This week, On Point Juandolyn Stokes welcomed Atlanta City Council Member, Michael Julian Bond who shared his perspective on the expulsion of the Tennessee State Representatives and its personal connection to his late father, Julian Bond.
"The representatives represent the people of that district. To have someone expelled from their seat in which they were elected, silences a district. This was so outside the norms," said Bond.
Bond said when he heard what happened to the representatives in Tennessee, he was reminded of his father's, [Julian Bond] situation.
In 1966, the Georgia House of Representatives attempted to keep him from being seated three times because he spoke out against the Vietnam War!
Bond said there were only five votes to seat his father and they were from Republicans, because back then Democrats were known as "Dixiecrats" [a southern segregationist political party.]
In the end, in a 9-0 ruling, the Supreme Court said he had a right to free speech, same as the Tennessee three.
"This was heavy on my heart and this really struck a chord with me and my family because my father was born in Nashville," said Bond.
Bond shared how members of the civil rights movement supported his father during this time including, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who lived three houses down from the Bond family on Sunset Ave.
"Dr. King led several marches on behalf of my father," recalled Bond.
He added, it is important for elected officials to stay in touch with the community after they are elected. One way he said he learned one can do this is by drawing circles of influence and power, which includes connecting with like-minded people.
"I believe [Justin] Jones (D-Nashville) and [Justin] Pearson (D-Memphis) will be re-elected just like my father," said Bond.
