Civil Rights

National Guard lays down shields at peaceful Nashville vigil

By: J. Holly McCall - June 2, 2020 7:31 am

A view of the crowd at a Nashville vigil for George Floyd. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn., June 1 -The vigil crowd on the steps of the Tennessee State Capitol. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn., June 1 – A child participates in the vigil for George Floyd. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn., June 1 – Vigil organizer Justin Jones, with bullhorn, speaks to attendees. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn – State Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) at Juen 2020 vigil. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn., June 1 – Members of the Tennessee National Guard outside the Capitol. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn., Jume 1 – State Reps. London Lamar (D- Memphis) in red and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) in mask facing camera will both see changes in their districts. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn. – A minister speaks to the crowd assembled for a vigil. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn., June 1 – A young Tennessee National Guardsman. (Photo: Alex Kent)

: Nashville, Tenn. June 1 – State Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis), with bullhorn, speaks to the assembled group. (Photo: Alex Kent)

A Nashville vigil for George Floyd, the Minneapolis man killed by police last week, drew more than 200 people and culminated with members of the Tennessee National Guard laying down their riot shields in a gesture of solidarity with the crowd.

The group met at the Tennessee State Capitol, where they prayed and sang songs before activist Justin Jones, one of the event organizers, asked Guardsmen to put their shields down.

Most members of the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus attended, including Rep. Antonio Parkinson (Memphis), Rep. Gloria Johnson (Knoxville), Rep. London Lamar (Memphis), Rep. Vincent Dixie (Nashville), Rep. John Ray Clemmons (Nashville) and Rep. Bob Freeman (Nashville).

Alex Kent, freelance photojournalist for the Tennessee Lookout, was on hand and captured images from the night.

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J. Holly McCall

Holly McCall has been a fixture in Tennessee media and politics for decades. She covered city hall for papers in Columbus, Ohio and Joplin, Missouri before returning to Tennessee with the Nashville Business Journal. Holly brings a deep wealth of knowledge about Tennessee’s political processes and players and likes nothing better than getting into the weeds of how political deals are made.