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Neo-Nazi rally in downtown Nashville condemned by state lawmakers
A neo-Nazi rally in downtown Nashville over the weekend is being condemned by a local Jewish group and by state lawmakers.
Witness videos posted on social media over the weekend showed a small group of people, wearing red shirts and black masks, giving Nazi salutes and carrying a black swastika flag as they marched through downtown streets in broad daylight. Clips showed the marchers passing through Broadway, the city’s bustling music row, and by the state capitol, chanting “Sieg Heil” and calling for deportations.
A man posted a two-minute video of himself following and confronting the group, calling them “cowards” for not showing their faces.
The videos showed the marchers’ clothing bearing the phrase “Blood Tribe,” which the Anti-Defamation League identifies as “a growing neo-Nazi group” officially founded in 2021 that does not allow female members and “presents itself as a hardcore white supremacist group and rejects white supremacists who call for softer ‘optics.'” The ADL reported that Blood Tribe held marches in Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin in 2023.
State Rep. Justin Jones, a Democrat representing part of Nashville, shared a video of himself standing near the marchers as they passed by, and said he saw them after leaving an event honoring a Black sorority. Jones held a rally on Monday at the state capitol with religious leaders and activists, denouncing the display that he said was “meant to intimidate our community.”
Just left an event honoring a Black sorority and spoke of the need to unite against the rising tide of white supremacy, only to be confronted by Nazis marching through downtown Nashville.
This is exactly what my Republican colleagues hate speech is fostering and inviting. pic.twitter.com/ZaK5kUQDYP
— Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) February 17, 2024
State Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat representing parts of Memphis, posted a video driving by the group as they held up Nazi flags.
Jones and Pearson were both expelled from Tennessee’s Republican-led House last year after leading protests on the House floor, as hundreds of demonstrators at the capitol called for tighter gun control laws after the mass shooting at a private religious school in Nashville. Both lawmakers were reinstated just days later. In their posts about the Nazi rally, Jones and Pearson both accused their Republican colleagues of fostering an environment that led to the march.
Lawmakers from both parties have issued statements condemning the rally, including Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, who said, “Nazism and antisemitism should never be tolerated in any form.” House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth, also a Republican, filed a resolution on Tuesday “commending Tennesseans for their opposition to and condemnation of neo-Nazism.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville called the demonstrators “cowardly” and said it has been in contact with law enforcement, according to CBS Nashville affiliate WTVF.
No arrests were reported from the march. Nashville police did not immediately return a request for comment from CBS News.
CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
How to watch the “60 Minutes” election special
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