A rally for Jewish and Christian communities to “come together in unity to stand with Israel” took place at Legislative Plaza in Nashville on Friday following two straight weeks of pro-Palestine rallies. An estimated 400 people attended the rally.
STAND WITH ISRAEL: A Tennessee rally for Israel is held at Legislative Plaza amid Hamas conflict. https://t.co/NILKqOH6ov
— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) October 27, 2023
The rally, which featured special guest speakers, including state representatives, state senators, pastors, rabbis, music artists, and community leaders, was held from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Rabbi Dan Horwitz, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, was one of the featured speakers.
The Republican Party was well represented as several prominent Tennessee elected officials showed support for Israel and the Jewish community. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), U.S. and Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) sent video messages of strong support, as did Governor Bill Lee.
Additionally, several prominent members of the Tennessee General Assembly demonstrated their support for Israel and Tennessee’s Jewish community. State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) presented a Senate proclamation of support and solidarity with Israel and addressed the gathering. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), Senator Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro), State Representative Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin), State Representative Scott Cepicky (R- Culleoka), State Representative Sam Whitson (R-Franklin), State Representative Debra Moody (R-Covington), State Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), and several other Republican members of the General Assembly stood on the stage and declared their solidarity with Israel.
The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition stood with Israel at the event as well, with Board Chairman Aaron Spradlin providing security assistance and Executive Director Aaron Gulbransen in attendance as well.
One Democrat did attend. State Senator Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) did address the crowd, making oblique references to the recent Franklin mayor’s election while denouncing swastikas and other Nazi symbols, but failed to denounce the antisemitism demonstrated in recent weeks by her colleagues on the Left and groups like the Democrat Socialists of Middle Tennessee.
Daryl Hedding, the deputy director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, was one of the guests who spoke at the event with uplifting words for Israel as well as a message for pro-Hamas sympathizers.
“Brothers and sisters, every generation faces a defining moment – a crisis that cannot be ignored and demands a response,” Hedding said. “October 7, 2023 will be remembered as one of the darkest days of history with over 1,400 Israelis slaughtered in the most brutal way and hundreds taken hostage by Hamas terrorists for the crime of being born Jewish. Not since the Holocaust have the Jewish people suffered such a day of devastation and horror.”
“So today, as a generation of Jews and Christians here in Nashville, Tennessee, we come together in unity to respond,” Hedding added. “We come together to tell Israel – you are not alone. We come together to tell Israel – we will not be silent. We come together to tell Israel – you have a right to self defense. We come together to tell Israel – we will support you no matter how long this war takes to win.”
“We also have a message for the other side,” Hedding added, noting the pro-Hamas and pro-Palestine rallies that have taken over college campuses across the nation as well as in Nashville.
“We are here to tell you that we condemn Hamas and everyone who supports the genocidal agenda. We are here to tell you that we will never forget what happened on October 7. We are here to tell you – never again. And we are here to tell you that Gaza will be free from the tyranny of Hamas,” Hedding said.
Present at the rally was a handful of pro-Palestine counter-protesters, calling for a ceasefire and holding signs with slogans including, “Jews against genocide stand with Palestine,” “Jews 4 a free Palestine,” and “End the cycle of genocide now.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
