In Nashville, political weekend events on both ends of the spectrum

The combination of a sunny and warm fall day and election season meant activists from both left and right organized weekend events in Nashville and photographers Alex Kent and Ray DiPietro captured the scenes.

Saturday morning started with a Women’s March organized by Power Together, which customarily hosts the January Women’s March that was first held in 2017 on the day of President Donald’s Trump’s inauguration. Group leaders said in a statement the event was held to “send an unmistakable message of our fierce opposition to Trump and his agenda, including his attempt to fill RBG’s seat.”

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Marquita Bradshaw was one of the march leaders.

The march began at Cumberland Park, adjacent to Nissan Stadium, and crossed the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge through downtown before ending on Woodland Street, at the site of another volunteer effort: the painting of a street mural with the words “Black Lives Matter.”

The temporary mural, which had to be approved by Metro Arts Commission, was funded and painted by volunteers. The city permit for it expires in January, at which point the coalition responsible for it will have to reapply.

By Sunday night, the mural had been defaced.

On  Sunday afternoon, a group supporting President Trump held a “Trucks for Trump Rally,” driving down Broadway, through the tourist district, flying Trump, American, Confederate flags and Gadsden flags.