Hundreds rally for gun reform at Tennessee state Capitol in wake of school shooting
On Thursday morning, hundreds gathered in front of the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville to demand gun control following the shooting at Covenant School earlier this week.
The demonstration began at 8 a.m. local, and was attended by a large crowd who held signs and chanted, “What do you want?” Gun control! What time do we want it? Now!”
FOX 17’s live feed showed protesters climbing the Capitol steps while choral music was playing in the background.
Demonstrators of all ages attended the event, including students and parents in uniforms as well as parents with small children.
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One person held a sign that read, “My nieces & nephews deserve better” while another called for “Do better Tim,” referring specifically to Rep. Tim Burchett (R. Tenn.), who stated about the Nashville shooting, “We are not going to fix it.”
A third sign was poignant and asked for those in power to “Make murder more difficult.”
Chris O’Brien, WKRN’s Twitter account, tweeted that some protesters called “Where is Marsha?” to refer to Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
The protest grew and the protesters blocked most of the street in front of Capitol.
A video by Chris Davis from NC5 showed a smaller group singing Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” just before 9 AM local time.
The crowd eventually formed a narrow gap, forcing House members to cross it before they could enter the chamber.
AWAKE, a Tennessee nonprofit that works to improve the lives of children and women in Tennessee, planned the protest.
The group posted a Facebook post Wednesday describing their plans to meet at the Capitol before the House’s 9 AM floor session.
The announcement stated, “Then, we will sing and let our elected officials know that we demand an end gun violence and common-sense gun laws.”
WTVF reported Thursday morning on the fact that parents from Metro Nashville Public Schools also participated in the event.
After six people, including three kids, were shot to death at the Christian school, an emotional protest broke out.
Police confirmed Tuesday that Audrey Hale, 28 year old, was the shooter. She was receiving treatment for an “emotional disorder” and had an arsenal of seven weapons.
Two police officers shot Hale on the spot.
The tragic incident quickly became a political hot rod. Politicians on both sides of each aisle were scrutinized for their responses to the tragedy.
Andy Ogles, a US Representative from Tennessee, was criticized for his 2021 Christmas card in which Ogles’ family showed Ogles with assault rifles.
Ogles laughed when asked if he regretted the photo in light of Monday’s carnage.
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