In a recent turn of events, a pro-Israel event in Nashville was nearly canceled when the hosting hotel succumbed to pressure from an anti-Israel group.
However, Christian finance expert and renowned radio host Dave Ramsey intervened, ensuring the event proceeded as planned.
The Sonesta Nashville Airport hotel was initially set to host the pro-Israel gathering, but faced opposition from the Palestine Hurra Collective Nashville. The group, via an Instagram post, claimed the event was aimed at "celebrating the death of civilians and recruiting new Zionists," and urged followers to "call relentlessly until this event is shut down." The hotel, succumbing to the pressure, canceled the event.
Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel at First Liberty Institute, criticized the hotel's decision, stating, "I think that the hotel jumped the gun and decided that they were going to just sort of dump this Israel event a week before it was going to happen, which is very unfortunate for the hotel because thats in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act as well as Tennessee state law," as reported by Fox News.
However, Dave Ramsey, founder of Ramsey Solutions, refused to let the event be derailed. According to The Daily Wire, Joshua Waller, a host of the Israel Guys podcast, said, "Dave Ramsey reached out and said, Youre going to have it at my place and were going to take this event to a whole new level and make it 10x what it was before. All of the details have come together and the event is skyrocketing in numbers."
The Israel Guys podcast and HaYovel, a ministry that connects Christians with farmers in Judea and Samaria, are among the event's sponsors. In a statement, Ramsey Solutions expressed its pride in standing with Israel and providing a safe venue for the event.
HaYovel, in response to the initial cancellation, announced, "We will move forward with this event at a different venue and show these thugs that they will not be rewarded for their unconstitutional, hateful actions," as reported by the Daily Wire. The ministry emphasized the importance of America's unconditional support for Israel and the need to resist intimidation by "pro-Hamas thugs."
According to a news release on the First Liberty website, the hotel cited "credible threats" to the safety of the group, guests, employees, and neighboring businesses as the reason for the cancellation. The hotel claimed that law enforcement had confirmed these threats.
However, Nashville police refuted these claims, stating, "The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department did not advocate, in any shape or form, for the cancellation of the conference at the Sonesta Hotel. Any inference to the contrary is false. Equally false is the assertion in an on-line article that this police department voiced concerns about persons being in physical danger," as reported by WZTV-TV.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville condemned the harassment and intimidation, stating, "Harassment and intimidation are unacceptable and have no place in our community. We have registered our concerns and are in close contact with our law enforcement partners and continue to focus with determination and vigilance on keeping our community safe."
This incident underscores the ongoing tension surrounding Israel-related events and the importance of standing firm against intimidation and threats to freedom of speech. Despite the initial setback, the pro-Israel event was able to proceed, thanks to the intervention of Dave Ramsey and the determination of the event's organizers and sponsors.
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