Voices for a Safer Tennessee

Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) advocates for firearm safety policies and programs that both protect our communities and respect the Second Amendment.

Media Advisory

Thousands Gather for Second “Linking Arms for Change” Event on  First Anniversary of The Covenant School Tragedy

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 28,2024

Tennesseans link arms in Nashville and participate in satellite community gatherings across the state  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Yesterday approximately 12,000 Tennesseans linked arms from Centennial Park and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt down Broadway to the State Capitol to honor the six victims of The Covenant School shooting and the nearly 1,300 adults and children who lost their lives to preventable firearm tragedies over the last year in our state.  

“Linking Arms for Change” was hosted by Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonpartisan statewide coalition formed in the days following The Covenant School tragedy. The group is dedicated to creating healthier, safer communities by reducing preventable firearm tragedies and advocating for pragmatic firearm safety laws.  

“During ‘Linking Arms for Change’, Tennesseans once again showed that they stand with the Covenant community and the loved ones of all victims of preventable firearm tragedies.” said Voices for a Safer Tennessee executive director Claudia Huskey. “On an otherwise somber day of remembrance and grief, this clear demonstration of unity provides hope and healing to our community.”

While families, neighbors, and friends linked arms, a program of inspirational messages and beautiful music was held at Centennial Park. Uplifting songs were shared by Ketch Secor, co-founder and lead singer for the band Old Crow Medicine Show with Americana artist Molly Tuttle, 17-year-old guitar virtuoso Grace Bowers with Judge Sheila Calloway, and Contemporary Christian Music artist Blessing Offor. Faith leaders who offered reflections and prayers included Father Mark Beckman from Saint Henry Catholic Church, Dr. Donovan McAbee from Belmont University, Reverend Cody Balfour from Koinonia Church, Rashed Fakhruddin from Islamic Center of Nashville, and Rabbi Shanna Mackler from The Temple Nashville.  

“The support for this event in Nashville, and satellite gatherings in Middle, East, and West Tennessee, gives us confidence in what we can accomplish if we work together as Tennesseans,” said Todd Cruse, board chair of Voices for a Safer Tennessee. “Now we need everyone to stay involved in the democratic process. Contact your legislators to express support of stronger firearm safety laws, engage your families, neighbors, and friends in conversation about this public health crisis, and vote. We know progress will take time and the small wins we are already seeing will add up to impactful change.”

For more information about Voices for a Safer Tennessee and to watch the recorded livestream of the program, visit safertn.org.  

Photos from the event are available at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1t6g8ePjob9T-yYW0M13Ogy67AT77JNR5?usp=sharing

About Voices for a Safer Tennessee:  
Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of Tennessee families, faith leaders, business executives and educators, hunters, gunowners, veterans and military families, who are dedicated to prioritizing pragmatic, evidence-based firearm safety laws and promoting responsible firearm ownership. Our mission is to build safer, healthier communities by reducing preventable firearm tragedies across Tennessee. We are founded by, led by, and funded by Tennesseans, committed to Tennessee solutions, with 25,000 coalition members across all 95 counties and growing. Learn more at safertn.org.  

Media Contacts:  
Michelle Augusty, Voices for a Safer Tennessee, (850) 933-7202‬, michelle.augusty@gmail.com 
Kelly Brockman, McNeely Brockman PR, (615) 812-6513, kelly@mcneelybrockmanpr.com   
Mark Drury, Calvert Street Group, (615) 330-7587, mdrury@calvertstreet.com 

CNN: One year after Tennessee school shooting, thousands will join hands to honor victims of gun violence

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“CNN — In Nashville, one year after a shooting at a private school took six lives, thousands will come together to honor victims of gun violence and provide a visible demonstration in support of reform.

About 13,000 people are expected to form a four-mile human chain Wednesday beginning at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt where some of the victims of the shooting were taken a year ago. It will lead to the state Capitol.

The non-profit Voices for a Safer Tennessee is organizing the event to honor the victims of The Covenant School shooting, including three 9-year-old children, and the hundreds of other lives lost to gun violence in the last year, a national crisis showing few signs of slowing down.”

Continue reading at CNN.

New York Times: One Grieving Mother Hasn’t Given Up Hope for a Gun Control Compromise

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“A year after losing her daughter in the Covenant School shooting, Katy Dieckhaus is speaking about Evelyn, and the changes she wants to see.

The essence of Evelyn Dieckhaus is still there, captured in the pink Bible where she underlined the word “covenant” in silver ink, and in the beaming photos of her with her family.

…Her mother, Katy Dieckhaus, has since placed those pieces of her daughter’s memory into what she calls her “little Ev bag,” which she has carried with her as she takes her first steps into the intractable debate over gun control in Tennessee.”

Continue reading at The New York Times.

Axios Nashville: Group seeks volunteers for human chain honoring The Covenant School

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“A coalition that came together in the aftermath of the deadly mass shooting at The Covenant School is planning a massive demonstration to mark the one-year anniversary of the tragedy.

What’s happening: Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonpartisan group that started after the shooting to advocate for reforms, is organizing a human chain from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to the Tennessee Capitol.

  • The demonstration will take place from 5-5:30pm on March 27. You can register to participate online.”

Continue reading at Axios Nashville.

News Channel 5: To mark one year since the mass shooting at The Covenant School, 13,000 people will create a human chain

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“NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It’s difficult to put into words how last Spring’s tragedy at The Covenant School impacted our community.

On March 27, 2023, six innocent people — three students and three school employees — were shot to death in the hallways of the school.

This upcoming March 27, Voices for a Safer Tennessee (Safer TN) invites people to create a human chain from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital to the state capitol.”

Watch video at News Channel 5.