Tag: Centennial Park

Pro-Hamas ‘Ceasefire Now’ Rally Takes Place in Nashville

Kaitlin Housler

Another pro-Palestine, pro-Hamas, anti-Israel rally organized by the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) took place at Centennial Park in downtown Nashville on Saturday.

The rally marked the fourth straight weekend of pro-Palestine, pro-Hamas, anti-Israel demonstrations in Nashville amid the terrorist group Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that left over 1,400 Israelis and 32 Americans dead. Middle Tennessee DSA has organized each rally.

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Nashville Begins Construction on Redevelopment of Children’s Memorial Garden

Morgan Nicole Veysey
Children’s Memory Garden of Nashville

Residents gathered at the Children’s Memory Garden of Nashville this week in the Centennial Park to celebrate the groundbreaking of the garden’s redevelopment. The group, organized by the nonprofit You Have the Power, stated on their website that the redevelopment would be “undergoing new design to restore its dignity and peace, and to make it accessible to all.”

Part of the redevelopment is due to the Nashville Metro Parks and Recreation’s Centennial Park Concept Plan. The plan, which was originally created in 2015, said that the redevelopment will be finished in Spring 2022. 

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The Confederate Monument in Centennial Park Isn’t Sam Davis, Historians Say and Primary Sources Concur

Corinne Murdock

Contrary to certain government historical records, the Confederate Private Monument doesn’t depict Boy Hero of the Confederacy Sam Davis. In a previous report, The Tennessee Star relayed information provided by the archives of the Nashville Public Library and the Smithsonian Institution. Both resources concurred that the seated statue atop the monument was a likeness of Sam Davis sculpted by famed artist George Julian Zolnay.

However, several historians contended that this information was inaccurate – that Davis wasn’t the statue subject. The Star confirmed those assessments through the original news publication documenting the monument’s dedication, as well as a contemporaneous history book written on the subject of Confederate monuments.

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Metro Parks Board Petitions State Historical Commission to Remove Sam Davis Statue

Corinne Murdock

Metro Parks Board has sought permission to remove the Confederate Private Monument featuring soldier Sam Davis from Centennial Park. They submitted the formal request to the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC); Tennessee Code requires that THC wait at least 60 days before holding a hearing for a petition.

Renewed discussion to remove the monument began during January’s board meeting. Vice-Chair Susannah Scott-Barnes asserted that the statue was a “divisive symbol.” She noted that, in light of last year’s protests and the continued climate over Confederate statues nationwide, any vandalism would pose a cost issue for the board. Although the board requires state permission to relocate or remove the monument, the costs to maintain the statue are sourced from local funds.

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