Anti-Hate Protest Aug 17

NASHVILLE – Several Nashvillian community action groups have come together to host an upcoming ‘City-Wide’ Stop Hate In Nashville Rally. The rally was organized largely by longtime civil rights activist Venita Lewis, Hamid Abdullah of The Brothers Round Table, and John Smith of John Smith Marketing. The rally is scheduled for Aug. 17, 3 p.m. at the Nashville Metropolitan Courthouse steps. Venita Lewis said that the rally has a general but important purpose: to pull Nashville together and take a stand against hateful rhetoric and actions that have taken place across Music City at an alarming rate in recent years. Rev. Venita Lewis Lewis said citizens need to speak up often and loudly against hatemongering. She said, “The longer we don’t take a stand, the more we will see the ugliness manifest in intimidation and bodily injury,” adding it is especially important for Nashvillians to consistently come together to denounce hateful acts and show younger generations the city is a safe place where young people can feel protected by their community. Lewis said examples of hateful rhetoric that have no place in Nashville include the recent pro-Nazi protest that took place in downtown Nashville organized by the documented hate group...