Dickerson Road United in Struggle tenant union is a group of East Nashville trailer park residents fighting to stay living in the city they call home after an out-of-state developer is trying to displace them and gentrify their community to make hundreds of millions of dollars.  

You have probably seen updates about DRUS on our social media since their win back in August when Metro council decided to delay the rezoning that would have led to their immediate eviction. However this “win” was only a bandaid for the real problem which is: long-term Nashville residents are losing their community and their homes without compensation, and being pushed into a housing market they cannot afford. It’s expensive to find housing in Nashville, and DRUS members are determined to fight for the money they deserve and need to remain close to their neighbors.

There are about 20 out of the original 48 families remaining at 1509-15011 Dickerson Pike. About a dozen of the original families are currently unhoused after property trailer park owner Tony Clause deceived them into moving their trailers to an out-of-town plot without access to electricity or basic services. Meanwhile, the development that New Orleans developer Key Real Estate wants to build on their trailer park has a projected value of nearly half a billion dollars.

On October 5th, councilmember Sean Parker and the rest of Metro Council will decide if the gentrification of their trailer park will move forward without consideration of the families; and that's where you come in. Here are some ways to throw down with DRUS and score a victory in the wider fight to live with dignity in our own city.

1. Get out your phones and call Metro Council: call up your district council person before next Tuesday October 5th, and ask that they delay the zoning hearing until DRUS is adequately compensated for the loss of their homes.

2. Social Media is KEY: tag Key Real Estate (the New Orleans based developers who are behind the multimillion dollar development slated to replace the DRUS community) on Facebook and Instagram @keyrealestateco and tell Key to #ShowDRUStheMoney

3. Come to Compa Night on Wednesday September 29 at Workers' Dignity: several heads think better than one! That’s the real power of the people. Show up in-person at the center at 6PM on Wednesday to work on tasks to mobilize East Nashville residents and make some friends.

4. Do you live in District 5? Canvass your neighbors and invite them to show up in support of DRUS at the Metro Council hearing on October 5th! You can do this on your own time, but if you would rather do it in a team, join the Street Team on Wednesday September 29. To sign up and get more details call or text (615) 601-2820.

5. Buy your dinner from DRUS on Monday October 4th! Residents are organizing a food sale to raise funds at 6PM at 1509 Dickerson Rd. Skip cooking time that day and try some of Nely’s pupusas! Text (615) 601-2820

6. Show up at the Metro Courthouse (1 Public Sq) on Tuesday October 5th! The DRUS rally and press conference starts at 5:30 and the Metro Council hearing starts at 6:30PM. Do you live in District 5? Share your testimony at the hearing! Tell council members what it would mean to lose your neighborhood to gentrification. RSVP HERE if you plan to speak!

7. Donate! The DRUS campaign is high priority and requires frequent tenant meetings, canvassing, and constant on the ground support. Please make a donation so we can continue to provide food for our tenant meetings, keep supplies flowing and to help meet other immediate needs.  

Fill out this pledge IF YOU COMMIT TO DOING ONE OF THE SEVEN ACTIONS LISTED ABOVE! It's going to take all of us, or we are going to lose our city.

In community,

Workers Dignity and Dickerson Rd United in Struggle