A conservative group is making plans for a rally on the steps of the Tennessee Capitol that they hope will pressure Gov. Bill Haslam and other Republican leaders to take on the federal government over same-sex marriage, immigration and terrorism.
The Tennessee Pastors Network, an organization of conservative ministers, says its “Stand in the Gap for Truth” rally will take place Sept. 17. The group says it hopes to stop “abuse of First Amendment rights.”
The event is timed to coincide with a previously scheduled Republican caucus meeting, says state Rep. Judd Matheny, an organizer. Backers of the rally want legislation that challenges the federal government on issues ranging from abortion and same-sex marriage to immigration and the environment.
But one of the group’s biggest concerns is terrorism. Matheny, R-Tullahoma, says Haslam and other top Republicans haven’t taken the threat of radical Islam to Tennessee seriously.
“Radical jihad is being practiced by too many Muslims, and that’s unfortunate because we know there’s a lot of good Muslims out there,” Matheny says. “But they’re not controlling some of their population, and this country’s concerned about it, and they (voters) are going to elect leaders who are going to do something about it.”
But Rashed Fakhruddin, president of the Islamic Center of Nashville, says he’d rather see people visit local mosques than push for new laws.
“I think it’s time people realized that people need to partner all together. We’re all in the same boat. We’re all against terrorism.”
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