From left, Rev Troy Merritt, Gloria McKissack, Frederick Leonard, Brenda Carson and Joy Reagon Leonard hold candles at the Lighting Our World Memorial Vigil for Rev. James Lawson and John Lewis. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Members of the neo-Nazi group that demonstrated in downtown Nashville on Sunday made it a twofer, raising a ruckus in Tuesday night’s Metro Nashville Council meeting before being ejected by police.
About 12 members of the anti-semitic hate group, Goyim Defense League, signed up to participate in the customary public comment session. But after loudly heckling council members — including Metro Council President Pro-tem Zulfat Suara — and exchanging insults with counter-protesters, Metro Nashville Police officers cleared the public gallery. After both groups cleared the chambers, police eventually let members of the public back for the remainder of the council meeting.
On Wednesday, in a diametrically different type of gathering, the Rep. John Lewis Way Committee hosted a memorial event on Diane Nash Plaza outside the courthouse to commemorate the lives of the late civil rights leaders, Rev. James Lawson and U.S. Rep. John Lewis. The committee, which is chaired by Suara, formed in 2020 to seek to rename of a portion of Nashville’s 5th Ave., N. to Rep. John Lewis Way.
Lawson died on June 9; Lewis on July 17, 2020. The pair, along with Nash, began their activism in the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement in Nashville through a movement to desegregate lunch counters at department stores.
All photos are by John Partipilo.
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Neo-Nazis in Metro Nashville Council
Leader of the Goyim Defense League Jon Minadeo yells at counter protestors who showed up to challenge the neo-Nazi group. (Photo: John Partipilo) Photograph by John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout ©2024
A Metro Nashville Police officer leads member Goyim Defense League out of the courthouse after Metro Council President Pro-tem Zulfat Suara cleared the spectator gallery. (Photo: John Partipilo)
"Get out." A Metro Nashville Police officer orders a member of a neo-Nazi group to leave Metro Council chambers on Tuesday night after the group disrupted the meeting. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Photograph by John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout ©2024
Reyn Hour and Nicki Pope, left and second from left, members of a group called Nashville against Nazis, engage with members of the Goyim Defense League. (Photo: John Partipilo) Photograph by John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout ©2024
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“Lighting Our World” memorial for Rev. James Lawson and U.S. Rep. John Lewis
Nashville Vice-Mayor Angie Henderson makes remarks at the "Lighting Our World" vigil on Wednesday, July 17, 2023. With her are, from left, Metro Nashville councilmembers Ginny Welsch, Zulfat Suara, Delicia Porterfield, Jacob Kupin, Jeff Preptit and Joy Styles. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Attendees at a memorial in honor of two late civil rights icons hold signs in response to recent neo-Nazi activity in Nashville. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Former state Sen. Brenda Gilmore and Metro Nashville Councilmember-at-Large Zulfat Suara at the "Lighting Our World Memorial" for the Rev. James Lawson and the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis on Diane Nash Plaza at the Metro Nashville Courthouse. (Photo: John Lewis) Photograph by John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout ©2024
Shaundelle Brooks, a Democratic candidate for the State House of Representatives in Nashville's District 60, holds a sign at the vigil. (Photo: John Partipilo)
The post Tribute to civil rights leaders, neo-Nazis in city council: two disparate days in Nashville appeared first on Tennessee Lookout .
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