In 1960, armed with the training in non-violent resistance, and an awareness of the depravation of oppression of segregation; Nashville students from Fisk, Tennessee State and American Baptist College began a campaign to integrate lunch counters at Nashville’s downtown restaurants.
The students that willingly filled the jails to push the issue of social justice were represented by prominent black lawyer and Councilman Z. Alexander Looby. In retaliation by the forces of status quo, Looby’s house was fire bombed on April 19, 1960. The students and others hearing of the news that morning gathered in front of Tennessee State on Jefferson Street, and conduct an impromptu march to the Nashville Court House, where the mayor’s office was then contained.
With news camera’s rolling Fisk student Diane Nash confronted Mayor Ben West as to whether he thought it that treatment of blacks in business establishments was right. These events would soon after lead to the desegregation of many public facilities in Nashville.
On Monday April 19, 2010 a group of community organizers and activist calling themselves the THE APRIL 19, 2010 PLANNING COMMITTEE brought the Nashville community together on the anniversary of that 1960 silent march to reengage the public in what they see as an ongoing fight for social justice of various types.
Marchers started gathering in the parking lot of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church around 9:00 am. There were about 200 people on hand by 10:00 am, which was the scheduled meet up time. Eventually, though, the gathering grew to about 350 or so.
The marchers lined up in front of Tennessee State, and started down Jefferson Street, heading south the on east sidewalk, lined up in twos. They passed by historic Fisk, where much of the original training 50 years ago was conducted, all the way into the heart of downtown; crossing over to the court house at James Robertson and 2nd, right before the bridge.
The march marshals in orange traffic vest held back traffic for the marchers to pass street crossing. The marchers remained silent: no chants, no singing, and no sings.
Passers-by in cars and in business parking lots would inquire as to what this was. The marshals were prepared with flyers to inform them. Everything went off without a hitch as they marched to the downtown Nashville Court House, which also holds the Metro Council.
On the steps, young and old, black and white spoke on staying in the fight for social justice; and moving beyond apathy. Speakers ranged from civil rights luminaries James Lawson and Kwame Lillard, to community activist such as Clemmie Greenlee, to high school student Courtney Kane. Also, on hand was Diane Nash, reprising her pivotal role 50 years to day that she helped make history with the original silent march and courthouse protest.
She told the crowd that voting was important, but that the 10 minutes spent in the voting both every two years isn’t enough to be a responsible citizen. She implored the people to take back their government from corporate interest, further stating that “a government of the people, by the people and for the people has perished from the earth.”
Lawson noted in his opening remarks at the rally that:
“If good people will not organize for truth, and beauty, and equal access, then it’s not going to happen. Evil is well organized…While the point is that we are here because we say that we are dissatisfied with the status quo. The status quo must move to a new level of meaning, a new level of humanity…Democracy, where we the people work to make the political institutions and business instructions confirm to the deepest values of humanity.”
Kane, a local high school senior stated:
“There’s so much injustice in our institutions, in the work place, at home. Kids can’t even find a good job…the second that they put their name down, and their address, there’s already a mark on their application, check no; because of where they live. They’re not even able to express to these employers, the quality and the good service that they have to offer because of where they live, and it’s not right.’
Representing labor, Tennessee AFL-CIO representative Jerry Lee commented:
We represent the working people of Tennessee whether they have a union or not…there are many forms of discrimination that is growing in this country among growing numbers of people…today we’re fighting those same battles maybe on a broader front, maybe because we’ve been complacent, maybe because we want to rest a little while; but we cannot rest. We must pick up the gauntlet of injustice wherever it may exist.
The rally dispersed a little before 1:00 pm, with a follow up meeting scheduled for 2:30 that afternoon. If you have further interest in working with the organizers, you can contact Keith Caldwell at 615-419-4214.
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