Occupy Nashville Holds Ceremony to Decorate Their Free Speech Money Tent!

On Tuesday, February 21st at 8:30 p.m., Occupy Nashville will hold a ceremony to decorate their Free Speech Money Tent–the first one of its kind in the country. Because Tennessee legislators recognize that money is free speech but most of them fail to recognize that tents (used to protect protesters from the elements) are free speech, Occupy Nashville is putting their money where their mouth is and attempting to speak the language of the legislators. Perhaps when tents are plastered with cash, they will finally be recognized as a part of the protesters First Amendment rights. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring their spare change and dollar bills, musical instruments, snacks, dancing shoes, and beads (for Mardi Gras).

Update on Occupy Nashville Eviction Bills HB 2638/SB 2508

The House voted on HB 2638 this morning. Despite some strong opposition to this bill (from Democrats and Republicans), it was passed with 70 people voting for it, 26 people voting against it, and 1 person abstaining. The Senate deferred to vote on SB 2508 until next week (most likely Thursday, but it may happen as early as Tuesday).

Call to action: Stop Tennessee HB 2638 and SB 2508

This week, the Tennessee Legislature will debate House Bill 2638 and Senate Bill 2508, which, if passed, will criminalize homelessness as a Class A misdemeanor and permanently alter our rights to peacefully assemble and seek redress of grievances. We must mobilize to stop these bad bills before they become bad laws. Here’s what you can [...]

Occupy Nashville Saves 78-Year-Old Civil Rights Activist From Foreclosure

NASHVILLE — Buoyed by overwhelming support from the community of Middle Tennessee and around the world, Occupy Nashville has saved grandmother Helen Bailey’s home from foreclosure. Now Bailey, 78, will be able to stay in her Nashville home until she dies. Bailey wanted nothing more than to live out her years among her neighbors, just [...]

Helen Bailey and JP Morgan Chase Reach Confidential Settlement that Allows Ms. Bailey to Remain in her Home

  It’s Over!  Helen Bailey and JP Morgan Chase Reach Confidential Settlement that Allows Ms. Bailey to Remain in her Home   78 Year Old Disabled Nashville Widow Avoids Foreclosure Sale   The Rocky McElhaney Law Firm is happy to announce that Ms. Helen Bailey will be living in her home of 20 years for the rest [...]

Crisis Committee Meeting Monday 4pm On Plaza

We Need You. Please attend a 'Crisis Committee' Meeting, Monday 4pm on plaza. Up for discussion: "What Next? Crisis and Opportunity" We will flesh out proposals for Tuesday GA regarding our response to the imminent eviction. Bring your thinking cap and creative ideas. Please review the Direct Action post in forums that outlines possible options [...]

State Rep. Eric Watson, “Jesus would not approve” re: Occupy Nashville

Occupy Chattanooga protester Beth Foster wrote an open letter to her state rep Eric Watson, sponsor of HB2638 the "Anti-Occupy" bill (now scheduled for Calendar & Rules Committee 2/14), and got a direct response from Rep Eric Watson, instead of the normal form letter. In the response, Watson says that "Jesus would not approve" and [...]

OCCUPY NASHVILLE EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION

It has come to our attention that TNBankers.org is hosting a bankers meeting downtown at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel (611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN., 37203)

The bankers have reached a deal with all 50 states to receive immunity from prosecution for predatory lending practices,and robo signing offenses, in return for a lump sum of money to some of the victims of the bankers crimes. this settlement does not go far enough and leaves room for further offenses in the future. So we are putting out this call to action in protest against the bankers and the settlement they have reached without the people’s approval. The people have said time and again that we want the bankers who cheat to pay for their crimes.

Backroom deals with our government which protect banks against prosecution are not acceptable. We will gather on the plaza at 9 30 am and march to the hotel where we will picket and protest the criminals inside. Come one and ALL to support this action.

Occupy Nashville Housing Campaign News

The Tennessean: Nashville civil rights activist gets support from 40,000, Occupy movement to fight foreclosure The Huffington Post: JPMorgan Chase May Foreclose On Civil Rights-Era Activist During Campaign to ‘Fulfill’ MLK’s ‘Vision’ JustMeans: Chase Bank, Abusing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.    

Occupy News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee is close to evicting Occupy Nashville; Camping bill could put violators in jail for a year. Tennessee lawmakers moved toward removing the Occupy Nashvilleencampment from the state Capitol with a pair of votes Tuesday in which they also amped up the threat of jail time. Committees in the state Senate and House [...]