Skrmetti: Morristown possibly violated Tennessee Human Rights Act with religious ban use of Farmers Market

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has suggested the city of Morristown amend their current regulations for public use of its Farmers Market and Downtown Green areas following its rejection of a request to host a Charlie Kirk memorial at that spot.

Skrmetti said in a letter to Mayor Gary Chesney that the city’s ordinance governing the use of those facilities says the events cannot be religious or political in nature—stipulations that Skrmetti said are in violation of the Tennessee Human Rights Act.

City organizers said a permit for the event was not filed within the appointed 30 day limit and the venue was already booked for an event the following day that required prep the day before. The organizer of the Kirk vigil has filed suit against Morristown for denying religious freedoms.

The Morristown City Council has an agenda item for Tuesday’s session that discusses a recommended amendment to the current ordinance.

2025.09.25 TN AG MORRISTOWN LETTER by SUPERTALK DIGITAL

(IMAGE: Morristown Farmers Market / Google Maps)