Jason Isbell slams Tennessee governor after Nashville school shooting: ‘This must be what you want’
On Monday, following a Nashville school shooting left six people dead including three children, Jason Isbell had a fiery response to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s Twitter post about the situation.
First, for context, around noon Lee posted, “I am closely monitoring the tragic situation at Covenant, & the @TNDeptofSafety & @TNHighwayPatrol are assisting local law enforcement & first responders at the scene. As we continue to respond, please join us in praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community.”
About two hours later, Isbell retweeted Lee’s post, adding in a quote-tweet, “Is this what we want? Monitoring the ‘tragic situation’ and asking for prayers? Something can be done Bill you just don’t have the spine for it. This must be what you want, because you haven’t done anything to prevent it.”
Those supporting Isbell’s post on Twitter on Monday included actor/author Valerie Bertinell and the indie rock band Mountain Goats.
Isbell, an Alabama native known for his time in Muscle Shoals, has won four Grammy Awards for his gritty folk/rock songwriting. He and wife Amanda Shires, also an accomplished singer/songwriter, have a young daughter and reside in the Nashville area, so Monday’s shooting no doubt resonated with extra weight for them.
According to reports, a 28-year-old woman brandishing two “assault style” rifles carried out the shooting, which occurred at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school for about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade.
Besides his songcraft and deft guitaring, Isbell is known for making political stands. Those stands include being an early proponent of requiring vaccination cards during concerts after touring resumed earlier in the pandemic, and playing concerts in support of Alabama U.S. Senator candidate Doug Jones.
Isbell has a new album, “Weathervanes,” set for release June 9. The first single is titled “Death Wish.” On April 7, HBO will premiere a new documentary film on Isbell titled, “Running With Our Eyes Closed.”
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