Two more protests are scheduled for Middle Tennessee. The threat comes on the heels of the deadly Jan. 6 U.S.. Shaye Conner, 25, stands with a collage of photos and newspaper articles. There are no patrol cars parked on the street out front. Similar rallies have been held across the United States the the days following Floyd's death. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I cant imagine a way out that wont be violent. A protest was held outside the Justice A.A. Birch Building to call for criminal justice reform. I finally make my way home, where my daughters are waiting. This one ominously takes hold: The chants begin to ask us how far we are willing to go. We will always defend the right of every individual to exercise their First Amendment liberties but will not tolerate the actions of those who choose to exploit peaceful protest by resorting to violence and intimidation.. When are you gonna say youre fucking sorry? The officers stare a thousand yards beyond the man. Police cars being smashed now. Metro police said several people have been arrested near the precinct, but they did not give any details on the arrests. Six teenagers pulled off the regions largest protest against racism and police brutality in recent memory, local news reported. This time, various barricades surround the building and officers are in protective gear. Nashville Mayor John Cooper declared a state of civil emergency after protesters set a fire inside Metro Courthouse. In a joint statement issued Friday, Drake and THP Col. Matt Perry assured Nashville residents that their agencies will be ready to respond to keep the public safe. Somers, along with 23-year-old Shelby Ligons of Nashville, were indicted on October 20, 2020. Theyre meant to intimidate, and anger erupts. Theres a lull, a chance to collect ourselves. The violence began soon after a march immediately following a large downtown rally, but the tipping point came after protesters set several fires in and outside the Metro Courthouse. During the May 30th protests, several people gathered in front of the Nashville City Hall, also known as the Metro Courthouse. Gure says he hopes there will be even more protesters today, with a large presence from Middle Tennessees Somali and Muslim communities. Graffiti is everywhere, with mostly white men in their twenties tagging surfaces with Fuck 12, ACAB, Fuck Trump, and BLM.. Though the show aired in 1969, it wasnt until 2020 that the program had its first Black female puppeteer. On Thursday, people at the teens protest held signs that said, Black lives matter, Justice for George Floyd, and End white silence, according to WTVF. A prayer was led in Arabic, and a speech was given by organizer Mohamed Gure. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge, Storm 5 Alert: Several waves of storms though Friday afternoon (3.1.23). Two protests are taking place across Nashville Friday, rallying for and against transgender surgeries after recent backlash towards Vanderbilt University Medical Center's (VUMC) pediatric . That group began to walk down the street, setting fire and looting the Boot Barn, and breaking the windows of several businesses. Around 9:30 p.m., the damage moved further downtown. Wesley Somers, 25, was arrested on charges . Jr Blvd.,just south of Bicentennial Mall and about five blocks north of Lower Broadway, the city's honky-tonk entertainment district. ", MORE: State, city leaders react to violent protests. The mob broke into the Capitol building and smashed doors and windows. ], Say his name George Floyd; his name George Floyd!. TOP STORY: An anti-vaccine mandate march is coming to DC this weekend. Metro Police announced a 10 p.m. curfew, and soon after that time, began to arrest people who refused to leave, using additional tear gas to continue to disperse crowds. All rights reserved. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) On Sunday afternoon, a group of people gathered outside the Justice A.A. Birch Building to call for criminal justice reform. Metro Nashville police said the move was to. We are all enemies now. This agitates the crowd, and shouts around me call to overtake the police station. Nashville woman is the first Black female puppeteer on Sesame Street. Stand with your brothers. Follow here for Sunday updates from the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville. We wanted to show people that no matter how old you are you have a voice and can make a change, Emma Rose Smith told HuffPost. Water bottles fly through the air. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Outgoing President Donald Trump, who lost the presidential election, said he will not attend the ceremony. Somers pleaded guilty on June 29, 2021, while Ligons pleaded guilty on March 3, 2021. Another protest will be at the Franklin downtown square beginning around 5 p.m. Its members include many from the regions Muslim community, who say they want to show solidarity with African Americans. WKRN News 2 Newscast Broadcast Replay Schedule Weekdays Good Morning Nashville (M-F): 6am - 9am WKRN News 2 @ 11am (M-F): 1pm - 2pm Local on 2 (M-F): 4pm - 5pm WKRN News 2 @ 4pm (M-F): 6pm. The latest videos from WKRN News 2. Now is the time for our tears. Soon after meeting online, the young women began FaceTiming one another and decided to form the coalition Teens4Equality. Police cant stand down and give them the station. Nashville woman is Sesame Street's first Black female puppeteer, Dilbert creator loses comics distributor over racist remarks, Black fungus covering houses and trees blamed on Jack Daniels barrelhouses, Food banks filling need as SNAP benefits cut, BNA to Boston flight barely avoids runway crash, Public File: publicfile@wsmv.com - 615-353-2260. Yet, despite this one dubious account, news outlets reported that the five-hour protest was peaceful and occurred without incident. She was fatally shot by police in Louisville, Ky., on March 13. Tennessee legislative leaders and law enforcement haveurgedeveryoneto remain peacefulduring the transition of presidential power. At least two portable camera towersmarked with "Metro Police"have been placed near the plaza. Fishermen impacted by Old Hickory boating accident, Man free on bond arrested on gun, drug charges, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A radio special about what's been described as a toxic culture of misconduct and retaliation within the Metro Nashville Police Department. Piphus said the response from Black viewers has been a positive one. I run back across the street and see what I think is a young tourist couple arguing about getting involved. One faction of protesters confronts another. They also traveled to the Metro Courthouse, damaged last week, where more speeches were given and a moment of silence was held. When are you gonna say youre fucking sorry? the man continues, his veins swelling in his temple and his neck. They plan to protest outside of the home of Judge Monte Watkins next. Saturdays weather was enough to send some protesters home early five were overcome by heat that reached 94 degrees but organizers say there is still much more work to come. Theres a skirmish where I cant tell who is pushing who, then a burst of pepper spray, and white kids with red eyes run screaming out of the crowd. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - To enhance safety and security in the Lower Broadway entertainment district, more than 100 merchants . All Rights reserved. 2023 www.tennessean.com. As part of the call for sweeping change to police tactics, activists want eight key policies to be put in place in police departments across the nation. There are no officers. Protesters say they're upset former Metro officer Andrew Delke accepted a plea deal, rather than go to trial for shooting and killing Daniel Hambrick three years ago. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) On Sunday afternoon, a group of people gathered outside the Justice A.A. Birch Building to call for criminal justice reform. This comes after the recent killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that have sparked outrage and led to rallies around the country calling for equality and an end to police brutality against African Americans. Here's what we know. Small skirmishes between protesters and police break out. Instantly got less tense. I dream of making it work because I dont want to just tell my boys to dream big, I want to show them how, said Piphus. Other Saturday events are scheduled in Clarksville and in Winchester. The event began with chants and remarks on 3rd Avenue North, where the bridge connects into downtown. The scene was surprisingly beginning to de-escalate over the last several mins till riot police just stepped in. I walk, I march, as a stench fills the air a woman burning incense that has a smell of death in it, like rotting flesh. I finally ask them to point where I should go. The Canucks are 22-30-4. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Megan is also a wife and mother of two young boys who she hopes shes inspiring with her very unique and historic career. The people left in the streets are getting the chaos they came for. At 10:49 p.m., Metro Police announced that Downtown Nashville had been "essentially cleared." The Tennessean Demonstrators gather in downtown Nashville to protest Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade June 24, 2022, 7:13 PM Demonstrators gather in downtown Nashville to. demonstrators clashed with police one week ago, Somali Students Association at Middle Tennessee State University, Black Musicians March Through Music Row To Protest Racial Inequality And Police Brutality, In Photos: Nashville's 'I Will Breathe' Rally, From Daytime Unity To Nighttime Chaos, Thousands March Through Downtown Nashville In Youth-Led Demonstration Against Systemic Racism, What's Next For A Lead Organizer Of Nashville's 'I Will Breathe' Rally. The Nashville Fire Department says four people were treated, and one person taken to the hospital, for heat-related . Chris Pizzello/AP. She was sentenced on August 11, 2021, to a year and one day in prison. When we fight for black lives, were not just fighting for our lives, says White. Those who came for justice went home.. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The Nashville Predators are looking to score a victory Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks at Bridgestone Arena. It was us, and suddenly its them. Police have been patient. For the next hour many protesters remained there, some tearing down lamp posts. Two suspects were arrested in Tennessee for sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl who had been reported missing. In the nine o'clock hour, about a dozen Tennessee Highway Patrol SUVs rolled into downtown and circled Legislative Plaza, which was empty except for a small church group packing up to leave after doing homelessness outreach. All rights reserved. The first protest in Nashville will occur at Gallatin Pike North and Rivergate Parkway Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, and the second will be at Broadway and Rep. John Lewis Way from 2 p.m. to 4. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge, Storm 5 Alert: Several waves of storms though Friday afternoon (3.1.23), Broadway businesses vandalized, looted during protests, State, city leaders react to violent protests. When we encounter our first police blockade, a few bicycle cops on Broadway and 8th, we pass through without incident. Sign up to get the Daily News Update each weekday morning. Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake wrote in a letter to Metro council members that the department will be closely monitoring possible protests planned in Nashville. Natalie Neysa Alund is based in Nashville at The Tennessean and covers breaking news across the south for the USA TODAY Network. We want to use our voices and energy to stand shoulder to shoulder with the African American community.. The sun is gone now, and its harder and harder to know who is there to protest and who is there to agitate. A few hundred people are marching today in downtown Nashville after crossing the pedestrian bridge over the Cumberland River. One seems to look me in the eyes and recognize me. There has to be a more peaceful way, but the more peaceful way was mocked. It is obvious in this moment that a show is being choreographed. The guy drunkenly implores his girlfriend to go fuck shit up. She holds him back. The crowd begins marching down 3rd Ave, singing happy birthday for Breonna Taylor, the aspiring nurse who wouldve turned 27 this week but was killed by Louisville police as she slept in her own home in March. I dont see no riot here.. A black man in his thirties is walking through pockets of the crowd, yelling, Burn it down or were wasting our fucking time! He assembles a small crowd to march back to Broadway, the citys tourist epicenter, asking white allies to form at the front. Biden also said this week he would nottake an Amtrak train from Delaware to Washington for his inauguration because of security concerns. My eyes burn, my throat burns, my brain feels less clear. About suppertime, on the steps of the downtown Nashville police station, a black man in a blue shirt emerges from the crowd and screams at the barricade of police, When are you gonna say youre fucking sorry? As teens, we feel like we cannot make a difference in this world, but we must.. Culwell, who as a pedal-tavern driver downtown is acutely aware of the police presence in the citys tourist district, documented the events in real time via Instagram Live. A 54-year-old topless woman was arrested in Nashville for allegedly throwing cigarettes at protesters in the city's downtown Wednesday afternoon, a local ABC affiliate reported. It will include a moment of silence which is expected to take place at the Metro Courthouse and a march through Broadway and other downtown areas. This is a pattern. Demonstrators often came close to lines of police officers in riot gear, but there were no conflicts. Many of those people are white. Mohamed Gure, an organizer of Nashvilles March For Justice, makes the first speech of the day. Metro police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all participated in the investigation. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Lawmakers honor historic Fisk Gymnastics team, Lillard posts 71 points, 13 3s, then gets drug test, Predators GM David Poile retiring after season, Padres player draws first pitch clock violation, Vol baseball coach Vitello suspended three games, Popular Hardin Co. boating spot prone to drownings, Remains of guardsman Daniel Wadham returned to Nashville, Drug trafficking, overdose deaths on the rise, Stolen cat returned to Murfreesboro PetSmart, Major pharmaceutical company lowers price of insulin. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. Marchers cross the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge during Nashvilles March For Justice. Those will be found in our Video Center here after the live broadcast. Some of their chants and actions like taking a knee in the street drew participation from bystanders at downtown bars. "It is our firm belief that those individuals defacing and destroying public property after the rally were not a part of the original event," a statement read in part. Some have helped me personally in altercations downtown. Reach her at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. Scroll on for WPLN News photos by Rachel Iacovone and earlier live updates and videos from the event. As teens, we are desensitized to death because we see videos of black people being killed in broad daylight circulating on social media platforms. Finally, police removed the horses. I dont see a way for this event to dissolve without catastrophe. Anyone who sees anything concerning in Nashville in the days proceeding the inauguration is ask to call 615-862-8600. Nashville has three of the eight policies in place. Now, the chants of Fuck 12! seem to outnumber those of Say his name!, We follow the rush, clearing aside trashcans and benches that have been scattered in the streets. Its sad that we have to go through this, says Taylor. I attended and listened.We cannot let todays message of reform descend into further violence. Ten Republicans broke from their party to impeach the president, including GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming. I remember that experience so vividly of making children laugh and smile and also learning something. There are a few black men that seem to want an actual fight, and there are several white men amping up the crowds and encouraging mayhem, steering the energy toward destruction. Daymar Taylor, the young son of a black father, holds a sign that reads, Please, I need my dad.. Later in the evening, some of the protesters spray painted messages near the Music City Center and on the Metro Courthouse, while others threw objects through the courthouse windows. Another man walked through the plaza and heckled a television camera crew as "fake news"before going on his way. Jones believes Delke's reduced sentence is not adequate for the crime. "Those who are having a public defender may not be representing them properly," Jones said. Just up the street a slew of young people break into another boot store, both white and black. @nc5 pic.twitter.com/PBZ0rz7B2a. The protesters traveled about 2 miles between 2 and 4 p.m., crossing the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and chanting in front of the police departments Central Precinct, in the middle of the street on Lower Broadway and outside of the Metro Courthouse. WATCH LIVE: Fox 17 News, Nashville | WZTV WATCH LIVE: Fox 17 News, Nashville by Kaylin Searles July 11th 2016, 12:55 PM PDT (Fox 17) Watch Fox 17 Newscasts from 4:30am-9am, 5:30-6pm and. This behavior dishonors the memory of George Floyd and other black Americans that have died unjustly at the hands of police.". Live updates were reported by WPLN News journalists Damon Mitchell and Rachel Iacovone. They try to set fire to it, but it doesnt catch. The men and women who had been asking the hard questions earlier are also gone. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. By the time we get to the courthouse, it too is tagged and the protest is verging on a riot. On Now: WSMV Breaking News. [Watch live video above of the protests]. Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: Black Lives Matter, immigrants, police, protest, Race, Social Justice. The curfew ends at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. Black men skateboard on cop cars. Thats what we want, loudly, like a woman in labor. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) A rally in downtown Nashville may have began peaceful, but the night did not end the same way. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Law enforcement is bracing for the possibility of armed protests at the Tennessee Capitol on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/5N41SrlQ4h, Rachel Iacovone (@racheliacovone) June 6, 2020. This [police brutality] is not something that started today, says Mohamed Gure, an organizer. I absolutely never made Sesame Street a goal because it is the pinnacle of the art of puppetry, said Piphus. They claim if these policies are put into place across the country, police violence would decrease by 72 percent. Could pop any sec. This video doesnt capture the energy. Nashville police issued a 10 p.m. curfew in the city on Saturday night after protests turned violent and City Hall was set on fire. Theyre calling to officers with a question: Why are you in riot gear? The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time I cant fall in line with either police brutality or burning down the courthouse, so where do I stand? Jade Fuller, Nya Collins, Zee Thomas, Kennedy Green, Emma Rose Smith and Mikayla Smith ages 14 to 16 met on social media, Collins told Nashville's WTVF news station. Editors picks The threat comes on the heels of the deadly Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and just days before President-elect Joe Biden is to be inaugurated Wednesday. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. SWAT trucks arrive and teargas fogs the air. This isnt right. Not one. Megans character is a 6-year-old Black girl named Gabrielle. Four days after Floyd's death, Derek Chauvin, a now fired Minneapolis police officer, was charged with murder after he held a knee against Floyd's neck for several minutes. What does justice look like in this moment? Some have berated me in downtown traffic for God knows what reason. They take to Broadway. She appeared on national television throughout the years showcasing her ventriloquism skills. In the 90 minutes weve been marching, the tone of the crowd has changed. In a statement, organizers said in order to achieve justice, the mission can only be realized by recognizing privilege and leveraging power to create equitable spaces.. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) Two more protests are scheduled for Middle Tennessee. Dueto the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, theinauguration audience will be limited to members of the117th United States Congressand oneguest each of their choosing. The singer-songwriter attended the I Will Breathe march and rally on Saturday afternoon and witnessed altercations between the police and a crowd of protesters. Theyve shaken down the lampposts, and the courthouse lawn is lit only by the burning teargas canisters. It was a glorious day of unity.. The . A small group began to break the windows of Margaritaville and breaking into a neighboring business on Broadway. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) Two more protests are scheduled for Middle Tennessee. WSMV4 Live Newscasts. Then, officers on six horses enter the line. We had the opportunity to respond on the George Floyd civil rights protest. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - Protestors surrounded a Nashville hat store on Saturday following a controversial post on Instagram. Police are in an impossible position, but nothing compared to the position black Americans have faced for centuries. legislative leaders and law enforcement haveurgedeveryoneto remain peaceful, law enforcement are braced for the possibility of armed protests at the Tennessee Capitol, legislative leaders and law enforcement are urging peopleto remain peaceful, issued an internal bulletin warning of nationwide protests, impeached by the House of Representatives, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. An anti-racism protest at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino turned unruly and led to a campus safety officer deploying pepper spray on students . Why are flags at half-staff at the TN State Capitol? "We are gathering information to identify any potential threats and are sharing that information with our partners," Clement said. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The beloved childrens show Sesame Street aired its first episode in 1969. The men and women who had been asking the hard questions are gone. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Hendersonville man charged with setting the Metro Courthouse on fire during the May 30, 2020, protests has been sentenced to federal prison. The Predators are coming off a loss in the waning seconds Sunday against the Minnesota Wild in a Central Division matchup. Program Note:In order to fulfill our obligations to our cable, satellite, and telco partners,on January 12, 2023 WKRN News 2 will begin making its newscasts and locally produced programming, including Local on 2, available on wkrn.com two hours after their live broadcast over-the-air. On Now: Live Local & National News. We all met on Twitter, Collins said. Nashville. White kids climb telephone poles. After the rally, the group began a march down Fourth Avenue and onto Broadway. Then small groups of black men follow suit. Suddenly, 90 percent of the crowd disperses and rushes the tunnel of the Music City Center, the massive convention center that anchors downtown Nashville. The young women quickly bonded over their shared outrage over the death of George Floyd the Black man who died last week in Minneapolis after a white police officer knelt on his neck. The police seem like robots in this moment, save the fear you can see in some of them. One of the organizations that got involved was Black Lives Matter, which helped the teens organize the rally. It's what they want to see in Nashville. Severe storms, flash flooding possible in TN, Fishermen impacted by Old Hickory boating accident, Man free on bond arrested on gun, drug charges, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, WKRN News 2 Now @ 10pm (M-F): 12am 12:30am, Good Morning Nashville Weekends: 7am 9am, Good Morning Nashville 8am (Sat. As a warning, much of it has explicit language. These young women, ages 14 through 16, organized this protest which pulled out tens of thousands of people in Nashville. This comes after the recent killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that have sparked outrage and led to . All rights reserved. No words. When I catch up with the head of the crowd, theyre shattering the windows of a hat shop and throwing hats into the air like its graduation day. The street was shut down Thursday morning and businesses. MORE: Broadway businesses vandalized, looted during protests. A man armed with a hunting bow pointed the weapon at protesters in Salt Lake City on Saturday and police said he'll be facing charges. May 30, 2020. This afternoons rally for George Floyd and racial justice was peaceful. But the impression is made that the police will employ whatever show of force the moment calls for. The police stand their ground, and over the next hour the tension boils over into the smashing of cop cars. At one point, everyone at the march laid down in the street to remember the death of Floyd. Police soon used additional tear gas to push the crowd out of the area - first to the sidewalk, then across the street. Barricades are still up, too. A few fuck yeahs and a hand clap follow. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Tennessee legislative leaders and law enforcement are urging peopleto remain peacefulduring the transition of power. According to the United State Department of Justice, Wesley Somers, 26, was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. We thank all the folks who are praising us for todays protests. Some of the images we've captures can be seen below. Nashville Tennessean 0:00 1:38 Law enforcement is bracing for the possibility of armed protests at the Tennessee Capitol on Sunday. That became my passion. Update at 4:45 p.m. Nashville's march concluded shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday after spirited but peaceful demonstrations across downtown. It was in March of 2020 when Megan got the call from Sesame Street for her to learn their style of puppeteering. A marcher named Chris stands on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, holding a sign that visually displays the common rally chant Hands up, dont shoot.. ): 10am 11am, Good Morning Nashville 9am (Sun. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. One person will yell, and the crowd carries the refrain. I make my exit to the side where three heavily armed officers yell confusing orders while clutching their rifles. Associate Justice Samuel Alitowrote the opinion for a 6-3 majority, with the court's liberal justices in dissent.