Conservative Mayor Andy Ogles Calls On Governor, General Assembly To Dump Big Tech

Photo: Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles speaks at No More Mandates Rally in Knoxville, Tennessee On December 19th.

Photo: Courtesy of Tennessee Stands

Published: January 15, 2021 

Maury County, TN – On January 13th, outspoken Conservative Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles sent a letter to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly requesting that they drop any and all equity and debt associated with the Big Tech companies that are suppressing free speech. 

Ogle’s letter reads as follows: 

January 13, 2021 

Dear Governor Lee, Lt. Governor McNally, Speaker Sexton and Members of the General Assembly, 

I formally request on behalf of my Fellow Tennesseans that the Governor and/or General Assembly take the immediate steps necessary to divest Any and All Tennessee-held equity and debt of the following companies:  Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Alphabet aka Google. 

Like most Americans I was appalled by the violence that took place at OUR Nation’s Capitol.  The actions of a few DO NOT represent the majority, they do not represent me, nor do they represent you; they do not represent Tennessee values.   

That being said, the major technology companies are systematically silencing and censoring millions of law abiding, patriotic Americans including millions of God fearing Tennesseans. 

The above listed companies are waging war on freedom of speech and have taken the extraordinary step of deleting / censoring the President of the United States. Whether one agrees or disagrees, whether one likes or dislikes Donald Trump he IS the POTUS and will remain so until January 20th, 2021. 

If the President of the United States can be censored and silenced by these companies without due process, then so can anyone. 

It has become abundantly clear that these companies have, in a discriminatory manner, targeted Conservatives and Supporters of Donald Trump.  Furthermore, these companies appear to be conspiring and colluding in such a fashion to eliminate any and all competition by example of the systematic blocking and removal of Parler from the internet.  

It is imperative that State Governments take immediate action and rebuke these companies and their actions.  Tennesseans should not be forced to invest and support the very companies that are conspiring to silence them.  Furthermore, the State of Tennessee should refrain from doing business with these companies by way of prohibition of advertising on Google, Facebook or Twitter and a prohibition of Amazon services until such time these companies admit their errors and remove said censorship and prohibitions from their respective platforms.   

It should be noted, a similar effort is under way in Florida, as initiated by Representative Randy Fine, and I respectfully request by way of Office of the Governor or the General Assembly that Tennessee follow suit and take a stand against this type of systematic censorship.  

Sincerely, 

Andy Ogles 

Maury County Mayor, Tennessee 

Ogle’s letter comes after Trump was first banned by Facebook, then Twitter and Google/Alphabet by shutting down the profiles belonging to President Trump. 

As mentioned in Ogle’s letter, Amazon and Apple are also guilty parties. 

Apple released reasoning for their decision to deplatform particular apps saying despite common knowledge to the opposite effect that, “We have always supported diverse points of view being represented on the App Store, but there is no place on our platform for threats of violence and illegal activity.”

No doubt Apple was referencing the removal of Parler in part, which was a rallying point for those individuals who sought to bypass the censorship of the Big Tech companies. 

We, at the Tennessee Conservative, utilized Parler to post legitimate news stories 5-days a week and occasionally weekends and like many, we have found other outlets like MeWe.

Like Mayor Ogles, we will continue to fight the good fight…   And bring conservative news stories to your attention that the Mainstream Media does not want you to see.