Crossville Young People Rally Against Violence

About 30 young people gathered around the Crossville amphitheater Monday afternoon to show their concern over police violence.

Carrying signs reading “Black Lives Matter,” “I Can’t Breathe” and “Justice For George” the residents peacefully shared their message that police violence against all Americans, especially black Americans, needs to stop. It comes in the wake of George Floyd’s death last week.

“In fact the only people that have said anything about not being peaceful were hecklers on Facebook,” Protester Nate Loring said. “Immediately when we started talking about it, people started going on there and talking about how they’d behave if things got out of hand.”

Loring said he understands why people are sensitive right now because of the property destruction and the violence of the last few days. He said that would not be an issue in Crossville.

“These people love their community too,” Loring said. “They just want to say what they have to say and stand united with the people who are trying to get a message across.”

Crossville Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol were on-hand Monday. Loring said young people across Cumberland County had the idea on social media to come together.

“This was put together by young people in Crossville who got together and started talking about it on Facebook,” Loring said. “And they came to me and asked me to help them.”