Maryam Abolfazli encourages hope, love in time of ‘bitter anger’

Nashville and Middle Tennessee residents squeezed into Henrietta Red in Germantown Tuesday night to celebrate the campaign of Democratic candidate Maryam Abolfazli, who ran for the 5th Congressional seat.

Despite her loss, which was announced by the Associated Press before 9 p.m., the atmosphere was quite cheerful at the gathering.

Abolfazli later explained that she was not surprised by the crowd’s positivity.

“I think if the top is bitter and divisive and mean, that’s what you get all the way down. And I think if the top is hopeful and inspirational and powerful and loving, that’s what you get,” she said.

She encouraged her opponent to consider that people are “tired of anger.”

“Andy Ogles is going to continue as congressperson and I’m asking him to stop it,” she said. “No more division. No more anger. No more bitter, bitter anger.”