NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Monday afternoon in downtown Nashville, a rally of just over 100 people protested the latest gathering limit from Mayor John Cooper. None of the police were present at the Legislative Plaza steps where everyone gathered.
Cooper coined the term “Rule of 8” for the city’s latest pandemic-related order ahead of Thanksgiving. The event description on Facebook described the rule as “ridiculous and unconstitutional.”
Pastor Greg Locke hosted the protest. Locke announced the event during the third “Stop the Steal” rally last Saturday – Trump supporters have pledged to gather every weekend until the general election lawsuits are resolved.
“Here’s how you handle American freedoms: people that are concerned about the virus need to stay home, and people that want to go to work, to church, and to school should go,” stated Locke. “In this nation, God is our sovereign, not the government.”
Locke is outspoken about empowering Christians to stand up against current impositions against them. Facebook banned the pastor temporarily for offering to pay expenses for churchgoers from Kentucky, after they were told by their governor that they couldn’t attend church.
Featured guests included Christian pop artist Danny Gokey, who sang The National Anthem. Other speakers included activist Ty Bollinger and Pastor Ken Peters. Both men asserted the unconstitutionality of the government-enforced lockdowns and mandates, and the need for Christian leaders to fight the culture war coloring modern politics.
“Paul Revere said, ‘The British are coming! The British are coming! The British are coming!'” stated Peters. “Ladies and gentlemen: ‘The leftists are coming! The leftists are coming! The leftists are coming!”
Locke contended that those in attendance should consider a new focus – instead of the usual “Make America Great Again” slogan, they should adopt more powerful language.
“We need to ‘Make America Godly Again,” asserted Locke. “The church has made this country hell in a handbasket. Judgment must begin at God’s house. Everyone’s bowing down to the golden calf of political correctness.”
The protest ended with the crowd kneeling in prayer.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
