NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Monday marked another day of anti-gun protests in Nashville, as hundreds of Metro Nashville Public School (MNPS) students walked out of school and marched to the Tennessee State Capitol to demand gun control.
“HUNDREDS of students, activists, and community members in Nashville walked out of school this morning with us and are walking to the state Capital to DEMAND action against gun violence,” said the anti-gun group March For Our Lives on Twitter, attaching a video of some of the student protestors.
NOW: HUNDREDS of students, activists, and community members in Nashville walked out of school this morning with us and are walking to the state Capital to DEMAND action against gun violence.
We CANNOT keep living like this; We CANNOT keep dying like this.#NashvilleWalkOut pic.twitter.com/mmFlRzjzir
— March For Our Lives ☮️ (@AMarch4OurLives) April 3, 2023
“We will not be silenced. Stop gun violence,” the protestors chanted.
More video shows the group protesting inside the Capitol building.
NOW: Activists inside the TN State Capital advocating for gun reform while @brotherjones_ and @VoteGloriaJ are awaiting the vote on if they are expelled for standing with their constituents today during the Nashville walk out.
We are not backing down. pic.twitter.com/EqKLpp6jqk
— March For Our Lives ☮️ (@AMarch4OurLives) April 3, 2023
David Hogg is one of the leaders of the New York City-based, anti-gun group, March For Our Lives.
His sister Lauren and he survived a mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, by Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people and injured 17 more.
“Today young people demanded action with some of our student leaders in march for our lives who led a walk out demanding stronger gun laws,” Hogg said on Twitter.
Today young people demanded action with some of our student leaders in march for our lives who led a walk out demanding stronger gun laws.
— David Hogg ☮️ (@davidhogg111) April 3, 2023
“The movement for gun reform is growing. Thousands showed up today in Nashville to demand stronger laws,” said he said later.
The movement for gun reform is growing. Thousands showed up today in Nashville to demand stronger laws. https://t.co/xAQyyXCh5u
— David Hogg ☮️ (@davidhogg111) April 3, 2023
More protests are scheduled for this week nationwide.
Thursday, a riot broke out inside the Capitol after hundreds of students pushed their way through the Capitol gallery towards the Tennessee House chamber. State Troopers, who guard the Capitol, managed to keep the rioters from breaking into the chamber, which is home to the offices of state lawmakers.
The riot was led in part by State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and two other far-left Tennessee lawmakers.
The anti-gun riots and protests come in the wake of a mass shooting at The Covenant Presbyterian School last Monday.
As reported by The Tennessee Star on March 27, three children and three adults were killed by 28-year-old former student Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who identified as transgender. Nashville Metro Police Officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo ended Hale’s rampage, killing her.
Hale reportedly left behind a manifesto which has not yet been released to the public, though officials confirmed that the shooting was planned for months in advance.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Michael Patrick Leahy contributed to this report.
Photo “Gun Violence Protest” by March For Our Lives.
