Thread by @liamsadams

Full house at McKendree UMC in downtown Nashville, where a Moral Monday rally led by @RevDrBarber will start. The rally will lead into a March to the state Capitol.

For more details on the event:

An even fuller house as the program starts in a couple minutes.
Spoken to people here who are from Nashville and heard about the event from their local church, and to another person who drove down from New Hampshire. So, those in attendance are from all over.

Tagging this thread to help make it easier to find. #MoralMonday #MoralMondayNashville.

Opening prayer, awaiting @RevDrBarber.

You can watch the live stream to the event here. #MoralMonday #MoralMondayNashville

“Have these deaths scared us to life yet?” @RevDrBarber asks, referring to gun violence and then pivoting to affordable health care.

Standing applause for @RevDrBarber, of which this hasn’t been the first in his sermon already.

.@RevDrBarber asks all the clergy in the room to stand up. I’d say it’s about at least half of the room. And if they’re not clergy, then many are congregants.

.@RevDrBarber concludes his remarks and organization for the March is beginning. There was a call for *27* pallbearers to carry caskets.

The room is reading through a “covenant of nonviolence.”

A gallery of photos from @Tennessean photographer Nicole Hester, who is also on the ground, is live.
tennessean.com/picture-galler…

Now filtering out of McKendree UMC while a trumpet plays “Taps.”Meanwhile, an event organizer reminds the marchers: “Silence; somber; funeral procession.”

March to the state Capitol has started.

And processing right behind are the pallbearers with the caskets.

At the back, as people continue to filter out of McKendree UMC.

And each new addition to the march is a line of four.

Back at the front, where marchers ascend the stairs to War Memorial Plaza, right before the state Capitol.

We’re almost at the state Capitol, where the caskets will be brought and we’ll likely here some more remarks. The live stream can be accessed at: breachrepairers.org/livestream
#MoralMonday #MoralMondayNashville

Caskets are brought forward while “Glory” by John Legend and Common plays.

The caskets have been laid at the steps before the state Capitol. #MoralMonday #MoralMondayNashville twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The tail of the march makes its way to the steps of the state Capitol.

Everyone has made it to the steps. #MoralMonday #MoralMondayNashville

.@RevDrBarber is addressing the audience again. I might miss some because im also working on writing a story. So, as a reminder, the livestream: breachrepairers.org/livestream

Just heard a very emotional testimony from Sarah Neumann, a Covenant School mom. Many in the audience were tearing up as she spoke.

The march is slowly making its way into the Capitol as people go through security. #MoralMonday #MoralMondayNashville

A version of my story is up (and will be updated later):
tennessean.com/story/news/rel…

.@brotherjones_ carrying an urn, waiting with @RevDrBarber to enter the House chamber.

.@RevDrBarber enters the House chambers with @brotherjones_ and @iam_4_justice. #MoralMonday #MoralMondayNashville

.@brotherjones_ introduces @RevDrBarber and the other guests, as allowed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton.

As far as updates, not much has happened. We’re still waiting in the gallery and am not entirely sure what will happen next. A controversial bill to arm teachers is on the docket for tonight, but probably won’t be up for discussion for a little longer. wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/…

After clergy and other demonstrators have waited for hours on that bill (👆🏼) on arming teachers, Rep. William Lamberth moves to delay discussion on HB 1202 until Wednesday to the crowd’s dismay.

Specifically and technically, the motion is to pick up the same calendar until Wednesday.

And Lamberth’s motion passes, taking the momentum out of any likely remaining protest.
So, @RevDrBarber gives some concluding remarks outside the House chamber and makes his way to the elevator.

Following Barber’s exit, clergy continue to sing, and are joined by @brotherjones_ and @VoteGloriaJ.

Buffered by state troopers, clergy face state reps as they exit the House chambers.

Crowd now chanting “more guns, more death, tell the truth” as reps wait for the elevator.

Clergy and Jones, Pearson and Johnson wanted to go into the House chambers with the urn, but ultimately weren’t allowed, effectively ending the protest. But this all started at 2 pm, so it’s been going on for quite a while.
On that note, good night!
#MoralMonday