#FreeTN has scheduled a rally for Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Nashville’s Historic Courthouse/City Hall calling for freedom from the remnants of Nashville’s COVID-19 shutdown and demanding that the city never shut down again.
The day also marks the annual celebration of the official adoption of the “Stars and Stripes” American flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.
Executive orders calling for Tennesseans to stay-at-home, which came from Governor Bill Lee covering 89 of the state’s counties and the directors of health of the state’s six metropolitan counties, to contain the spread of COVID-19 went into effect in March.
Currently, all 95 counties are in some phase of reopening, with Lee’s stay-at-home order expiring April 30.
Nashville/Davidson County, on the other hand, didn’t end the safe-at-home phase until May 10. Phase One of the reopening went the prescribed 14 days of positive improvement or stability of metrics and advanced to Phase Two on May 25.
On June 8, the scheduled date for transition to Phase Three, it was announced during the COVID-19 news conference that there was an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Nashville remains in Phase Two, and it is now undetermined when the city will enter Phase Three of the reopening.
#FreeTN has held several rallies, first calling for the state to reopen, and then for more accountability by non-elected bureaucrats making decisions particularly for the six metropolitan counties, The Tennessee Star reported.
The Free Nashville Rally scheduled for June 14 has its own unique purpose, as stated in the Facebook event:
Come out for all the people who were deemed non-essential.
For all the businesses that closed their doors forever.
For the all the people who rely on our tourism and events to survive.
For all the people who couldn’t get elective treatments they needed.
For those who couldn’t attend funerals.
For the parents of schoolchildren.
For those who died alone.
For those who succumbed to alcoholism and depression.
For those who lost loved ones to suicide and violence.
For those who are about to lose their homes.
#FreeTN also has four demands for Nashville officials:
• End the shut down and amend the [Nashville/Davidson County Metropolitan] charter to prevent another one like it.
• No mandatory healthcare like masks or temperature checks.
• No releasing private information to the police.
• Make efforts to boost our economy by promoting events this summer such as concerts, conventions, sporting events, and our Independence Day freedom celebration.
To #FreeTN’s point about masks, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and in charge of its $5.9 billion 2020 budget, Dr. Anthony Fauci has given mixed messages about the effectiveness of wearing masks.
During a March 8 interview with 60 Minutes, Dr. Fauci declared, “There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask.” Then, on May 27, he said he is “wearing a face mask in public as a ‘symbol’ of what Americans should be doing to help curb the spread of the virus,” NewsMax reported.
To objections about giving private information obtained through contact tracing to the police, the Metro Health Department has said they will update their procedures with additional safeguards while continuing to share data with Metro Nashville Police Department and other first responders, according to the June 8 press update.
While Nashville’s economy suffered the steepest COVID-19 consumer spending drop in the nation, The Star reported, events like the huge July 4th celebration have been canceled and the possibility of hosting the Republican National Convention was all but rejected by Mayor John Cooper, leaving fewer opportunities for boosting Nashville’s economic recovery.
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Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star.
Photo “Protesters” by Free Tennessee.
DEFUND Mayor Cooper!
To answer: why Nashville – Davidson Co cannot open its because Cooper is playing politics. This idiot cares nothing about the people he wants the economy to be as bad as possible because of Democratic political marching orders. He is a low class political hack. The numbers do not justify what he is doing.
The purpose of the shutdown was “flatten the curve” to ensure adequate hospital beds for the infection. We are told by the Mayor’s office and Metro Health Dept that we have plenty of hospital beds available. How many of those beds are occupied by non-Davidson residents? If other counties around Davidson are open and using Davidson hospital beds and we still have plenty of beds available, then why can’t Davidson open?
This has been a complete scam on the American people, states that did not shut down did not see an explosion of cases. Many states that are still on lockdown have been given the green light to march and riot which are considered essential activities (attending church is not). Many people I know are worried about layoffs later this year, I think the next time something like this is tried there will be more pushback.
Cooper should be removed from office and arrested for what he has done to Nashville business. Cooper has no job after this term, people are fed up with this corrupt crooked Democrat. What a loser!
This is what Nashville gets for ALWAYS voting in a liberal mayor.when will you learn.
He chose to do nothing for Nashville during the riot. All liberals believe it will go against Trump. This also works towards mail in ballots. Nothing like cheating to win.