Hate in a Hallmark Town: The Story of the Challenge Facing Main Street America

[Nevilledog]

https://www.hatecomestomainstreet.com/p/the-affluent-town-that-opened-my

“Franklin, Tennessee, has been called America’s favorite Main Street. One stroll along the tree-lined walkways of this charming Southern town and you may agree.” — HGTV

“You'll find Franklin, one of the state's most charming small towns, south of Nashville. It has a great downtown area surrounding a tree-lined Main Street, which is home to antiques shops, galleries, and restaurants.” — Southern Living

“[T]his charming small town in Tennessee combines old-fashioned charm, timeless architecture, and genuine warmth in a way that feels almost cinematic.” — AOL.com

Those quotes perfectly capture how I had come to view Franklin, Tennessee—an affluent community in one of the wealthiest counties in America with a historic downtown that epitomizes Main Street America.

The Hallmark film “The Bridge” and its sequel were set in Franklin (although they were filmed in Canada), and other Hallmark-style films have used the town’s picturesque 19th-century storefronts as a backdrop.

Located about 20 minutes south of Nashville, I had often imagined that I might one day like to live in the heart of that slice of Americana.

That was until the fall of 2023 when I encountered Gabrielle Hanson, a MAGA candidate for mayor who would reveal the community’s darker side. Before it was over, I would come to see the growing connections between white supremacy, Christian nationalism and QAnon conspiracy theories.

*snip*

[progressoid]

1. Wow.

I mean.

Wow.