Nashville mayor cancels Fourth of July celebrations over Covid-19 but allows BLM protests to continue
Nashville Fourth of July celebrations were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. To ensure the health and safety of the citizens are not jeopardized, it was announced that the event will not be taking place anymore, and instead, it will be broadcasted on the television and can be watched by viewers from the comfort of their homes.
Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp also released a statement after the cancellation of the event was announced. "After putting together a small July 4th celebration that prioritized the health and safety of our city, we have decided to cancel the short fireworks show we had planned for downtown to broadcast on NewsChannel 5. While we are disappointed, the significant increase in Covid cases this week made it clear that we needed to take any steps possible to discourage crowds from gathering," he said, as reported by News Channel Nashville.
He continued, "We hope everyone will have a safe July 4 and watch the one-hour TV special on NewsChannel5 at 9 pm on Saturday. We plan to compile the best-of-the-best from previous year’s fireworks shows to include in the broadcast, along with live performances from John Hiatt, Lilly Hiatt, Keb’Mo’ and Tenille Townes."
Riverfront Park was also closed to ensure that people do not gather as social distancing is of extreme importance. While people were disappointed about the celebration getting canceled and the traditional firework event not taking place, many questioned the continuation of Black Lives Matter protests. "So people can gather for protests no problem, but not fireworks b/c it’s too risky & dangerous? Nashville leadership (& those that go along w/ it), you’ve got issues... just saying," read one comment.
"Shut down BLM protest you will be called a racist. Shut down July 4 who cares what people say," another wrote in response to the celebration being canceled. Others also questioned the mayor's leadership as another comment read, "Nashville Mayor in the most despicable display of anti-America, Shuts Down 4th of July Celebrations but Allows Black Lives Matter to Protest America on Independence Day. Time for the Nashville mayor to be recalled immediately and run out of town."