On Tuesday, April 18 we linked arms for change in Nashville and Knoxville!
Nashville: 5:15 – 5:45 p.m. CST
Knoxville: 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. EST
Over 8,500 people registered to participate in this event on April 18. We all wore red and created a human chain spreading from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where victims of The Covenant School shooting were taken on March 27, all the way to the Tennessee State Capitol. The peaceful event served as an expression of solidarity among the chorus of voices who support the following common sense gun laws this session:
- Extreme Risk Laws that would allow authorities to temporarily remove guns from people who pose a risk to themselves or others
- Stronger Gun Storage Laws that would require gun owners to provide safe storage and report lost or stolen guns.
- Closing Background Check Loopholes to keep guns away from dangerous people by closing the background check loophole.
WHERE
Nashville: The human chain began at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and extended nearly 3 miles to the Tennessee State Capitol.
Knoxville: We stood together in a circle surrounding Market Square in downtown Knoxville.
Gun violence is the
number one killer of children in Tennessee, taking more lives than car accidents.
In an average year,
1,385 Tennesseans, children and adults alike, lose their lives to gun violence.
Tennessee has
the 12th highest rate
of gun violence
in the entire country.
Group locations
Listing of group locations
Registered Groups
| 12th South |
| A New Leaf School |
| Abintra Montessori School |
| Activist Artists Management |
| Advocates for Gun Safety |
| AMA, AAPTn |
| Apple and Oak |
| Art & Soul Nashville |
| Athena Care |
| Ban Assault weapons |
| Barnes group |
| Barton Buddies |
| Belle Meade Children’s Center |
| Belle Meade United Methodist Church |
| Belmont College of Health Sciences |
| Belmont School of Music |
| Belmont United Methodist Church |
| Belmont University Health Sciences & Nursing |
| Belmont University’s Jazzmin |
| Belmont Weekday School |
| Benton Family |
| BookWomen |
| Bradley |
| Brentwood United Methodist Church |
| BRK Group |
| Burns Small Group |
| Cathedral of Incarnation |
| Cedar Laners |
| Chattanooga/Lookout Mtn. Group |
| Child and Family Therapy Collective |
| Children’s House |
| Christ Church Cathedral |
| Christ the King Parish of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (TADP) |
| Christ United Methodist Church |
| Church of the Redeemer |
| Congregation Micah |
| Cooking up Change |
| Covenant School |
| Dan Mills Elementary |
| Davidson County Democrats |
| Deborah Oleshansky/Jewish Federation |
| DP group |
| Eakin Elementary |
| East Nashtivists |
| East Nashville Doulas |
| East Nashville Queer Parents |
| Educators |
| Ensworth |
| Episcopal School of Nashville |
| The Farm Community |
| Father Ryan High School |
| First Steps |
| Fly South |
| Free Agent |
| Friends for Life |
| Frist Art Museum |
| Glendale Elementary |
| Glendale United Methodist Church |
| Good Shepard Anglican Church |
| Graduate Nashville |
| Grandmothers |
| Green Hills/Glendale |
| GroWilco |
| Gun Reform |
| Hands Across Nashville |
| Harding Academy |
| Harpeth Hall |
| Heritage Women’s Center |
| Hillsboro High school |
| Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood |
| Holy Trinity Montessori |
| Human Rights Campaign/ Vanderbilt Alumni Association |
| Hume Fogg Magnet High School |
| Hillsboro Village |
| J. T. Moore middle school |
| Jarrard Inc. |
| Julia Green Elementary |
| Koinania |
| Lebanon Voices |
| Legislature |
| Les Gemmes, Incorporated |
| Linden Waldorf School |
| Linking Arms for Change |
| Lipscomb Elementary |
| Lipscomb University |
| Live Nation |
| Lockeland Elementary School |
| Lookout Mountain/Chattanooga |
| Luna, Hippensteel, Case |
| Maeve East Nashville |
| Mann/Onufrey/Mannes/Saturn |
| March For Our Lives Nashville |
| May Farm Sanctuary |
| MCF |
| McGavock High School |
| MCJCHV staff member |
| McKenndree United Methodist Church |
| McNeely Brockman Public Relations |
| Me Gusta Music |
| Metro Nashville Public Schools |
| MHS 4+1 |
| Michael and Meghan Weber |
| MLK students and staff |
| Moms Act Now |
| Mom’s Demand Action |
| Moms on a Mission Mob |
| Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital of Vanderbilt |
| Mountain Mamas |
| Music Row |
| Nashville Classical Charter School |
| Nashville Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) |
| Nashville General Hospital Foundation |
| Nashville Pride |
| Nashville Public Library |
| Nashville Utopians |
| Nashville Westminster |
| NatBash |
| National Black Caucus of State Legislators |
| NBCSL/DST/Links/legislators- I’m open! |
| NCCS |
| New Natchez Neighbors |
| No Leg Newman |
| Oak Hill School |
| One WillCo |
| Ono |
| Our Kids Center |
| Overbrook |
| Parks Realty |
| People for Positive Change |
| Percy Priest Elementary |
| Primrose School |
| PWOW |
| Rosebank Elementary |
| Rutherford |
| Saint David’s Episcopal Church |
| Scales Elementary |
| Sharon for Nashville |
| Sherri Giorgio |
| Sofiya Stasiv |
| Spero Dei Church |
| St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel |
| St. Bartholomew’s Church |
| St. Bernard Academy |
| St. David’s Episcopal Church |
| St. George’s Kingergarden |
| St. Thomas |
| Stream Valley |
| Susan Gray School |
| Swerving Chickens |
| Sylvan Park Elementary |
| Symmetry Counseling |
| Temple Ohabai Sholom |
| The Getalong |
| The Tennessean |
| Tennessee State University |
| Third Coast Comedy Club |
| Thrive Tutoring |
| TIRCC |
| TNAAP |
| University School of Nashville |
| UTA |
| Vanderbilt University |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center |
| visual artists |
| Voices for a Safer Tennessee |
| Walkers |
| Waverly Belmont Elementary |
| West End Middle School |
| West End UMC |
| Westminster Presbyterian Church |
| WilCo Seahorses |
| Women Obstetrics and Gynecology |
Participate live
Prayer to be read by faith leaders at 5:15 p.m.
“God of all faiths, strengthen us to protect our children. Use our voices to create a safer Tennessee. We believe change is coming! Amen” Participants are encouraged to join as they’d like.
Lyrics to Tennessee, by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors at 5:30 p.m.
(participants are invited to join in singing with Drew when he performs at 5:30)
When I was a boy I didn’t know nothin’,
Didn’t have a care in the world,
I had innocence and ignorance of things,
I wish I still did not know.
But no matter how far these songs take me,
If my dreams come true oh the heart aches break me,
No matter where I make my bed,
I long for you.
Tenn – ess – ee
Tenn – ess – ee
I was born here and raised here ‘nd I will make my grave here,
It’s home,
Tenn – essee
We’ve all got a story frozen in time,
People and places, livin’ and dyin’
The heart beats and breathe and just tryin’
To make sense of it all
I am the second born of my mother and father
He’s a lion hearted man, she’s a Jesus lovin’ woman
And no matter how far I roam I always belong
Tenn – ess – ee
Tenn – ess – ee
I was born here and raised here ‘nd I will make my grave here,
It’s home,
Tenn – essee
It’s not just geography, it’s a part of me, the air I breathe.
And we’ve got a history, and the blood runs through.
Tenn – ess – ee
Tenn – ess – ee
Tenn – ess – ee
I was born here and raised here ‘nd I will make my grave here,
It’s home,
Tenn – essee
FAQ
How will this work logistically?
The event coordinators have mapped out the route in detail and know approximately how many people it will take to line each block. Based on this, as we get registrations and especially group registrations, we will know where to assign people to stand. The chain will NOT cross roads/intersections. While we know this means it won’t be a “perfect” chain, we of course have to keep safety first!
How will I know where to go?
The evening before the event, we will email all participants to let them know where they are standing. This will be the location you should go to at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in order to be in place for the chain event that will begin promptly at 5:15.
Can we see what groups have signed up?
Our goal is to share a map with group locations listed so you can see where various groups are standing, but this will depend upon the registration and assignment process. Please understand while this is the ultimate goal, there is a chance we will not be able to communicate this in advance.
What if I want to switch groups?
If you would like to change the group you listed or add a group to join if you did not originally indicate a group, please email safertennessee@gmail.com.
Where do I park?
We will send parking suggestions with your location assignments. Also, we encourage people to carpool or ride-share if possible! (View parking recommendations based on your assigned location.)
Will there be security?
MNPD is aware of the event and will be actively patrolling.
Is this a protest?
This is NOT a protest. This is a family-friendly demonstration of unity – a visual representation of people of all backgrounds and beliefs coming together in support of stronger gun safety laws and a safer Tennessee.
Is this family friendly?
Yes! As you feel comfortable, we encourage people to bring their families.
What happens when we are lined up?
Details will be sent closer to the event, but plan on some songs and activities, like drawing with sidewalk chalk.
What should I bring?
Please dress comfortably, wear RED, and bring red sidewalk chalk, if you can. You can also download and print these signs: