Faith in Action: Examining the Moral Monday Protest in Nashville

Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day

Special release.

On the morning of March 27, 2023, a gunman entered Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, and shot 6 people to death. This event was a catalyst in Nashville, leading to protests, political intrigue and division, and the organization of a wide base of religious leaders. In this episode of Compass, Michelle Maldonado and Ryan Dunn share their experiences in response to the shootings, the political climate and their first-hand participation in some of the demonstrations and protests that have happened since March 27–including the April 17, 2023, Moral Monday demonstration in Nashville.

This episode provides insight from leaders and participants in the local actions, including Rev. Dr. William Barber of the Poor Peoples’ Campaign and Repairers of the Breach, Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, and Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye. They all share why these events have been a motivating factor in the mobilization of clergy and people of faith.

(00:00) Introduction
(00:35) Faith leaders take action
(02:26) March 27, 2023
(05:44) Demonstrations and the Tennessee Three
(08:45) Local leaders organize
(12:57) Rev. Dr. William Barber on organizing Moral Monday in Nashville
(22:07) Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye and Rev. Ingrid McIntyre on why faith leaders take action
(29:16) What happened at Moral Monday Nashville
(31:40) Speaker clips: Angera Ferrell-Zabala, Bishop Anne Henning-Byfield and William Barber
(39:18) Inside the statehouse
(44:11) The cost of inaction
(49:31) What happens now?
(52:16) Final thoughts

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The Compass podcast is a production of United Methodist Communications and releases new episodes every other Wednesday. For more information, including episode notes, and other episodes, visit: www.umc.org/compass