Far-Right Mayoral Candidate in Franklin Declines Apology for Neo-Nazi Invitation
Gabrielle Hanson, the Republican candidate running for mayor in Franklin, Tennessee, has faced strong criticism after refusing to apologize for inviting self-proclaimed Neo-Nazis to a candidate forum. Despite the passionate rebukes from her fellow city council members, Hanson stood firm in her stance, stating that she would not denounce anyone’s right to express themselves, regardless of her personal agreement with their beliefs.
Hanson argued that the community of Franklin does not discriminate against anyone, emphasizing the importance of maintaining equal rights for all citizens. However, her position sparked outrage among her colleagues, who expressed their concerns about the division and hatred being fostered in the city.
During the council meeting, Hanson made a controversial claim, stating, you reap what you sow, and implying that the current situation in Franklin was a consequence of past mistakes. Alderman Beverly Burger directly questioned Hanson, asking whether her mission was to divide the city, as her actions seemed to be exacerbating tensions.
Alderman Jason Potts joined in, demanding an end to fear, intimidation, and hatred, emphasizing that such sentiments have no place in Franklin. Meanwhile, Alderman Brandy Blanton expressed her embarrassment at the negative publicity the city was receiving as a result of Hanson’s actions, including coverage on HBO and MSNBC.
Hanson’s political career has been marred by a series of controversies and scandalous events, further complicating her mayoral campaign. Just last month, a member of her campaign team made unsubstantiated claims during a council meeting, alleging that LGBTQ+ individuals were providing children with inappropriate items and instructing them on their usage. This outlandish statement created a significant backlash.
Her involvement in spreading false information did not end there. In April, Hanson claimed to have insider knowledge about a scandalous love triangle related to a mass shooting at a Nashville Christian school. Her baseless claim triggered an investigation by the Franklin Ethics Commission, raising doubts about her credibility.
Moreover, Hanson faced another ethics investigation after urging Nashville International Airport to withdraw its support for a Juneteenth celebration. The Ethics Commission of the city recommended that she be censured by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for her actions.
In September, it was discovered that Hanson had previously pleaded no contest to promoting prostitution during her time as a college student in Dallas. Additionally, she was found to have used images of strangers from social media, falsely presenting them as supporters of her campaign.
Adding to the mounting controversies, evidence surfaced showing Hanson’s husband, a one-time Congressional candidate, campaigning at a Chicago Pride event in 2008 wearing an American flag Speedo. This contradicted her own claims of wanting to protect children from what she referred to as sexualizing behavior.
Another controversial incident occurred when a vocal critic of Hanson confronted her with evidence of death threats made by her white supremacist supporters. The critic accused Hanson of turning a blind eye to these threatening messages, suggesting her complicity in the dangerous situation.
During a candidate meet and greet, the woman shared screenshots of the threatening post with Hanson. Later, the same image reappeared in yet another threatening message from white supremacists directed at the critic. Hanson denied knowledge of the post and asked the woman to ask one of her campaign aides to provide a screenshot. However, this seemingly led to the screenshot being used once again as a threat.
With early voting already underway in Franklin, Hanson’s campaign faces an uphill battle due to the many controversies and scandals it has been embroiled in. The mayoral race, which sees her challenging the incumbent Republican Mayor Dr. Ken Moore, has been overshadowed by these incidents, casting doubts on Hanson’s ability to lead the town.
As the election day on October 24th approaches, residents and observers alike wait to see how these controversies will impact the final outcome. Only time will tell whether Hanson’s refusal to apologize for inviting Neo-Nazis to a candidate forum will sway the voters or have detrimental effects on her campaign.
