Southern Movement Committee Statement on ICE Presence in Nashville and the Senseless Murders of Renee Good, Keith Porter, and Silverio Villegas González
The Southern Movement Committee is outraged by the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Nashville and the continued pattern of state violence across the country, including the murders of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Keith Porter in Los Angeles, Silverio Villegas González in Chicago, along with countless others who have been kidnapped without accountability or public recognition. These tragedies, while involving different circumstances and communities, are connected by systems that rely on punishment, surveillance, and force instead of care and accountability.
We are clear in naming this moment. Immigration is a Black issue. We stand alongside immigrant communities and recognize that Black Immigrants exist, Black refugees exist, and Black migrant communities are often erased in conversations about immigration and policy enforcement. From Haiti to Nigeria, Jamaica to Sudan, Black immigrants face the dual harm of anti Black racism and Xenophobia, often experiencing harsher policing, detention, and deportation.
The presence of ICE in Nashville, the south, and the United States, creates fear and instability, particularly for working class families and mixed status households. These tactics do not make our communities safer. They disrupt lives, separate families, and deepen distrust between residents and public institutions. Immigration enforcement has increasingly become another form of policing that disproportionately harms Black and Brown communities.
The Southern Movement Committee stands in solidarity with our immigrant community, including Black immigrants, and all communities impacted by state violence. We reject narratives that attempt to divide Black communities from immigrant communities, and we reject policies that frame the criminalization of immigrant people as public safety.
We call for an end to ICE activity in our city, accountability for state violence, and meaningful investment in housing, health care, mental health services, and community based safety solutions. True safety is built through dignity, care, and collective responsibility.
SMC remains committed to organizing for our collective liberation. We understand our mandate to protect Black life and fight for the humanity of all people. We encourage community members to stay engaged, speak out, and continue building collective power rooted in justice and solidarity.
Southern Movement Committee Statement on Proposed Buchanan Street Commercial Compatibility
Southern Movement Committee (SMC) is closely monitoring and actively engaging in the ongoing conversations surrounding proposed city ordinances impacting businesses, nightlife, and development along Buchanan Street. These proposals, introduced by Councilman Brandon Taylor, are intended to ensure future commercial uses are compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and will go before the Planning Commission for a vote, with a public hearing allowing community members to speak. Following Planning Commission review, the proposal will advance to Metro Council for three readings.
North Nashville is a historically Black, culturally rich community with deep roots in music, entrepreneurship, and collective life. Streets like Buchanon and Jefferson have served as hubs of culture, joy, and economic opportunity. At the same time, many long-term residents have been pushed out due to rising costs, displacement, and gentrification. We recognize that this issue is complex and nuanced, and that strong communities require shared agreements about how we live, work, and grow together. Any policy shaping the lived experiences of residents and businesses must acknowledge past and present systemic harm, honor North Nashville’s legacy, and respond thoughtfully to our current concerns.
The proposed overlay would apply only to new businesses. Existing businesses would not be subject to these changes. Under the new proposal, new clubs would be subject to limitations on hours of operation and hours for outdoor sound amplification. Additionally, the overlay would establish a 2,640-foot half mile spacing requirement between automobile repair shops, car washes, and liquor sales, while prohibiting alternative financial services such as payday lending, as well as beer and cigarette markets and vape shops. You can read the full proposal on pages 107-114 here: https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/010826StaffReportUpdated01062026.pdf?ct=1767811668
At SMC, we believe in a co-governance and democracy which centers community voice, shared accountability, and solutions that do not disproportionately harm residents or local Black owned businesses.
We believe in collaborative, community forward solutions that bring residents, small businesses, and city leaders to the table together. North Nashville deserves investments that strengthen and won't restrict its future such as affordable housing, accessible and healthy grocery stores, safe public spaces, youth opportunities, and thoughtful development that allows our culture and businesses to coexist.
This moment raises larger questions we must collectively answer:
How do we honor residents while supporting local Black owned businesses?
How do we practice Co-Governance and have accountable communication with Elected officials to build our reality?
How do we build businesses that are accountable to the communities that fund them?
How do we increase our civic literacy so that we are informed on processes and legislation?
Southern Movement Committee remains committed to organizing alongside North Nashville residents and business owners to ensure decisions are made with the community, not for it. SMC has been present at zoning hearings and will continue to show up, organize, and advocate for policies that prioritize people power, sustainability, and community ownership.
We encourage community members to stay engaged, attend public hearings, share their perspectives, and join us in shaping a future for North Nashville that reflects its history, meets its needs, and honors our people.