754007/ 
2. Kentucky bans conversion therapy for minors. What is its status in Tennessee?  https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2024/09/19/what-is-conversion-therapy-does-kentucky-ban-tennessee-laws-lgbtq-youth/75289225007/ 

The Daily Memphian (Memphis area):  "The Daily Memphian welcomes a diverse range of views and invites readers to submit Letters to the Editor at [email protected]. Submissions should be fewer than 250 words in length. Preference will be given to letters addressing local issues. Writers must provide their name, city where they reside, email address and phone number. Letters that are published will include the writer’s name and city. Anonymous submissions will not be considered."

1. State won’t appeal the Memphis referendum on gun reform. https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroelections/article/46579/tennessee-attorney-general-jonathan-skrmetti-gun-control-referendum-memphis 

The Knoxville News Sentinel (Knoxville area):  https://static.knoxnews.com/submit-letter/ 

1. Kentucky bans conversion therapy for minors. What is its status in Tennessee?  https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2024/09/19/what-is-conversion-therapy-does-kentucky-ban-tennessee-laws-lgbtq-youth/75289225007/

Chattanooga Times Free Press (Chattanooga area):  https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chattanooga-times-free-press/20190217/282926681663332 

1. Books disappearing from school libraries under new law. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/sep/21/under-tennessees-stricter-school-library-law-some/ 

Clarksville Leaf Chronicle (Clarksville area):  https://static.theleafchronicle.com/submitletter/ 

1. There is no Leaf Chronicle story, but you could write a letter about the protests surrounding an Austin Peay professor’s hateful views. See this Clarksville NOW story:  https://clarksvillenow.com/local/students-protest-apsu-professors-alleged-hate-group-activity-at-board-of-trustees-meeting-photos/ 
2. Kentucky bans conversion therapy for minors. What is its status in Tennessee?  https://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/2024/09/19/what-is-conversion-therapy-does-kentucky-ban-tennessee-laws-lgbtq-youth/75289225007/ 

Daily News Journal (Murfreesboro area):  https://static.dnj.com/submitaletter/ 

1. Rutherford County Board of Education is removing books. https://www.dnj.com/story/news/education/2024/09/20/banned-books-week-tennessee-schools-removes-toni-morrison-beloved-wicked/75307290007/ 

Johnson City Press (Northeast TN):  https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/site/forms/online_services/letter_editor/ 

1. What should schools being doing to keep students safe?  https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/what-more-should-schools-be-doing-to-keep-students-safe/article_5004e2b4-7788-11ef-a9f5-3bba6e7fc765.html 

The Jackson Sun (West TN):  https://static.jacksonsun.com/submit-letter/ 

1. Kentucky bans conversion therapy for minors. What is its status in Tennessee?  https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2024/09/19/what-is-conversion-therapy-does-kentucky-ban-tennessee-laws-lgbtq-youth/75289225007/ 
2. Rutherford County Board of Education is removing books.  https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/education/2024/09/20/banned-books-week-tennessee-schools-removes-toni-morrison-beloved-wicked/75307290007/ 

Cookeville Herald-Citizen (Upper Cumberland):  [email protected] . Read previous letters to get a sense of the typical word count of letters.

1. Putnam County seeing uptick in voter registrations.  https://www.herald-citizen.com/news/local/county-sees-uptick-in-voter-registrations/article_f5d4cc4f-74b2-5c0f-8853-e1c286e10e72.html