A group of protesters blocked the Victory Memorial bridge (James Robertson Pkwy) in downtown Nashville for a short time during rush hour.

The activists formed a line across the bridge, blocking all lanes of traffic, not allowing any vehicles across.

They are part of the "Tennessee Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival."

According to the group's press release, Monday's rally kicked off a six-week season of nonviolent direct action in Nashville, demanding a massive overhaul of the nation's voting rights laws, new programs to lift up the 140 million Americans living in poverty, immediate attention to ecological devastation and measures to curb militarism and the war economy.

The rally in Tennessee was one of over 30 actions across the country Monday by poor and disenfranchised people, clergy and advocates, who will engage in 40 days of nonviolent direct action and voter mobilization, among other activities, as a movement aimed at transforming the nation's political, economic and moral structures takes off building on the work of the original Poor People's Campaign 50 years ago.

Protests and other activities during this first week will focus on child poverty, women in poverty and people with disabilities.