NASHVILLE, TN – On Saturday, April 20, 2024, the Diane Nash committee and the Nashville community will commemorate the extraordinary contributions of Diane Nash, a pioneering figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
As a Fisk University student, Nash led non-violent protests and lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville. She is credited for the desegregation of six lunch counters in Nashville stores after confronting Mayor Ben West on the steps of city hall on April 19, 1960.
The celebration will commence with a press conference at 8:30am at the historic First Baptist Capitol Hill Church, immediately followed, at 9:00am, by a parade to the Plaza, featuring high school bands and many local organizations, civic leaders, and other Civil Rights Icons. The dedication of the Diane Nash Plaza Metro Courthouse will begin at 10:00am, the celebration will conclude with a ribbon cutting ceremony, with performances by The Fisk Jubilee Singers and 2x Grammy Nominee Ruby Amanfu. The Diane Nash Plaza is located at The Metro Courthouse, 1 Public Square, Nashville, TN. A Gala will be held at the Cal Turner Center at Meharry at 6pm. The event is free and open to the public and for more information visit dianenashplaza.com.
Diane Nash rose to prominence as an activist, leader, and strategist in the student wing of the Civil Rights Movement. Following the tragic bombing of attorney and civil rights leader Alexander Looby’s house, Nash, then a student at Fisk University, fearlessly led a group of students on a historic march to the courthouse to meet with Mayor Ben West in Nashville. On the steps of the courthouse, she posed a poignant question that catalyzed the desegregation of lunch counters, forever altering the course of history. Nash was also a member of a committee that worked towards the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Nash is currently active in promoting fair housing in her hometown of Chicago where she works in real estate.
WeGo Public Transit will offer free fare to all riders on April 20 to encourage participation in events honoring Nashville Civil Rights activist Diane Nash. The Nashville MTA Board recently voted to recognize the Diane Nash celebration with free fare.
“Diane Nash showed incredible courage and determination as a student leader as she led marchers to the courthouse following the bombing of attorney Alexander Looby’s house. Her impact on our community continues to this day. We look forward to honoring her and Nashville Civil Rights leader the Reverend James Lawson,” said Metro Council Member Zulfat Suara, an organizer of the event.
In recognition of her unwavering commitment to justice and equality, the Nashville Metro City Council unanimously voted in 2021 to honor Diane Nash by naming the plaza in front of the Historic Metro Courthouse after her. The Diane Nash Plaza, featuring the iconic Courthouse steps and majestic fountains, stands as a testament to her enduring legacy and the progress she championed.
For further information and updates, please visit our www.dianenashplaza.com.
