KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Knoxville has canceled its NAMIWalks Rally scheduled for August 18 due to growing safety concerns.
A release from NAMI explains that this decision follows online threats directed at NAMI members, volunteers, and an invited speaker, Congressman Tim Burchett. According to NAMI, the threats were made by protestors and anti-government individuals. Out of an abundance of caution, NAMI Knoxville determined that the rally was no longer viable.
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“NAMI is not a political organization. Our mission is to advocate for mental health awareness, support, and education for all individuals—regardless of political affiliation or belief,” said Michael Baer, President of the Board for NAMI Knoxville. “Congressman Burchett was invited not to speak on politics, but to share his personal experiences and support for mental health initiatives. Unfortunately, threats and hateful rhetoric from a small group of individuals have created a climate that makes it unsafe to proceed.”
“We appreciate the work NAMI does, and we’ll continue to work with them as they advocate for mental health awareness in our community,” wrote Burchett in a statement to 6 News.
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While this event has been canceled, the NAMIWalks event on October 5 at 1 p.m. in Market Square is set to go forward as scheduled. To learn more about this event, visit namiknox.org…