NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Five African-American kids, between the ages of nine and 14, were verbally harassed by a neo-Nazi group.
The incident happened on Saturday, July 13 in downtown Nashville. For three years, the children have shared their love of music by playing drums on Broadway. Since the incident, they told NewsNation affiliate WKRN that they are fearful to play drums downtown.
“They was just saying bad words to us…” one of the children told WKRN. “We went around them, they were calling us bad words and we didn’t say nothing to them.”
The Metro Nashville Police Department released body camera footage of the interaction and the department’s.
“The hatred shouted by the Neo-Nazi group toward the five African-American children who came upon them by coincidence on July 14 is shocking and reprehensible. Officer body camera video shows that members of a police team moved in to de-escalate and walk with the children away from the Neo-Nazi group. One officer told the Neo-Nazis, ‘they’re kids,’ in an effort to stop the insulting language. When the children started to yell back at the Neo-Nazis, the officer is heard saying several times to the kids, ‘Be better than them.'”
Metro Nashville Police Department statement on the incident
“It wasn’t right, you don’t antagonize a little kid,” Ashton Lee, mother to one of the children, said. “I’ve seen plenty of grown men that were of color nothing was said, but when these little kids go by, it was all type of bashful words. It wasn’t right.”
Representative Justin Jones invited the kids to the State Capitol building to recognize their bravery and let them know that they are not alone. He gave them a tour of the Capitol.
Jones, alongside State Representative Georgia Hardaway, asked their fellow legislators to speak out against hate.
“They were simply trying to play drums, simply trying to enjoy their summer break like any other child,” Rep. Jones said. “Instead they were met with white nationalist, terror, and active intimidation.”
“The caucus strongly rebukes the actions of these grown men who attempted to spread hatred and dehumanize children,” Metro Council’s minority caucus said in a statement denouncing the incident.
A Peace Walk & Press Conference regarding the incident has been announced for July 27. The walk is set to commence at 2 p.m. at the Walk of Fame Park. The event is meant to serve as a call to action. Attendees are encouraged to wear black.
