Last weekend more than 100 white nationalists, outfitted with face masks, carrying confederate flags, upside down American flags, and yelling messages of hate, marched in downtown Nashville. The group is recognized by the Anti-defamation League, and the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white supremacist hate group. Reaction from the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville was swift. A public statement reads, in part:
“The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is outraged that once again our city has been defiled by cowardly white nationalists. Today, a white nationalist group marched through our city streets, over our bridges, and on state property around our capitol with their faces covered and carrying white nationalist paraphernalia in addition to American flags. Groups such as these spew vile and dangerous rhetoric attacking anyone they define as other and must be called out and held accountable for propagating hate.”
Local lawmakers and community leaders also denounced and condemned the group.
This week the Federation sent a letter to the mayor, vice mayor, metro council members, and state legislators expressing outrage and calling for enforcement of local laws regulating these types of disruptive events.
Thanks to the efforts of Metro Council member Sheri Weiner, a meeting was convened this past Wednesday with high level city officials to voice our community’s concerns and chart a path forward.
Amongst those in attendance were Metro Police Chief John Drake along with a number of his commanders, District Attorney Glen Funk and others senior lawyers from his office, Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz and Council lawyers Margaret Darby and Hannah Zeitlin, Metro Council Member Sheri Weiner, Metro Council Member Jacob Kupin, and Metro Council Member Quinn Evan-Segall (the Metro Council Members took turns in the room, as they were not permitted to be in the room together simultaneously courtesy of the Open Meetings Act’s restrictions). All around the table agreed that allowing Nashville to become a regular hangout for hate groups is unacceptable.
Representing Nashville’s Jewish community were Dr. Leslie Kirby, Rabbi Dan Horwitz and Deborah Oleshansky, along with Judge Ret. Dan Eisenstein, and Felicia Anchor of the Nashville Holocaust Memorial.
It’s important to remember that when these hateful people show up, the recommended course of action is to not engage with them, and to alert law enforcement. The Federation will continue to work with local and state leaders to find a way to keep the community safe while also protecting the free speech rights of all.
We will continue to advocate on behalf of our community as we now escalate our efforts and ensure we’re heard in all levels of government. Thank you for being our partners in this essential work, so that we can ensure Nashville forever remains a wonderful place to be, and a wonderful place to be Jewish.
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