Jerri Green Building Safe Spaces Across Tennessee

by Tricia Dewey

As Tennessee faces growing fear, division, and uncertainty, the idea of “safe space” has expanded far beyond four walls. It now includes access to healthcare, freedom from political violence, trust in government, and the ability to live openly without fear. For Jerri Green, creating safe spaces is not theoretical. It is the throughline connecting her work as a Memphis City Councilwoman, her recent appointment as interim chief public defender, and her decision to run for governor of Tennessee.

Green announced her gubernatorial campaign in July 2025. Since then, she has traveled across the state, meeting Tennesseans where they are, listening to their fears, and asking them to act. I spoke with her by phone on January 27 during Memphis’ extended snow and ice storm.

You hosted a Zoom Mass Call to Action on January 26 with Aftyn Behn and others. How do you think that went?
We had hundreds on the call. And everybody said yes to multiple forms of action. I think people really just want to do something right now. They feel powerless. And so to help people feel a little more empowered is always a good feeling, and to remind them that their voice is powerful. Sometimes you just need a reminder of how to use that, but I think it went really well. Everyone was already ready to participate, but then on January 24th, Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents. 

It was good that you guys had it already scheduled and ready to go.

Oh no, we didn’t have it ready. We put that together in a day. Sunday morning, my campaign manager and I have a standing call. I said to her, look, people really want to do something. We have the information on what people can do, right? Do you think we could call on some of our good people and say, hey, can you help us, you know, direct people and talk about these sorts of things.

We put together a list of action steps and then asked, “Who’s our best expert on that?” We tried to get people from West, Middle, and East Tennessee and said, “Hey, we’re going to do this tomorrow night.” We were going to proceed, regardless of whether anyone else was on the call. But everyone agreed, and I think we got a lot of good groups and diverse perspectives. And I thought it was really powerful to have people together saying, okay, yes, I’ll do that, I’ll do this, I can step up in this way.

I believe we had over 200 people on the call at times. Again, we didn’t have it planned, so we started sharing it on social media that day. So I think that speaks volumes. People think this is a ruby-red state, and no one cares. That people would drop everything and say, hey, I want to listen and I want to find ways to help.

Green’s call to action reflects her broader political journey, one that began not with ambition, but with urgency.

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Green’s call to action reflects her broader political journey, one that began not with ambition, but with urgency:

2020 Runs for State Representative, District 83, losing by fewer than 2,000 votes and helping shift key legislative conversations statewide.

2023 Elected Memphis City Councilwoman for District 2, focusing on public safety, equity, and community trust.

2024 Advocates for youth mental health funding, police training improvements, and community-based safety strategies in Shelby County.

2025 Appointed Interim Chief Public Defender for Shelby County, leading constitutional defense efforts for the most vulnerable residents.

JULY 2025 Announces candidacy for Governor of Tennessee, centering safety, healthcare access, and dignity for all Tennesseans.

JANUARY 2026    Launches statewide Mass Call to Action, mobilizing hundreds across Tennessee in response to political violence and civil rights concerns.

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It’s true that we have a blue dot here in Memphis, and many people have been working for a long time to get Democrats elected here. So, let’s circle back to the beginning. How did you decide to run for governor?
So this was not on my radar. As I have been most times when running for office, I have been recruited. People come to me and say, “We need your leadership now.” My response is, I’m so busy, have you all lost your minds? I have a couple of jobs. I have three kids. Don’t you have anybody else?

That is where I start these conversations, but the truth is, we can’t be looking for somebody else to say this anymore. I spoke with many people. I also drilled down on the numbers. This is not a solid ruby red state. We know that. I wanted to ensure there was a path to victory, and there is.

At the end of the day, I need to be able to look my kids in the eye and say, in this moment in history, I did everything I could to stand up and fight. They were the first people I asked before I asked my husband. Right out of the gate, they said yes, you should do it.

They’ve been on the trail with me. My kids are getting good at working the t-shirt table and introducing me at speeches. It has become a family affair. All of the issues, everything that’s happening in this world, my reason for fighting back is them. I want them to be able to read the books they want to read, love who they want to love, and get healthcare if they need it, no matter where they live.

Green’s decision has come with real risk. Safety is not an abstract campaign issue for her. It is personal.

I will tell you that the first thing my husband said was, “What about your safety?” We have received multiple credible death threats that resulted in arrests here in Memphis. For a while, we had police sitting outside our home. I didn’t go to my daughter’s soccer games because I would have to bring multiple police officers with me and wear a bulletproof vest. I had to wear it on the campaign trail across the state. It’s a real sacrifice for all of us.

That concern for safety extends to her daily work in Shelby County, where she serves as both a city councilwoman and interim chief public defender.

You’ve been a city councilwoman since 2023, were recently appointed public defender, and have a family. How are you doing all of those things?
That’s always the question for women, right? I wonder if someone’s asking Marsha Blackburn how she juggles being in the Senate and running for governor.

I don’t do any of this alone. I have a campaign team. I have a staff. I have a wonderful partner. My parents are here. I have neighbors and other soccer moms. It truly takes a village. You’re going to drop balls. You just have to know which balls are plastic and which balls are glass.

The work is so important, whether it’s the city council or being the head of an incredible team, the best team of defense attorneys in the city, fighting for people’s constitutional rights every day. I love all of my jobs. I love being a mom. So it doesn’t feel like work a lot of the time.

As the conversation repeatedly returned to safety, Green made clear that safe spaces are not merely cultural ideals. They are policy decisions, budget priorities, and leadership choices.

What does a safe space for the community look like here in Tennessee?
Creating a safe space in the Tennessee government means for me that women feel safe talking to their doctors about their healthcare, immigrant parents feel safe to take their kids to school and know they’ll come home, and LGBTQIA+ folks know their governor stands with them no matter what hateful bills the legislature puts forward.

I want to make sure I point you to my website, the platform page we just updated, a section called “Protections.” It protects reproductive freedom and stands up for marginalized communities. It covers a wide range of LGBTQIA+ and immigration actions from day one.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us and tell us more.

To learn more about Jerri Green, visit greenforgovernor.com

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