Nashville anti-transit group slammed for warning of 'more crime like this' after Waffle House shooting

A group working to defeat Nashville's transit referendum — already under fire for previous activity — is facing more criticism after equating Sunday's mass shooting at a Waffle House in Antioch to the type of crime it says a new transit system would bring.

In a Facebook post hours after the shooting, the volunteer advocacy group Better Transit for Nashville wrote, "4 killed in shooting in Antioch at a restaurant at about 3 am this morning. we are sorry to post this, but 'transit' will bring more crime like this. #voteagainst."

The post was later deleted.

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After a contentious campaign, Nashville's referendum election on funding a $5.4 billion transit system, with a long-term price tag of $9 billion, is May 1. Early voting runs through Thursday.

"Unfortunately, Better Transit for Nashville has stooped to an all-time low," said Kelly Brockman, a spokeswoman for Transit for Nashville, which is pushing for approval of the referendum. "What happened at Waffle House yesterday was a horrible tragedy for our city. For them to even put this tragedy in the same post as transit just shows the senselessness of this group."

Jim Harwell, an organizer for Better Transit for Nashville, apologized for the post in a statement Monday. He said an administrator removed the post after spotting it Sunday.

"Our hearts go out to the victims of this tragedy, to their family, loved ones and friends," Harwell wrote. "Better Transit apologizes for the post yesterday. We have many admins on our page. The post was made by one volunteer and does not represent what our group stands for. As soon as an admin saw it, it was removed.

"We are not able to monitor our page all the time, as we are only volunteers and, unlike Transit for Nashville, we do not have funding for staff."

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Better Transit for Nashville, which calls itself a "local, grassroots group" built entirely of volunteers, is not affiliated with NoTax4Tracks, which has funded the bulk of the campaign activity leading up to next week's election.

Travis Reinking, a 29-year-old from Morton, Illinois, is accused of using an AR-15 rifle to kill four people and wound two others at a Waffle House on Murfreesboro Pike early Sunday morning. Reinking, who fled the scene on foot and was arrested by police Monday after a 34-hour manhunt.

Reinking arrived by pickup truck, where police say he waited three or four minutes before entering the diner.

Erik Cole, an aide in Mayor David Briley's office who works as the city's chief resilience officer, slammed the Facebook post.

"Without dignifying the group by pointing out the post, an anti-transit 'group' claims that the May 1st referendum will result in more crime like the tragic mass-shooting in Antioch," Cole tweeted. "Disgusting and divisive language and fear-mongering are not what this town is about."

Murfreesboro Pike is among five corridors where light rail lines would be built under the plan.

Although not among the most widely cited arguments, some critics of the transit plan have alleged new transit options lead to increased crime.

The Rev. Enoch Fuzz, pastor of Corinthian Baptist Church who has helped Better Transit for Nashville, said he was not aware of the Facebook post or who wrote it. He said crime is one concern he has about the transit plan, but called this particular commentary "unfortunate."

"That's an unfortunate kind of remark," Fuzz said. "This transit thing is so passionate right now. That's one of the main reasons I say, let's just stop, take a look, sit down again and get more of the city on the same page."

Faith-based group calls on anti-transit group to stop using its name

Better Transit for Nashville — whose activity regarding the referendum has primarily involved a social media presence — has attracted scrutiny numerous times during the referendum campaign.

Earlier this month, the group submitted an opinion piece to The Tennessean under a fabricated name and with a photo of someone unaffiliated with the organization.

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The faith-based organization Nashville Organized for Action and Hope, or NOAH, last week accused Better Transit for Nashville of engaging in the "misleading and disingenuous use of our name in promoting their opposition to the transit plan."

NOAH was referring to an earlier Facebook ad by Better Transit for Nashville that read, "As progressive liberals, we stand with NOAH and PATHE Nashville & against the transit plan."

NOAH has not taken an official position on the transit referendum vote.

"We call on Better Transit for Nashville to remove all references to NOAH from its publications, both digital and analog, and to refrain from the use of our good name in the future."

Reach Joey Garrison at jgarrison@tennessean.com or 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.

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