For the second Saturday in a row, large crowds gathered at Centennial Park and along West End Avenue over the weekend calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Five weeks ago, Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas launched a deadly and unexpected attack on Israel, leaving 1,400 Israelis dead and taking 240 hostages — among them children, the elderly and peace activists. Israel’s military responded with attacks on the Gaza Strip that have resulted in well over 10,000 reported deaths, including children, health care workers and untold other innocents.
Waving Palestinian flags and carrying signs featuring slogans including, “No tax $$ for the genocide of Palestinians” and “Nashville stands with Palestine,” demonstrators gathered near the Centennial Park entrance at 1 p.m. Saturday for the All Out for Palestine Peace Rally. Only a few hundred feet away at the park’s World War I monument, a crowd of a few dozen — including a military band — gathered for a Veterans Day event.
Over the course of two hours, the protesters — chanting refrains including “cease-fire now,” “free Palestine” and “stop the killing, stop the war” — crossed West End and returned, ultimately marching to the steps of the Parthenon, where speakers addressed the crowd. The demonstration proved to be peaceful, with no apparent counterprotesters present throughout the event.
Nashville has also seen large pro-Israel demonstrations in recent weeks, including gatherings at the Gordon Jewish Community Center and at Legislative Plaza in October.
Above, see Hamilton Matthew Masters’ photos from Saturday’s demonstration.
