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A resolution expressing the Metropolitan Council’s condemnation of the July 2024 verbal assault on children by a Nazi hate group.
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WHEREAS, Nashville is a city that celebrates diversity and welcomes all people regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sex or gender; and
WHEREAS, Nashville has recently been inundated with hate groups, many of whose members do not live in Nashville and have no identifiable connection to Nashville; and
WHEREAS, one such hate group, while protesting downtown on or about July 13, 2024, hurled hateful racial slurs at a group of young Black boys, aged 9-15 years old; and
WHEREAS, these young children routinely gather downtown to share their musical talent through drumming; and
WHEREAS, drumming is a means for these children to not only earn money but to express their creativity and joy as children; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned hate group, consisting of adult white men, repeatedly called these young Black children the “n-word” in an attempt to dehumanize them and take away the joy and innocence of being children; and
WHEREAS, the adult men continued to hurl racist insults toward the children despite the presence of officers from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) as MNPD officers escorted the children from the area; and
WHEREAS, no child should be subjected to such vile and hateful behavior; and
WHEREAS, Nashville does not welcome or encourage hateful behavior; and
WHEREAS, hate groups and any individuals who seek to spread hate and division are not welcome in Nashville; and
WHEREAS, our right to free speech, though fundamental, should not be used to justify adult men weaponizing vile, racist language against children; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council denounces any form of speech that promotes division, intolerance, or incites hatred; and
WHEREAS, it is crucial that Nashville stands strong against hate and intolerance, and strives to create a community that upholds the values of compassion, unity, and mutual respect; and
WHEREAS, the Minority Caucus of the Metropolitan Council issued a public statement immediately upon being informed of the incident and reaffirms its commitment to its mission to protect, empower and advocate for Nashville’s residents of color in order to create a better city for us all; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Council’s Minority Caucus take such action, as appropriate, to prevent the bigoted harassment of children in the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record to condemn and strongly rebuke the actions of this hate group that attempted to spread hatred and dehumanize children.
Section 2. The Metropolitan County Council expresses its support and uplifts the humanity of the young children who had to endure such a tragic event.
Section 3. The Metropolitan County Council strongly encourages Metro Legal, MNPD, and the District Attorney’s Office to review any state and local laws on assemblies to identify any protections that can be put in place to protect children from harassment. The right to free speech, though fundamental, is not absolute.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.