Downtown in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

April 19, 1960

"And the people shouted with a great shout; so that the wall fell down." - Joshua 6:20

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 17, 2022

1. April 19, 1960 Marker

Inscription. On the 19th of April, 1960, Nashville proclaimed itself a beacon of civility, common sense and reconciliation.

Following months of civil rights sit-ins, the home of black City Councilman Z. Alexander Looby was bombed in the early hours of the morning, and several thousand marchers walked to this courthouse in protest.

In the charged atmosphere of that afternoon, Mayor Ben West broke the impasse as he told the crowd that he believed it morally wrong for store owners to sell to blacks while denying them service at lunch counters. he made this statement in a public exchange with Fisk student Diane Nash.

And in Nashville, the walls of segregation crumbled.

This memorial commemorates the civility of those demonstrators, Mayor Ben West, and our community on that day. May we continue to live together as one God-fearing community forever.

Philip Bredsen, Mayor, April 19, 1995

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is April 19, 1960.

Location. 36° 10.029′ N, 86° 46.712′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Downtown. Marker can be reached from US Highway 41. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 299101 US Hwy 41, Nashville TN 37201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of

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this marker. To the Hero’s of 1776-Not Dead! -But living in deeds such lives inspire (within shouting distance of this marker); Witness Walls (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); On This Site Stood the Nashville Inn (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas H. Shriver Towers (within shouting distance of this marker); Nashville Inn (within shouting distance of this marker); John Donelson (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nashville's Public Square (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 17, 2022

2. April 19, 1960 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.