Friday 28 October, 2011

#OccupyNashville Press Release – Oct. 28th, 2011 @ 4AM CST


28 October, 2011

Nashville, Tennessee

Legislative Plaza

At 3:00 a.m. approximately 100 police officers, including SWAT teams and K-9 units arrived at Legislative Plaza where the Occupy Nashville movement has been exercising its first amendment right to peaceful protest since the 6th of October. They informed the occupants that they had ten minutes to leave the plaza or they would begin to arrest those who refused to leave.

Many of the protesters refused to vacate the premises, so at 3:10 a.m. police began arresting people. Approximately 22 protesters were handcuffed with zip-ties, photographed, and guided into a bus that contained holding cages.

The scene was calm, but tense. Protesters and police conducted themselves peacefully, with both police and citizen observers filming the scene and taking photographs. Those occupiers who complied with the police demand to vacate the plaza were informed, after they exited the plaza, that any belongings that remained would be confiscated.

Occupy Nashville was prepared for this situation. Possible removal by police had been discussed for several days prior to the police action; those protesters who were willing to be arrested took classes beforehand concerning methods of non-resistant arrest. Many protesters chose to be peaceful observers to ensure proper documentation of the eviction. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has notified us that they will have a press conference at 9:00 am Friday regarding the matter.

There has been an outpouring of support across the state of Tennessee, throughout the country and the world for these individuals in Nashville, who have chosen to take a stand against the corporate takeover of our government and extreme inequality that has put a stranglehold on our nation.

Occupy Nashville will continue their struggle to demand that our voices freely be heard in public spaces. We will continue to demand an end to the pervasive corruption that has resulted from corporate control of our government. And we will continue to support the Occupy Wall Street movement. We are the 99% And so are you.

  • http://twitter.com/tmack894 Tee Mack

    Very proud of OccupyNashville. To those deluded people who yell “get a job,” they miss the point. Those who have jobs haven’t had raises that even keep up with rising costs over many years. Even retirees haven’t gotten raises. When your pay doesn’t meet costs, you are working for less money. And elected officials, especially the senators, simply laugh at you when you complain or ignore you, but they serve Corporate Interests not Human Interests.

    • Salty123

      Go home. Take a shower. Get a job. It isn’t that hard.

      • pbear49

        How long since you had to look for a job?

      • Hope

        … and those that can’t find work are still looking for work every single day. Many don’t have those homes & showers anymore.

      • One of the 99%

        Maybe if our Polititions, who you obviously support, didn’t fight to send OUR jobs over seas just to make a buck from the Corporate greed, we would find it much easier to find a job and support our families.

      • RickTNRebel

        Well looky here! Salty is just all over these boards “gate Keeping” for his fascist bankster masters! Let me see if I understand you, salty; If I don’t sacrifice my HONOR, INTEGITY and CONCIENCE and submit to becoming a spineless corporate boot licker such as yourself, then I deserve (in your narrow minded opinion) to be called a “Loser”, right?
        …ok…I’m cool with that.
        It puts me in company with my all time heros, Marine General Smedley D. Butler and that other well known “pesky protester”, Jesus Christ.

  • CMD

    Courage Occupy Nashville! We support you!

  • newjk

    I have so much respect and appreciation for those of you willing to go to the wall. You’re doing it for me and I thank you

  • Darren

    We are with you – watching and participating from San Francisco.

  • Rdl101897

    When you are there facing the police power, non-concerned government officials, know that we are with you and deely appreciate the efforts you are taking. Let the government know this is their right “…and duty” and I believe this effort will not go away.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you Occupy Nashville protestors.

  • TNgrandma

    Seeing videos and pics of my fellow dissidents in Nashville getting arrested has upped the ante of my passion to stand up here locally (East TN). You are heroes of True American patriotism and I will do all I can to support you by any means I can. I admire your peaceful civil disobedience for the cause of the 99%. Hope to chat or get some update on livestream today. Hugs! ~~TNGrandma

  • Aliert

    fuck off you goddamn freaks…hope you all freeze your asses off you anti american assholes…eat shit and die freaks

    • Aliertshyte

      Nice, you really articulate your views so well, primordially as it were, from the brainstem level.

    • Deeptruths

      You’re the FREAK. Its citizens without brains who rant against socialism but can’t spell it correctly. You know-nothing stupid mofo. The fact that is southern states spend so little money on education because they want idiot like you to be just like you. Vote for 1% while you get f*cked by every republican your dumb as* voted for.

      • Trailhiker

        Little money on education so Aliert will be an idiot,,,bah hahaha!! That’s so funny, and so true. Aliert is an idiot.

    • USMC_Vet

      Yep, nothing says ‘anti-American’ like peacefully exercising your First Amendment rights and standing up for your fellow citizens.

      • RickTNRebel

        Semper Fi, bro! I want to see the wall street scumbags, crooked skanky banksters and all of the other culperable bastards who brought down the economy, prosecuted for HIGH TREASON. The back stabbing cock suckers destoyed America from within while Marines were dying in the sand protecting their greedy asses…I can’t wait to bring all of our Marines home and give them the RIGHT and AUTHORITY to “even” the phuckin’ score…rebel out.

        • RickTNRebel

          P.S.
          Any of you who call me a “Loser” to my face because I support Occupy on Behalf of America’s Betrayed service members, had better make sure your dental insurance is paid up before doing so…
          R.E. “rebel” Barton,
          Gunnery Sergeant of United States Marines

    • A Patriot

      Your statement that these folks are anti-American is a whole lot more anti-American than they are. They are exercising their 1st Amendment rights.

    • Hope

      99% is a statistic, and believe it or not, you… Sir, are part of that statistical number. Like it or not, believe me, you are a part.

      Occupy Nashville stands, and they stand for all Americans included in that statistical number… yes, even you…. Sir.

  • Morboating

    I admit that I have mixed feelings about occupying a public space. However, this group have been above reproach in the way they have ‘occupied’. When I was young, I still remember the protests of the Vietnam war. It took these protests to begin to change public opinion and get the people to see that they have a choice if they just stick together. Our country is in such a divided state that it’s going to take huge protests of the people to begin the process of change. It won’t happen by electing a specific president or congressman. The fundamentals of the way our government works have been tainted by the few that are bought out by large corporations and the 1%. For this reason, I support Occupy Nashville. You guys are awesome. Stay non-violent and be strong. Thank you for standing up for me and the rest of the 99%.

  • Lj

    I was there with you for GA and Vigil last night and will be back with friends tonight. I am so very proud of you for your courage and commitment to non-violence. Thank you so much!

  • Salty123

    Stupid. Dirty. Hippies

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=673635544 Chris Gregory

      Than you for sharing with the Class Cartman, would you like some more Cheesy Poofs? ;p

      • Salty123

        I hope all of you freeze out there. Stupid, dirty, hippie-pops

  • Drksteed

    I work hard for my money if you “occupiers” did the same you would have money too. Quit trying to take mine you socialist wannabes. I was unemployed for 3 months and busted my tail looking for a job finally found one making less than what I was previously but now I make more. If you can’t get a job start a business, but don’t expect the rich to solve your issues they got that way by hardwork and now that they are rich they don’t have too. That is why I love America if I work hard I won’t have too later. Quit looking for a handout and work. I don’t want to share my wealth.

    • Problem?

      Drksteed made his vast fortune by choking down dark cock.

    • Dabdiedre

      there are many people that work very hard and still don;t make enough to survive so they get two and three jobs and still can’t make it. You have got this movement all wrong this isn’t about the poor against the rich, not everyone that is protesting is unemployed, on welfare, homeless or lazy for that matter. They are just tired of the beauracracies put in place to stop them from aquiring the american dream they were told they could have if they just worked hard, went to school etc. when it didn’t happen the way they were taught they were made to feel as though it was something they did or didn’t do which is not the case at all…It wasn’t meant for everyone…you might want to look more into who is actually fighting this cause. The ones that are unemployed, on welfare and homeless have a right to fight also the system keeps them stuck with a strong hold and doesn’t let go. Thomas Sowell said that welfare rewards people for failing and punishes them for success. You start to get ahead and the system takes everything from you…its sad when you make a hundred thousand dollars a year and you pay more taxxes than the company that you work for where is that democracy or fair for that matter. Unless you my good man make more than 500 thousand dollars a year you are the 99% also…the one percent control 50% of the wealth and that 1% is only comprised of 450 people compared to billions…think about it before you start throwing ridiculous accusations and stereotypes on those that are standing up for your rights even if you at this point are not a willing participant

      • Salty123

        You don’t speak for me you stupid hippie.

        • Dabdiedre

          Stupid I definitely am not…you definitely are not the one percent the way you are talking…bashing us will not make you one of them…stupid would be to sit jolly by and allow the elite take over our country worse than they already have…hippie has nothing to do with this at all you really should do more research before you start throwing around your primitive ideologies

  • greed

    what about how “the contributor” publication occupies all public areas and are allowed to because they are exercising freedom of press…would the occupiers be allowed to stay if they were selling a crappy paper??

  • Hahahaha

    has anyone posted pictures from the GA and raid?

  • pbear49

    Hang in there good folks. Remember the police are not your friends. They are controlled by politicians owned by the 1%, whether they personally agree with us or not. Power to the people – now or never

  • Gwpeters

    True grit for the 22! Anyone not understanding the common causes for OWS and Occupy Nashville should come down to Legislative Plaze this weekend for an education. The 1% and the corporations would love to have the 99% work until we are 70 while they enjoy the fruits of our labor. The only way to reverse the current trend is through non-violent coordinated demostrations. Please find friends to educate and join ON.

  • Germ

    ok… so i am curious… what exactly does the “occupy” movement stand for? i have heard some things i agree with… others that i don’t… im sorry trying to research this for myself before i have an opinion.

  • Chemman

    You have my support! This being TN, you will probably be worn down by the powers that be…but keeping fighting the good fight.

  • Anonymous

    Much love and support from Oregon.

  • keepitup

    Keep it up, OccupyNashville! Thanks to all of you for being there!

  • Trailhiker

    Send an email to Bill Haslam

    bill.haslam@tn.gov

  • RickTNRebel

    Here’s how we put America back to work for America: (1) Approve national health care- this takes the burden of providing health care off of small businessmen (and women). The corporations blocking national health are doing it to shut down competition, requiring ALL Americans to “submit” to corporate rule in oder to have health care coverage. (2) Bust up the crooked corporations who are corrupting our governments and those who have commited treason by destroying our economy while we were under declarations of-and executing-2 wars…read it for yourself, doing what they did is HIGH TREASON and the scumbags are not (YET!) being prosecuted. This opens the door for small businesses, who can’t be easily corrupted and who are PART of their local community. MOVE YOUR MONEY to, make your investments, and buy your financial services in your local community. Break up the corporate monopoly by making EACH OTHER strong. Join the Occupy movement so you can tell your kids and grandkids: “Yeah, I was part of the REVOLUTION that transformed our nation, I joined when it was still just a little grass roots movement camped out on the state Plaza in Nashville!”