White supremacist group met by anti-Nazi counter-protestors at Metro Courthouse

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Yet again, a white supremacist group gathered in downtown Nashville.

On Tuesday night, a group went to the Metro Courthouse where they met with counter-protestors. Metro Council Vice Chair Angie Henderson said that no one should fear attending a political event, yet they’re still dealing with multiple white supremacist demonstrations.

Members of the Neo-Nazi group were seen on the courthouse steps as they chanted slogans and shouted at counter-protestors. Anti-Nazi protestors exercised their voices, responding to the group with anti-Nazi themed T-shirts and signs. Some members of the Neo-Nazi group made their way inside the Metro Council meeting, prompting discomfort for some anti-Nazi protestors.

“We circled around, went into the Council chamber and they followed us in there,” said Nicki Pope, an anti-Nazi protestor. “They stayed yelling in our faces and started videotaping us. I couldn’t even get out of the bench because they were all around us.”

Henderson opened the meeting with remarks that political violence and intimidation threatens our democracy and constitutional freedoms of assembly and speech.

“No one should fear attending a political event, a festival, a worship service or a public meeting,” said Henderson. “Yet, we’re still reeling from multiple white supremacist demonstrations and provocations in our streets.”

Some Nashville residents felt personally attacked by these recent acts and called on the city and state government to enforce city laws that are violated by hate groups. CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville Rabbi Dan Horowitz cited city ordinance laws that 20 or more people cannot parade on city sidewalks without giving advance notice. Horowitz also cited the ordinance that people cannot be masked on public property as a means of disguise.

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“There have been multiple instances of hate groups marching our streets with two of these groups visiting Nashville in the past two weeks alone,” Horowitz said. “These groups have violated several city ordinances but the laws you all passed are not being enforced.”

Henderson implicated that hateful actions and political violence should be condemned across the country.

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