“Woke up this morning with my mind set on freedom.” Songs and chants filled the streets of downtown Nashville during Put the People First’s pray in and action held on Saturday, January 17, 2015.

ASL interpreter Anna Masson signs for the crowd of people that converged in Nashville from all over the state.

Workers, community members, students, and civil rights and faith groups joined together in Nashville anchored with the same moral vision to Put the People First in Tennessee.

“What do we want? $15! When do we want it? Now!” Community Organizer Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, with Project South, led chants from outside the Ryman. Inside Governor Haslam hosted a prayer breakfast, the fist of many events during his inaugural day.

Police officers and state troopers lined the streets making sure Put the People First remained on the opposite side of the street while people streamedg out of the Ryman after Governor Haslam’s prayer breakfast.

Community leaders motivated the crowd throughout Put the People First’s own pray-in held on 5th Ave in downtown Nashville.

“Si, Se Puede” Workers’ Dignity Dignidad Obrera

Spectators of the Put the People First march in downtown Nashville.

Fran Ansley, Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee

James, a FaithUnity vendor, said “that is never going to happen” as workers, students, community members and clergy from across the state circled up in the middle of an intersection during the morning of January 17, 2015 in order to get the word across that all workers deserve a living wage.

Representatives from the Workers Interfaith Network in Memphis marched and helped to organize the Put the People First Action.

Knoxvillian Elizabeth Owen of United Campus Workers marches alongside comrades from Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville.

Community members and activists from throughout the state marched with Put The People First

William Griffith of Knoxville holds a sign directed at Governor Haslam who is the direct target of the Put the People First campaign.

DJ of ‎Nashville‬ led the chant as students, fast food workers, faith leaders, community members and civil and faith groups circled up in the middle of an intersection near the heart of downtown Nashville.

Fast Food workers from the Show Me 15 stood by side with organizations from throughout the state who all want to tell Governor Haslam the same thing, to “Put the People First.”

Jeffery Lichtenstein, a rank and file member of the United Campus Workers in Memphis, marches ahead of state troopers during the Put the People First action.

The direct orders were to not let any of the Put the People First activists on the interstate.

Put The People First marched down Broadway in Nashville during the action on January 17, 2015 that coincided with Governor Bill Haslam’s inaugural day events.