The city of Nashville, Tenn. is known as the home of country music and BBQ. Its lively nightlife mixed with southern hospitality is why many call it home, but residents are expressing their growing concerns after neo-Nazis and white supremacists have seemingly taken over.
The Root recently reported on neo-Nazis who verbally harassed a group of young Black performers in the downtown area. The families of the boys, ages 9 to 15, are now calling on their officials to take action against the hatred they see brewing in their city.
“We don’t want people to be able to stand on the corners and spew hate or racial slurs all under the name of freedom of speech,” Teon Lewis, the cousin to one of the boys, said to WKRN.
Even before the video of the boys went viral, a small but rambunctious group of neo-Nazis began live-streaming their hate-filled antics, belting out antisemitic songs, leaving propaganda leaflets in neighborhoods, and even parading their beloved swastika flags throughout the city, according to AP News. This left many residents to wonder what sparked the sudden increase in Nazi activity in throughout the city.
Lewis told AP News she believes the boom in white supremacists is directly tied to the state’s ongoing anti-LGBT and anti-immigrant legislation.
“When there are local and state lawmakers using language that it is not out of place in any of the chats for any groups that are coming to the city, that’s always going to be a concern,” Lewis said.
Tennessee has historically always swung right, according to WBUR. With recent laws “banning gender-affirming care for minors, limiting drag performances in public spaces and allowing LGBTQ+ foster children to be placed with families that hold anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs” residents like Lewis aren’t shocked that neo-Nazis have found a new home in Nashville which aligns with their prescribed views, reports AP News.
Nashville’s Democratic Mayor Freddie O’Connell said he “refuse[s] to platform hate actors,” but many are questioning if his office is doing enough to remedy citizens’ concerns.
None of the recent neo-Nazi demonstrations were held with a valid permit, leading many to question what the city will do to address the matter.
When asked why they chose Nashville as their new hub, Nicholas Bysheim, a member of neo-Nazi Goyim Defense League, told AP News “it’s the only place that respects freedom of speech.”
It’s unclear what plans the city of Nashville has to curve the ongoing threat of neo-Nazis and other white supremacist groups, but some are taking a stand on their own.
Residents plan to ask the city to hold an annual “Downtown Drummers Day,” to provide a safe space for children across Nashville to gather downtown.