NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Nashville fifth-grader is asking bar owners and adults a very grown-up question, "Which is more important? Carrying on with your partying or sending kids to school...?"
Avery Hayworth put her frustrations to paper in a letter she wrote to Broadway bars.
"I don't think it's fair that while bars are open, breaking rules and adults are walking around our streets acting as if they've never worn a mask in their life and intend to keep it that way, many kids are sitting in their houses, worried sick, wondering if they will ever be safe again," the letter states.
Becky Hayworth said her daughter expressed concerns about catching COVID-19. She tried to reassure her that the family will remain safe if they continue to follow safety protocols.
"She asked for more context so I pulled some of the news stories about people not being safe. I showed her some of the pictures of the bars and she got very, very mad," Becky told NewsChannel 5.
Avery said she wanted to write the letter to show how children matter too. She's disappointed that she, her sisters and friends can't back to school because of the COVID-19 case count.
"It's kind of unfair that us kids have to suffer while grown ups are just having some fun. Our actions affects other people and we should know that we and we should remember that," Avery said.
COVID-19 cases have spiked in Nashville with the city recently hitting its largest single-day positive case count since the pandemic began. A large portion of cases has been traced back to downtown Nashville, specifically Broadway. The resurgence prompted Nashville Mayor John Cooper to issue an order requiring all businesses that serve alcohol to close by 10 p.m.
The 10-year-old, who attends J.T. Moore Middle School, said "I am scared that one of my friends or family members, some of which are high risk, might catch coronavirus."
She continues saying, "...while adults are partying, walking around without masks, and making the risk rise, kids like me and my friends are wondering if we'll ever go back to school, if we'll ever have a safe playdate again, and if we'll ever get to walk around our home without the coronavirus threat hanging over us."
Avery wraps up her letter asking adults to consider if "partying" is more important than safely sending kids back to school.
And ends it by saying, "I know that me, my friends and my sisters would all appreciate if one day soon, we can all live safely in the unique city Nashville is."
As of Thursday morning, Avery mailed two letters to Honky Tonk Central and Kid Rock's Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse.
Avery isn't alone in her efforts.
Singer/songwriter Chelsea Crowell, daughter of Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell and granddaughter of Johnny Cash, started a petition shut down Broadway amid pandemic.
The petition called “protect Nashville from COVID-19" says “closing at 10pm is not going to help this problem. Covid does not turn into a pumpkin after 10pm, the virus really only cares if you are maskless and close to others, preferably drunk, as people tend to get at bars.”
