This Is Nashville

Reflecting on the People's Plaza protests, three years later

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On June 12, 2020, a group of protesters began occupying Legislative Plaza. Among them was now state-representative Justin Jones. For over two months, they called on Governor Bill Lee to meet with them to discuss racial justice and policing in Tennessee. The occupation lasted for 62 days until the state passed a law that escalated camping on public property from a misdemeanor to a felony. 

In this episode, guest host Steve Haruch speaks with people who participated in the People's Plaza protest and what has changed since then.

But first, WPLN education reporter Alexis Marshall joins us to discuss a recent report that puts child abuse into economic terms. 

Guests: 

  • Rev. Venita Lewis, organizer and president of NAACP Nashville

  • Angel Stansberry, organizer and criminal justice chair of NAACP Nashville

  • Dieama McDougal, protestor

  • Mike Stewart, attorney and former state representative

    • From WPLN's archives:

    • Nashville Activists Center Black Joy At Block Party, Wrapping Third Weekend Of Protests (published June 2020)

    • From Civil Rights Story Time To Marches Through Downtown, Nashvillians Of All Ages Rally For Racial Justice (published June 2020)

    • Police Brutality Protesters Rally Against Misconduct Within The Department (published Aug. 2020)

    • Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Signs Law That Will Increase Punishments For Protesters (published Aug. 2020)

    • We Checked In On A Dozen Demands Made By Black Lives Matter Protesters In Nashville. Here’s Where They Stand. (published May 2021)

      • Today's episode was produced by Steve Haruch. 

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