KNOXVILLE, TN ( Story courtesy of WVLT) – NAMI Knoxville, or the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses, is canceling their upcoming rally. According to the nonprofit’s president, it’s because of safety concerns.
The rally was to be a kickoff for their main fundraiser later this year.
“There was threats to the congressman, to our volunteers and to the board members,” Michael Baer, president of NAMI Knoxville, said in reference to a social media post by Indivisible Tennessee.
Baer said it came after NAMI Knoxville announced Congressman Tim Burchett as a guest speaker for their rally slated for later this month.
The post called Burchett’s participation a slap in the face to mental health advocates.
Baer said there were comments under the post making threats of boycott and protests against the rally.
WVLT News reached out to Indivisible Tennessee organizer Kim Spoon gave a statement, which said in part, “Accountability means ensuring our speakers reflect the values of the movement—not just in words, but in votes and impact.”
Baer said it was not a political decision to invite Burchett. He said he did invite other lawmakers who did not RSVP for the event.
In a statement, Congressman Tim Burchett didn’t directly address comments against him.
“We appreciate the work NAMI does, and we’ll continue to work with them as they advocate for mental health awareness in our community.”Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02)
Baer wanted to give people a chance to voice their concerns of what more needs to be done for mental health.
“You know, we had this as an open dialogue with the member of congress and our volunteer community, people that are affected by mental illness, especially disabled people, and this was their chance to voice their opinions,” Baer said. “Now, unfortunately, we had canceled it for safety concerns”.
Baer said the organization is still planning to put on its main fundraiser in October.
It’s a walk that will start in Market Square to raise awareness for mental health.
Below is the full statement from Spoon:
“We appreciate that NAMI Knoxville listened to concerns from our community and chose to cancel Congressman Tim Burchett’s appearance at their mental health kickoff event. While mental health advocacy must be inclusive of many voices, platforming elected officials who have actively voted against mental health funding sends the wrong message to those struggling in silence.
Congressman Burchett’s record includes votes against Medicaid expansion and federal mental health crisis support—vital programs that thousands of Tennesseans rely on. He once referred to sick and disabled individuals as needing to ‘get off your [explicative] and get a job,’ and called bipartisan mental health legislation ‘woke.’ These aren’t just poor word choices—they reflect policies that hurt the very people NAMI aims to support.
Mental health recovery is about dignity, equity, and compassion. Accountability means ensuring our speakers reflect the values of the movement—not just in words, but in votes and impact. And that begins by centering the voices of those with lived experience: people navigating recovery, disability, trauma, and inequity every day. They deserve more than performative allyship—they deserve advocacy that walks beside them.
As someone who has worked as a social worker for over 35 years, I know firsthand the struggles faced by those living with mental illness. To invite a speaker with such a consistent disregard for their dignity and well-being is not just tone-deaf—it’s a slap in the face to every individual fighting for their mental health and to every professional working tirelessly to support them.” Kim Spoon, Organizer, Indivisible Tennessee
