Attorney and Tennessee 5th Congressional candidate Kurt Winstead sits as a commissioner on the Tennessee Arts Commission, distributing millions of dollars in grants to various groups, including Marxist political groups and one that a Black Lives Matter activist chairs.
The Tennessee Arts Commission, according to a spreadsheet provided to The Tennessee Star, has distributed $35,866,258.95 in grants during the fiscal year 2022.
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The Star reached out to the Winstead campaign and asked, “Why is a congressional candidate who is running as a conservative serving on a commission that’s doling out millions of dollars of federal money to elite art organizations?”
The Star, as of press time, did not receive a response.
AÂ group that received money was the Marxist group, the Tennessee Alliance for Progress (TAP), which received a grant in the amount of $2,200.
The board chair of the organization currently listed on the website is Grayce Gadson, who, according to the website, “has been a core member of Black Lives Matter Nashville” since arriving in Tennessee.
Its website talks about climate change as a “defining issue” and says in part:
Through community-based education, critical analysis and fostering solidarity among working people, we strive to support a growing movement that will transform our communities from the ground up. We also believe that climate change is a defining issue of our generation and place a particular emphasis on the work of climate justice.
The website additionally states, “TAP operates from the Grassroots Policy Project’s Three Faces of Power Model.”
The Grassroots Policy Project “believes structural transformation of our society is crucial. Stronger, more strategic community and labor organizing formations will help undo the damages of neoliberalism and racial capitalism.”
TAP hosted several “New Green Economy Conference” workshops last year and consistently hosts “arts and activism” events.
The organization has placed several anti-Trump posts on its social media.
Another far-left group that has received grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission is the Center for Transforming Communities (CTC). The organization received two grants in 2022, one for $1,525 and another for $5,400, for a total of $6,925.
The CTC Facebook page contains several recent posts that share propaganda from Black Lives Matter groups. Its Instagram page additionally contains a plethora of Marxist materials.
Governor Bill Lee appointed Winstead to the commission, and the congressional candidate took office in early 2022.
A staffer from the Tennessee Arts Commission confirmed on Thursday that Winstead still sits on the commission.
Meeting minutes from March obtained by The Star show that Winstead was present for the meeting.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, Truth Social, and Parler.
Photo “Kurt Winstead” by Kurt Winstead.Â
Sounds like Gen Windbag is working with Marxist Milley. Trying to understand “white rage” no doubt.
This guy is just another Democrat doing what Democrats do…….run as a Republican because they know if the people knew what they were really all about they would never vote for them. But make no mistake this guy is not conservative folks.
Doling out tax payer dollars like candy. The bigger story here is that this commission exists at all. Government borrows money to give it away. Grant funding needs to be shelved until we get our fiscal house in order. Most of these organizations spend a large part of their funding for large salaries for the well connected.
The bigger question, is why is anyone surprised? Talk Radio heads and pundits are too scared to ask about his connected Lib wife.
The guy is a disaster looking to live the life forever in D.C. Maybe he should establish residence in a blue state and run as the Democrat that he appears to be. Sure does not sound like the good ole farm boy he wants everyone sucker to believe.
weathervane is a RINO-in-training
tell him to stay home with his dem-lobbyist wife
vote ogles 2022
Amen!