Civil Rights

Metro Nashville Police in riot gear stand on Lower Broadway during a recent Black Lives Matter protest. (Photo: Alex Kent)

Talk of widespread police reform swirls around Nashville in wake of George Floyd protests

BY: - June 12, 2020

The death of George Floyd and protests that followed in Nashville have paved the way for a series of policing reform proposals and an unprecedented oversight challenge of the police department by the Metro Council. At least two bills aimed directly at Metro Nashville Police Department policies have been filed in recent days. Mayor John […]

(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Breaking: Nashville judge to top election officials: ‘Shame on you’ for not following absentee voting order

BY: - June 11, 2020

A Nashville judge rebuked the state’s top election officials on Thursday, threatening them with criminal contempt of court if they don’t abide by her order to update the state’s absentee voting request form to accommodate those who wish to vote by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled last week that […]

8 Can't Wait recommendations for police departments. (From 8 Can't Wait.)

Councilman moves to curb Nashville police use of force

BY: - June 8, 2020

Metro Councilman Colby Sledge filed legislation on Monday that would ban Nashville police officers from using chokeholds or strangleholds in addition to other policies aimed at reducing use of force. Sledge’s legislation was modeled after “8 Can’t Wait” recommendations from the advocacy group Campaign Zero. “8 Can’t Wait” are eight policy recommendations to reduce use […]

Screenshot of April Kirby's Instagram post about Project 615. (Instagram)

Updated: Nashville apparel store draws charges of racism from former employees

BY: - June 5, 2020

After Nashville apparel company Project 615 released a t-shirt design supporting the Black Lives Matter movement,  ex-employees weighed in on social media alleging the company fired them for supporting the black community. April Kirby, who worked for Project 615 for 11 months in 2017-2018, spoke out against the company in a heated Instagram post.  “I […]

The Black Lives Matter march starting the Bicentennial Mall in Nashville. (Photo: Alex Kent)

Sixth night of protests in Middle Tennessee stay peaceful

BY: and - June 5, 2020

Protests stemming from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis May 25 continued in Middle Tennessee for the sixth night in a row.  In Nashville, thousands gathered at Bicentennial Mall for a rally organized by teenagers with the Black Lives Matter movement. The diverse group moved through downtown streets chanting and accepting bottles of water […]

(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

BREAKING: Judge strikes down TN limits on absentee voting due to pandemic

BY: - June 4, 2020

A Nashville judge ruled Thursday that voters under 60 may request an absentee ballot due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making Tennessee one of the last states to expand mail-in voting in the nation. The ruling by Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle sets up a showdown in the state’s more conservative appeals court system. Plaintiffs, including Tennessee […]

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. Photo by Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images)

Cohen: Police violence, voter suppression are 2 ‘sides to the same coin’

BY: - June 4, 2020

WASHINGTON — As demonstrators continue to flood streets around the country to protest police brutality and racial inequality, communities of color remain disproportionately threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic and voter suppression, a Tennessee Democratic lawmaker warned this week.  The pandemic “has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities, disproportionately impacting African Americans among other historically disadvantaged people,” Rep. Steve […]

(Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Tennessee faith leaders react to Trump photo-op

BY: - June 3, 2020

Religious leaders from across Tennessee reacted to a White House tweet showing President Donald Trump’s response to protests that have rocked the country in recent days.  The video displayed in the tweet shows President Trump walking toward and standing in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church while holding a Bible in front of the church’s […]

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

National Guard lays down shields at peaceful Nashville vigil

BY: - June 2, 2020

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 […]

Metro Police at a recent protest. (Photo: Alex Kent)

Weekend protests, riots rock state

BY: - June 1, 2020

  Peaceful protests over the weekend in Tennessee cities, including Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Murfreesboro turned violent in several instances, with police dispersing tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowds and public and private property suffering damage. The Knoxville event remained calm, while both Memphis and Nashville had peaceful organized protests that […]

Nashville, Tenn. - A crowd outside Historic Metro Nashville Courthouse looks at fires inside the building. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Nashville riots: Historic Metro Courthouse burns

BY: - May 31, 2020

  An afternoon of peaceful protests organized by social justice groups to protest the killing on Minneapolis man George Floyd by police devolved into a night of riots in Nashville. Historic Metro Nashville Courthouse was defaced and set on fire and downtown tourist district businesses being broken into and robbed. Award-winning and two time Pulitzer […]

Nashville, Tenn., May 30 -"I can't breath" rally at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville. (Photo: Odessa Kelly)

Nashville courthouse burns as peaceful protest turns into violent riot

BY: - May 30, 2020

What began on Saturday as a peaceful protest assembled by social justice reformers, activists, politicians and faith leaders in response to the death of George Floyd last week in Minneapolis devolved into a violent riot that left Nashville in a state of emergency. Before the day was over, Gov. Bill Lee called in the National […]