Gun Control Advocate, Radical Progressive Democrat Primary Candidate Causes Concern For Constituents After Irregularities Surface In Campaign Finance And On Social Media

Image Credit: Shaundelle Brooks for TN State House District 60 / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Shaundelle Brooks, one of the Democratic nominees looking to fill the vacated seat left by Darren Jernigan (Tennessee House – District 60), after he left the seat to take a job with Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office, has outwardly been running on a platform of anti-gun violence. 

Brooks lost her son, Akilah DaSilva, 23,  who was killed in the 2018 Waffle House shooting.

When Brooks made the announcement to run for the seat, she included remarks on the loss, and expressed a wish to advocate for others who have also lost loved ones to violence, stating through her campaign manager, Rod Wright: “Stepping into this race, I carry the legacy of my son Akilah and the voices of countless families affected by gun violence…”

Brooks also has an intent to use the seat in the state legislature to further her advocacy for stricter gun control. 

However, the radical progressive candidate who is supported by activist representative from Nashville (by way of San Francisco, CA) Justin Jones (D-D52) of Tennessee Three fame, may be something other than what is presented to the public based on some unearthed social media posts which have raised concern for constituents in the district. 

Brooks has another son, 35-year-old son Abede DaSilva, who is a member of the rap group Tuff Gotti, whose music glorifies gun violence.

A video from the group, on the now private YouTube channel (made private on Monday of this week) features a song called “Spinning” whose lyrics include:

● “Toe tag, only his momma gonna be able to recognize him.”

● “Ride around with two glocks.”

● “Killing every player on the team”

● “I wanna see n***** bleed.

● “Turned his son into a bastard, we gonna put a lot of n***** in a casket, we done turned a lot of n***** into ashes, call them Casper.”

● “Play with my life I’m going to shoot you.”

Screenshots below – Video cannot be posted due to copyright.

At the bottom of the video in the comments, Brooks included her own in support of the video, despite the content being antithetical to her anti-gun violence platform.

Another video on the channel is for a song called “Surprise” which was published 2 years ago, features firearms as well as Brooks youngest son, DaSilva’s half-brother, Aldane Brooks, 18.

Screenshots below – Video cannot be posted due to copyright.

According to Brooks’ campaign website, both Abede and Aldane live with her and her daughter Amber at a home in Hermitage.

The two have taken part publicly in her campaign. Both can be seen on her mailers and in social media posts associated with her campaign.

Other issues of concern include information on the candidate’s financial reports. 

According to her Quarter 2 financial report, Aldane, the 18 -year -old, was paid $6,000 in June — two payments of $3,000 — for “campaign management”.

According to public reports, this is twice what other candidate campaign managers are receiving for their services. 

Additionally, Last week, during the Q and A portion of the Donelson-Hermitage Neighborhood Alliance Candidate Forum (at the 54:43 min mark in video), Aldane asked both candidates that were participating, “What are both parties going to be doing about minorities who have been affected by gun violence in the Hermitage-Donelson area and also in public schools?”

While the answer for this question from the other candidate at the table, Tyler Brasher, included answers like universal background checks, proper storage, and red flag gun legislation, Brooks answer to the question was less specific. 

Brooks stated, “I think we need community intervention, I think we need to prevent violence in our communities, our black and brown communities, I think we need intervention..” Brooks trailed off, seemingly overwhelmed with emotion, unable to finish her answer. 

After Brooks collected herself, she finished in ardent agreement with Brasher, and that only laws for gun control would help to remedy what they see as the foundational premise for gun violence, being just the presence of guns.

Neither candidate made any association with the culture of the community, as expressed in the videos produced by her son, as a reflection of the gun violence culture, and its association with the problems of gun violence in their communities.

District 60 residents have noticed the inconsistencies in Brooks’ outward statements and position, with her private support of her son’s music and the culture it promotes and have expressed their concerns in several social media posts, provided to The Tennessee Conservative. 

Brittany McCann, a D60 resident, raised questions about the authenticity of Brooks platform, the post which starts “Meet the Brooks” calls out the candidate for her and her son’s  words and actions which to McCann appear to be the opposite of what Brooks promotes publicly.

McCann asks voters to help her stop someone who “endorses this culture.” She tells both Democrats and Republicans to pull a Democratic ballot on election day — this Thursday, August 1 — and vote for Brooks’ opponent, Tyler Brasher.

Tennessee law prohibits crossover voting for the purposes of skewing primaries for opposing parties, however much of it is seen in both Democrat and Republican primary races every election cycle.

Election Day is this Thursday, August 1^st. All voters are encouraged to do their research on the available candidates and cast their vote accordingly.