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Legal Defense Fund urges state to fairly compensate Black farmers in path of BlueOval road

Byharvestdempac

Published by Tennessee Lookout: Reporter Anita Wadhwani – May 15, 2021

📷: Matthew Sanderlin, a logger and farmer, is among a group of Black West Tennesseans fighting the Tennessee Department of Transportation in an eminent domain fight. (Photo: John Partipilo)

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is putting state transportation officials on notice to fairly compensate Black farmers whose property lies in the path of a roadway being constructed to benefit Ford Motor Company’s BlueOval City campus.

The organization urged the state to “take necessary steps to ensure Black residents are not disproportionately impacted by infrastructure projects related to BlueOval City, as is your obligation under Title VI,” according to a May 12 letter sent to Butch Eley, the state’s transportation commissioner.

Title VI is a federal law prohibiting discrimination from entities that accept federal funding.

“Black community members deserve to share equally in the economic opportunities generated by the new plant,” Jason Bailey, LDF Assistant Counsel, said in a statement.

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