Knoxville Kindness Rally

Several hundred people attended the Knoxville Kindness Rally, a community gathering with the goal of growing a community of love, on Saturday, August 26 at Krutch Park in downtown Knoxville. The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville, Compassion Coalition, and the Alliance for Better Nonprofits sponsored the event.

At a time when demonstrations by hate groups are becoming increasingly common across America, including right here in Knoxville, the sponsors of this event felt a need to provide Knoxvillians with a peaceful, non-violent opportunity to show the world that we stand for the core values of love, justice and human dignity. Our hope was that all who stand for these values would gather in common cause with our brothers and sisters to show the world that Knoxville is striving to find a better way.

According to event co-organizer Liza Zenni, the Kindness Rally was intended to give people who seek an outlet to express support for their fellow Knoxvillians a peaceful, safe, and supportive place to gather. Event co-organizer Jerry Askew added, “I think it’s imperative that we speak out forcefully against hate and violence. Saturday’s event provide[d] Knoxvillians the opportunity to show who we really are.”

Speakers included:

• Liza Zenni, Executive Director of the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville
• Grant Standefer, Executive Director of Compassion Coalition
• Pastor Daryl Arnold, Founder of the Overcoming Believers Church
• Jerry Askew, President of the Alliance for Better Nonprofits

Music was provided by Carol Shane, Christina Horn, and others.

You can watch the full video of the speakers’ remarks HERE.

PRESS:

Hundreds convene for ‘Kindness Rally’ in downtown Knoxville

Kindness Rally held in Knoxville in response to demonstrations at Confederate monument

Hundreds gather to ‘fly above the storm’ of confederate monument rally

“Kindness Rally” unites Tennesseans through love