Commissioner Andy Fox is going after Muslims again. Let's show him how we feel about that.

I'm sharing the following information from Compass Knoxville's daily email. To see full coverage, visit their site https://compassknox.com/ . There is a paywall, but the $12/month is definitely worth it. All links are to references outside their paywall.

At the bottom, I'll remind you of how you can speak out at this upcoming meeting. Please do! Your voice is incredibly powerful at the local level. And I'm pretty sure if enough people register to speak, this fascist will tuck tail and remove his nonsense from the agenda so that no one has to listen to his racism.

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"Knox County Commissioner Andy Fox is at it again. Having backed away a few months ago from a planned presentation alleging that Islam is incompatible with American culture, Fox now wants to literally silence Muslims practicing their faith.

He has proposed a new county ordinance that would ban the amplification of an Islamic call to prayer anywhere in the county. Calls to prayer are part of the practice of Islam and are often amplified by mosque loudspeakers — in much the same way as Christian church bells.

You might think that sounds unconstitutional in a country founded on freedom of religion, but Fox is ready for that, sort of. He has loaded up his ordinance with a preamble that spells out a selective reading of American history to argue that the United States is and always has been an explicitly — and perhaps exclusively — Christian nation.

He also leans heavily on a report on rapes allegedly committed by Muslims in Britain, which was published in June by a far-right member of the British Parliament. The report’s author, Rupert Lowe, is a member of the anti-immigrant party Reform UK who has recently made the rounds of U.S. conservative media, including a stop with podcaster Joe Rogan.

Independent fact-checkers have found no basis for the number of crimes the report alleges. But it has helped fuel a surge in anti-Islamic rhetoric on our side of the pond from some conservative legislators and commentators. In last week’s Tennessee Republican gubernatorial primary, nearly 1 out of 4 votes went to state Rep. Monty Fritts, who has said he wants to outlaw non-Christian religions in the state.

While there are hundreds of Christian churches of many denominations in Knox County, there is one primary mosque: Masjid Annoor at Muslim Community of Knoxville. There are an estimated 3,000 or so Muslims in Knox County, making up just a little more than one-half of 1 percent of the population.

The ordinance is on the agenda for Commission's Aug. 31 meeting."

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How You Can Be Involved

Local policy decisions, including what’s discussed and how, are shaped by public participation. Knox County Commission meetings are public, and you have the right to attend and to speak during the public forum or on specific agenda items. Residents and property owners can register to speak by contacting the Commission Office ahead of the meeting.

To sign up to speak at a Knox County Commission meeting:

• Visit the Knox County Commission’s “Request to Speak” page (for public forum or agenda items). Request to Speak – Knox County Commission Meeting Registration (Commission.knoxcountytn.gov)
• You’ll need to provide your name, contact info, address, and the topic you want to address.
• Deadline: Typically by 4:00 p.m. the day before the meeting (this can vary, so check the current meeting notice).

When you speak, be respectful and address the whole Commission. You will usually have 3 minutes. So write it down and make sure it fits within the time allotted. This is both a right and a powerful way to influence local policy because decisions at the county level directly affect everyday life.

If you feel strongly about how free speech, immigration, or any other policy is being handled, show up and speak your mind. Local elected officials pay attention when their constituents show up in person. Use your voice. It matters more here than at many higher levels of government.

Constructive engagement with both local leaders and community organizations strengthens Knoxville for everyone. Go forth and make good change!