Nashville City Hall illuminated in Kurdistan flag colors for flag day
The result of the project was a spectacular nighttime display, with the courthouse bathed in colored lights representing the red, white, green, and yellow of the Kurdistan flag.
Dec. 22, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a step to recognize Kurdistan’s cultural identity, the courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, which is home to America’s largest Kurdish community, was lit in the colors of the Kurdistan flag to honor Kurdistan Flag Day.
This idea was organized by the Kurdistan Diaspora Confederation Center in Nashville, working in close collaboration with local authorities.
The initiative, assisted by the International Relations Office of the Kurdistan Diaspora Confederation Center, involved several meetings with municipal officials to secure the necessary approvals.
The result was a spectacular nighttime display, with the courthouse bathed in colored lights representing the red, white, green, and yellow of the Kurdistan flag.
This symbolic gesture serves as a potent indication of the growing presence and influence of the Kurdish diaspora in Nashville and underlines the city’s recognition of Kurdish cultural heritage.
By illuminating a top civic building in the national colors of Kurdistan, the city has displayed its respect for the Kurdish community and its commitment to celebrating cultural diversity.
The illumination is anticipated to resonate deeply within the Kurdish community, both in Nashville and around the world, serving as a visual reminder of their shared identity and their ongoing pursuit of recognition and self-determination.
It also provides an occasion to inform and educate the broader public about Kurdish culture and history.
This is not the first time Nashville has honored Kurdish identity and cultural heritage by illuminating its civic buildings.
On Oct. 16, 2019, the Metro Courthouse in Nashville was lit with the colors of the Kurdish flag along with other buildings and bridges in downtown Nashville.
On Jan. 21, 2023, the city honored its relationship with American Kurds by unveiling a plaque marking five decades of Kurdish immigration.
Read More: KRG welcomes Nashville’s recognition of Kurdish-Americans
Read More: Nashville dedicates historical marker honoring Kurdish community
On Sept. 7, a special ceremony was held to announce the twinning of sister cities: Nashville, Tennessee, USA, and Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Read More: Erbil governor travels to US to attend Erbil-Nashville Sister City agreement ceremony
On Sept. 9, The Governor of Erbil, Omed Khoshnaw, and the Mayor of Nashville, John Cooper, signed a sisterhood agreement between Erbil and Nashville on Saturday in the presence of a number of political figures from the Kurdistan Region and the United States.
Both the Erbil governor and Nashville mayor delivered a speech at the ceremony.
“It’s a historic day for Nashville… This is a unique relationship, bringing two diverse cities closer together to have a profound impact on our community because the bond between Nashville and Erbil transcends geographical boundaries and it fosters cultural understanding,” Cooper said.
Read More: Erbil, Nashville officially become sister cities
This project underscores the imperative role diaspora communities could play in advocating their cultural heritage abroad and promoting positive relationships with their adopted homelands.
