On Saturday, April 19, the upcoming 3rd Annual Diane Nash Commemorative Walk will occur. Not only will the Walk be honoring Diane Nash, but also the 65th anniversary of the 1960 Nashville civil rights march — a pivotal moment in our city’s history that helped dismantle segregation.
On April 19, 1960, over 3,000 protestors marched silently from North Nashville to the Davidson County Courthouse in response to the bombing of civil rights attorney Z. Alexander Looby’s home. That march led to a defining moment when student leaders C.T. Vivian and Diane Nash confronted Mayor Ben West, prompting his public statement that segregation was immoral. Their courage helped pave the way for desegregation in Nashville and beyond.
The Walk will retrace those steps — starting at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill at 12 Noon, concluding at the old Nashville Courthouse at 1 Public Square. It will not only pay tribute to those who fought for justice but also serve as a reminder of the work still needed to achieve equity in our communities.
First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill is located at 900 Nelson Merry Street, also 625 Rosa Parks Boulevard, not far from the location of the historic original First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill on the corner of Charlotte Avenue and the then Eighth Avenue, North, where the 1960 march began. Please plan to arrive no later than 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. There will be special presentations at 12 Noon just prior to the beginning of the Walk itself. You are encouraged to go to the Nashville Trustee website and register in advance. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/trustee
Metropolitan Trustee Erica S. Gilmore, Walk-Bike Nashville, and America Walks sponsor the Annual Walks with the Trustee in honor of Diane Nash on April 19, to kick off the greater Metro Nashville & Davidson County’s weekend of events honoring the civil rights activist.
Last year’s 2 nd annual Walk took place one day before Councilwoman Zulfat Suara’s exciting celebration, “Dedicating Diane Nash Plaza: A Celebration of Courage and Conviction.” The Walk was led by Nicholas Garvin, Executive Assistant to the Trustee, accompanied by fellow Trustee Office staffers Eugene Hampton, Financial Officer, and Meghann Stamps, Director of Communications.
The walk began at Jackson St. Church of Christ and surveyed the Historic Fisk University neighborhood including the home of Z. Alexander Looby on Meharry Boulevard, past several old and new Fisk and Meharry landmarks, including the John Lewis Center, the Richardson House, the John Wesley Work House, the Van Vechten Galleries, the Hubbard hospitals (original and Metro General), the Meharry amphitheatre, the Fisk libraries (Cravath and Franklin), and Jubilee Hall. The walkers proceeded to Citizen’s Bank / Citizens Savings Bank & Trust, at 2013 Jefferson Street, the oldest continuously operating and minority – owned bank in the nation and the first minority – owned bank in Tennessee. It began operating in 1904 through the vision of three prominent Nashvillians: R. H. Boyd, Preston Taylor, and J.C. Napier.
Their series of community walks is dedicated to creating a greener, more walkable Nashville and Davidson County. Each 30 minute long walk aims to strengthen community bonds, promote health, and celebrate our collective spirit. This initiative, led by Trustee Gilmore, aims to promote inclusivity and mobility justice in our community. They began their 2024 series with their 2nd annual Diane Nash Walk to commemorate the April 19th March in 1960 led by the brave student from Fisk University to the Nashville Courthouse.
