Towanna Murphy exchanges words with activists as county commission decides school board elections
by: Melissa Moon
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At least two people were removed from a Shelby County Commission meeting after exchanging words with MSCS Board Member Towanna Murphy, as the County Commission voted to override the mayor’s veto on school board elections Monday.
The outburst happened during a public comment period, before county commissioners voted on school board elections.
During the meeting, which was streaming live online, you could hear yelling from the back of the room.
Murphy said two people who had just addressed the commissioners began making derogatory comments about her, and she yelled back at them, but was not asked to leave.
The board voted eight to four to override Mayor Lee Harris’ veto of the commission’s vote to realign school board elections with those of the county commission.
Shelby County Commissioners passed a resolution last month to align the elections, but Mayor Lee Harris blocked the resolution.
All nine MSCS school board seats will now be on the ballot next year.
Murphy said she was not happy about the decision she said disenfranchises voters.
“It’s a shame we have to go through this because we made a decision they didn’t like,” said Murphy.
The school board came under intense scrutiny by some state lawmakers and the county commissioner after it fired former Superintendent Marie Feagins in January.
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