Alicia Patton and Jaxie Pidgeon

19 mins ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — State and local leaders are reacting after a group called “Patriot Front” was seen marching through downtown Nashville Saturday afternoon.

More than 100 people, believed to be part of Patriot Front, marched through the streets of downtown Nashville on Saturday, July 6, covering their faces with masks while holding shields and Confederate flags.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Patriot Front is “a white supremacist group whose members maintain that their ancestors conquered America, bequeathing to them, and no one else.”

State Democrats denounced the group for what they’re calling “acts of terror” in the Nashville community.

In a statement, Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Hendrell Remus said, “This is what we’re fighting against in Tennessee. This is what we’re fighting against in America. While our Republican State leaders sit quietly by, we refuse to let hate-filled racists terrorize our community.”

Just before 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) took to social media to share a photo of the group making their way up to the Tennessee Capitol.

“White supremacists marching outside the Tennessee Capitol today. This comes after a march of neo-Nazis in the Spring and Proud Boys rallying there a year ago,” Jones wrote. “Shame on my Republican colleagues who continue to welcome these hate groups to our state with racist laws and rhetoric.”

District 19 Councilman Jacob Kupin shared a statement with News 2, which read: “While people have the right to free speech and expression, we also have the right to stand up against hate. As so many of my colleagues have shared today, hate is not welcome here. We will continue to rise up against hatred and make clear that Nashville is safe and welcoming for all.”

The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville also condemned the march and shared that they have been in contact with local law enforcement while “advocating for the perpetrators to be held accountable.”

“We condemn this activity in the strongest possible way and denounce the perpetrators as cowards and criminals, and we call on our city and state elected officials to enforce existing laws to make sure that all of Nashville’s citizens remain safe,” said the federation.

According to the ADL, Tennessee has seen 23 extremist and anti-Semitic incidents so far in 2024, six of which were in Nashville.