Hate in a Hallmark Town, Part 7: Franklin Hailed For 'Not in Our Town' Stand
Franklin, Tennessee, was just recognized by the National Civic League as an "All-American City," partly for its stand against hate in October 2023.
This post is part of a continuing series that explains how I began this unexpected journey into the world of hate. Other essays from the “Hate in a Hallmark Town” can be viewed here.
Mention Gabrielle Hanson’s name around Franklin, Tennessee, and you are likely to be met with a roll of the eyes, perhaps even a hint of PTSD.
The one-term alderman and candidate for mayor did more to divide the affluent Middle Tennessee community and sully its once-glowing reputation than anyone had ever imagined was possible. When neo-Nazis showed up at a candidate forum to provide “security” for Hanson, it became national news.
Almost three years later, Franklin is back in the spotlight—recognized by the National Civic League as an “All-American City”—partly for its stand against Hanson and the hate she and her allies represented.
“For a city that had built its identity around inclusion, civic engagement, and honest reckoning with its history, this was not just a campaign controversy,” the league said in its official announcement this week.
“It was an existential test of Franklin’s democratic character.”
The National Civic League also acknowledged the role of my team’s “investigative journalism—conducted despite personal threats from white nationalist operatives” that gave “voters the full picture they needed.”
That’s the kind of recognition, knowing that my reporting on hate is making a difference, that keeps me going even in the toughest of times!
What the National Civil League said
Here is an excerpt from “All-American City” recognition:
A Community That Said “Not In Our Town”
In October 2023, members of the Tennessee Active Club—a white nationalist organization whose members publicly self-identified as neo-Nazis—appeared at a mayoral candidate forum in the heart of Franklin’s historic downtown. There to provide “security” for a mayoral candidate with documented ties to extremist organizations, they attempted to physically block journalists from attending the public event and posted anonymous threats on buildings and around town, reading, “Always Watching, Always Listening, Always Near.”
For a city that had built its identity around inclusion, civic engagement, and honest reckoning with its history, this was not just a campaign controversy. It was an existential test of Franklin’s democratic character.
Franklin’s civic infrastructure, built intentionally over years, proved equal to the moment. Within 48 hours, the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen issued a joint condemnation. The Board subsequently passed a formal resolution denouncing white supremacy. Civic organizations, business leaders, and neighborhood associations across the political spectrum added their voices. Investigative journalism—conducted despite personal threats from white nationalist operatives—revealed fabricated claims, concealed criminal history, and documented extremist ties, earning a Peabody Award and giving voters the full picture they needed.
On October 24, Franklin’s residents delivered their answer. Early voting surged more than 330% compared to the prior municipal election, and final turnout set a city record. The extremist-backed candidate was defeated 80 to 20 and every candidate on the coordinated slate lost decisively.
The civic aftermath is measurable. Franklin’s National Community Survey showed confidence in local government rose from 68% to 75%, perceptions of safety increased from 95% to 97%, and trust across multiple dimensions strengthened. Rather than eroding civic health, the crisis reinforced it, proving that when communities invest in civic infrastructure over years, they can call upon it decisively when democracy demands it.
To be clear, some of the details in the summary are slightly misplaced. For example, it was Hanson’s supporters who attempted to block my photojournalist colleague and me from attending another forum, not the neo-Nazis.
Still, it nails the essence of the story about Franklin’s stand against Gabrielle Hanson and the political divisiveness she represented.
As acknowledged in the National Civic League recognition, I am immensely proud of the role that my NewsChannel 5 colleagues and I played in helping the community to confront the threat it faced.
You can go to the All-American Cities website to see much more about how the Williamson County community was chosen for this honor.
And CONGRATULATIONS to the people of Franklin! As I’ve said before, we’re in this together.
My Strange Morning With a Neo-Nazi - And Four Action Steps For You
Hate Comes to Main Street has become a demanding passion project (I don’t do anything halfway). More than ever, I feel an urgency to sound the alarm about the hate and anti-democratic extremism that has infected our local communities, making its way from Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.