Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell released details of a public safety proposal he plans to put before the Metro Nashville Council, revealing the mayor seeks to make an “adjustment” to the city’s existing rules regarding face masks and other face coverings in public spaces.
In a Friday statement from the mayor’s office, O’Connell confirmed four pieces of legislation he said would “boost public safety” but recognize “First Amendment rights to peacefully gather and speak.”
“Political tensions are high, and this legislation will help us discourage behavior that can spark violence,” said O’Connell.
A press release from the mayor’s office confirms a total four pieces of legislation are part of O’Connell’s safety proposal, including “[a]n adjustment to our mask-wearing ordinance.”
The mayor’s office did not publish additional details, but NewsChannel 5 reported O’Connell’s mask restriction is aimed at preventing groups like Patriot Front from concealing their identities while marching in Nashville.
Previous demonstrations have included marchers, with faces obscured by masks, carrying Nazi icons.
Nashville’s existing mask ordinance, according to the outlet, prohibits wearing masks in public places without a special reason, but the adjustment sought by O’Connell would reportedly add “religious reasons and medical purposes to the list of exemptions.”
The mayor additionally submitted proposals he said would “create buffer zones to maintain public safety around public buildings and parking lots,” ban “distracting signs” on highways, and prevent “distribution of handbills on private property before sunrise or after sunset.”
In his statement, O’Connell suggested the proposals are aimed at addressing possible public safety issues around government buildings in Nashville.
“When political violence prevents government functions or creates public safety issues, we must have the tools in our toolkit to respond effectively,” said O’Connell.
O’Connell previously referred to marchers reportedly associated with Patriot Front as “white nationalists” in July, when he said the city would begin “exploring how we can thoroughly address unlawful activity of the group and prevent it in the future.”
Despite questions and rumors regarding whether Patriot Front is a “false flag” group, including from the billionaire Elon Musk, both local media outlets NewsChannel 5 and WSMV 4 repeated the claim the marchers were part of a “white nationalist” group.
The public safety proposal comes as O’Connell seeks approval from voters for his transit referendum in November. While the mayor seeks to expand the transit program, his efforts may have been dampened by a string of violent crimes that occurred on Nashville buses or transit stations earlier this year.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
So NOW they want to ban masks. These same mask maniacs had people arrested for NOT wearing masks during the lockdown.
“When political violence prevents government functions or creates public safety issues, we must have the tools in our toolkit to respond effectively,” said O’Connell.
Amen. But does the mayor plan on applying these measures to those who:
-disrupt a session of the Tennessee General Assembly?
-destroy police stations, cars, and equipment?
-vandalize public and private property?
-shut down city streets and interstate highways?
-trespass and block access at educational institutions?
Will the mayor instruct the police who enforce these measures to first ask for name, ID, and political affiliation?
Oh the web weaved to deceive.
Fast Freddie…..gonna bring trouble to Nashville…..
Fast Freddie and his left wing liberal council will do nothing but encourage these types to come back to Nashville. Please don’t blame this crap on Confederate Soldiers. Nashville needs better leadership.
SOUNDS LIKE A KOMMIE TO ME
AND CHANNEL 4 & 5 ARE HIS SPOKESPERSONS. THIS CUSHY CONSPIRACY GOES TOTALLY AGAINST THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THEY ALL SHOULD BE SUED.
OK FOR ANTIFA /BLM TO WERA MASKS BUT NOT CONSERVATIVES.
PEOPLE WAKE UP. THIS MAYOR IS A DICTATOR.
Metro Council members are LAME DUCKS due to mandated Term Limits. As long as that is the case, the Mayor’s office will be Bullies.
Define White Nationalist, Mayor. You make them sound like the KKK. In truth, Antifa/BLM are more like Supremacists.
Does anyone know why these measures were not done during the downtown riots, arson fires and blocked public roads at the courthouse, lower Broadway and Interstate and few years ago? Asking for a friend.
How in Gods name. Did Nashville vote in this guy??
moron