Image Credit: Party for Socialism and Liberation – Nashville / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
As a joint operation of nearly two weeks by ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) cracking down on immigration enforcement appears to be concluding, not all in the community are happy as the Nashville Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) organized a protest over the weekend, claiming the agencies have been “terrorizing the working-class people of Nashville”.
The operation has resulted in the arrest of 196 illegal aliens in the Nashville area, including numerous gang members, murderers, sex offenders, and those with assault convictions.
Of those detained, 95 had prior criminal convictions and pending criminal charges while 31 had been previously deported but had illegally reentered the country.
But the criminal actions of these aliens are apparently irrelevant to the Nashville PSL as they gathered in numbers close to 200 to protest at the corner of Nolensville Pike and Harding Place in Nashville on May 17th. According to a flyer, the event was branded as an “Emergency Rally” to “Stop the Kidnappings” of their “friends and neighbors”.
Protesters carried signs touting slogans like “Trail of Tears 2025”, “Jesus was an immigrant”, and “Am I not entitled to due process?”
Per The Tennessean, PSL member Lindy Drolsum told reporters she was inspired to attend the protest by U.S. Congressman Andy Ogles’ call for an investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell for obstruction of ICE and THP activities, as the mayor has continually denigrated officers and attempted to subvert the agencies’ work.
Ogles shared the protest flyer on social media with the caption, “@ICEgov, y’all should get some agents here,” which Drolsum said is, “clear intimidation against our right to peacefully protest. One thing that’s really important is that there is less fear for some of us [to protest] than others. Some of us have documentation and so we need to use that privilege. So many people can’t. You can hear them driving by and honking- people who are going to work or are scared leaving their homes and can’t come out here today. So, it’s important for those of us who can to use our voice.”
Meanwhile, Mayor O’Connell denies he and other Metro area leaders have obstructed any ICE activities and stated he had no comment on Ogles’ call for the investigation during a roundtable on Friday, May 16.
Yet in the same meeting, O’Connell discussed the growth of his new Belonging Fund, created to help illegal aliens by funneling taxpayer money to charitable organizations who help shelter and provide resources for them.
Also outstanding is O’Connell’s executive order mandating that any “immigration communications” come through his office and the Nashville Community Review Board’s request that citizens submit complaints against any Metro Nashville Police Department officers seen cooperating with immigration enforcement efforts.
The mayor stated he is in daily contact with the city’s legal department, whose director has already acknowledged the city’s lack of authority over either ICE or THP, but the mayor apparently stands unmoved.
There is currently no new information about the process or standing of Rep. Ogles’ request for investigation since the Congressman’s announcement on May 14.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
