<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Senate on Monday advanced a proposal that would remove a clause in the state’s constitution allowing slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. </p>
<p>Currently, the Tennessee Constitution states that “slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, are forever prohibited in this state.”</p>
<p>Under the proposal, voters will have the option to delete that section and replace it by clearly stating that slavery and involuntary servitude is banned throughout Tennessee. </p>
<p>An additional line would be added to note that “nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.” The explanation was added at the request of the Department of Correction.</p>
<p>The resolution passed in the GOP-dominant Senate with only four Republicans opposing. </p>
<p>Sen. Brian Kelsey, a white Republican from Memphis, argued that the resolution would send a “fake history” message to voters that Tennessee’s Constitution permits slavery. He further argued that the resolution “doesn’t do anything" before voting against the proposed amendment. </p>
<p>“There’s a difference between working and slavery," countered Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Black Democrat also from Memphis. "I’ve worked, I’ve never been a slave.”</p>
<p>Akbari added that the resolution would close a loophole in “very clear language.” </p>
<p>Amending the state constitution is a lengthy process in Tennessee. Proposed changes must pass by a majority in both chambers during one two-year General Assembly, and then pass by at least two-thirds of the vote in the next. The amendment would then go before the voters in the year of the next gubernatorial election, which is in 2022. </p>
