Saturday 05 November, 2011

Occupy Nashville Press Release


PRESS RELEASE         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2011
CONTACT: MEDIA@OCCUPY NASHVILLE.ORG

Tennessee General Services Commissioner Steven Cates announced Friday,
that the state has spent thousands of dollars in attending to wear and
tear on Legislative Plaza, and has arbitrarily attributed these
damages to the participants in Occupy Nashville, declining to give an
actual amount.  Without any evidence of the movement’s culpability,
Commissioner Cates has accused participants of the Occupy Nashville
movement of defecating and urinating on the grounds of Legislative
Plaza, claiming the cleaning of which required the use of pressure
washers.  Being state property, the Tennessee Highway Patrol is
responsible for maintaining order on Legislative Plaza.  Occupy
Nashville is not responsible for policing the actions of other people
who choose to occupy our public space.

Prior to the enacting of a curfew, the state decided it did not need
to dispatch patrols, despite numerous requests by Occupy Nashville to
do so.  On Wednesday in a budget hearing with Governor Haslam,
Commissioner Bill Gibbons said he was willing to fire four THP
officers and install cameras, claiming this would adequately fulfill
the general security needs on Legislative Plaza.  Occupy Nashville
supports the continuous presence of the state troopers who are here to
protect and serve us as citizens.  Lowering police presence will
undoubtedly result in more anarchy and wanton destruction, conducted
by persons unrelated to Occupy Nashville.

Occupy Nashville is a peaceful, non-partisan movement created in
solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement, advocating against
the inequities and disparities between the country’s top 1% of income
earners, and everybody else. The group also seeks to remove the
influence of money upon our elected politicians, and place that
authority squarely into the hands of the voters. Additional
information on Occupy Nashville can be found at
www.occupynashville.org.

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

    So what is done with that camera surveillance? Is it meant to discourage protesters? To identify and hassle protesters? It appears that Haslam is trying to build a case for the Court Date & change to focus from 1st Amendment rights to Public Safety & Sanitation.

    • nwo5150

      You going to pay for the damage these protestors are causing???

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2W2LQWIQRJAKGN43RBUFCV7TEY Michael

      Camera surveillance was a regular feature of anti-war protests in Knoxville when Haslam was mayor. It’s just what they do …

  • carmen

    Maybe we will see the fired THP standing with us after they are fired.

  • Kevin Barbieux

    Whatever the cost of this protest, not protesting would be more costly.

  • Hank102001

    OCCUPY NASHVILLE PROTESTERS IS BY FAR RIGHT IN THEIR STAND AGAINST BIG CORP. MONEY DONATED TO GOVERNMENT TO HAVE LAWS JUST FOR THEIR BENIFIT. IT IS TIME FOR A NATION WIDE CHANGE. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE GIVEN TO GOVERNMENTS IN COUNTRIES TO SUPPORT THEIR LEADERS.

  • Mzsamcodepink

    The major “cost” is by and far paying the police, which is totally unnecessary and more dangerous for protesters. If the city is concerned about defecation & urination, they should supply occu-poops and occu-pees~! We should compare what the city is paying for wars with what the city is paying to ensure the rights and responsibilities of people to hold our government accountable and practice free speech.

    • nwo5150

      Why should the people of Tennessee have to pay for things that wouldn’t be neccessary if you people weren’t camping in a NON-CAMPING AREA?

      • TheLikesOfUs

        There are many comments on the ON Facebook page, the Scene articles and other places from people who say these problems have existed for a long time. The occupation is just a lightning rod. I’m a taxpayer myself. I expect our public spaces to be clean and orderly. If the Governor and Commissioner weren’t taking care of that before, they ought to start taking care of it now.

      • Anonymous

        Because it IS necessary due to the fact that people are exercising their right to camp in your NON-CAMPING AREA. Why not just call it a no-protest area… or post a sign saying, “Protesters may protest between the hours of 2 to 4 pm only if they are wearing ‘depends’ since no public restroom facilities will be provided.” The constitution comes with a price and the people of Tennessee should gladly pony up the dough to provide portapotties for those exercising their rights under that constitution. The fact is… the authorities would not even allow the protesters to pay for their own portapotties to have them placed onsite. This is a tactic to make the way difficult for the protesters and when ‘nature has its way’ becomes a way to level ‘public safety’ measures against them.

    • Trinity

      When will it ever dawn on the voting public … that they have in fact voted into office (as head of our state government) one of the “one percent.” Not picking on any particular party. McWherter was a wealthy power broker as well as Bredesen. We elect them, putting the interests of a our particular party first, then wind up treating them and the issues with an air of a Saturday afternoon football rivalry. This is what we have … now what do we do? Keep with the status quo? Go with the winning team? So the question becomes, when pertaining to issues of the economy, jobs, enforcement of free speech … Is the leader we put into office most reflective of us (the people)? In this case no … The good ol’ Gomer Pyle grin … and “Well… Im an East Tennessee conservative, and grew up just like you” is negated by his conduct recently … and I will go on and say it if noone else will … the vast disparity in wealth. Haslam… and all politicians owing to this disparity…. should step aside in good faith, knowing they personally … and he … could never truly be representative of those he is attempting to govern.

  • Matthew Temple

    If we fail to exercise our freedom of speech while we have it how will we complain when we don’t? If we stop protesting now the cost will not be measured in dollars & cents but in the loss of that freedom

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2W2LQWIQRJAKGN43RBUFCV7TEY Michael

    It’s time to boycott Pilot gas stations and convenience stores. A sales decline of 10%-20% would devastate the company and send a strong message to Haslam et al that working people create the true wealth in this country.

    • nwo5150

      I will make sure to look FOR PIOLT AND CIRCLE J STATIONS !!!!!!!

    • Knightman

      My trucking company operates 37 rigs and we try to utilize the PILOT truck stops exclusively, because of the cheaper fuel cost. Monday a directive will be issued to prohibit all drivers from utilizing Haslam’s Circle J and Pilot. Also drivers will be encouraged to spread the word on the CB about the 1st Admendment rights being void in Tennessee. Truckers already are talking on the radios and they are skipping fueling when passing thru Tennessee. It bothers me that the local mom and pop stations will be effected by our Koch Brother Gov. We are proud of you, Occupy Nashville. It will probably cost my company an extra 600-700 a week, but Haslam will lose 18,000 gross a week in fuel sales alone. Don’t forget 37 drivers spending another 10-15 bucks a day on food and cigs. He messed up big time. He better let y’all out of jail or this will escalate. People think us truckers are dumb, but we love this country and the constitution.

      • newjk

        Thank you for your sacrifice. Every action of every one of us helps

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2W2LQWIQRJAKGN43RBUFCV7TEY Michael

        Knightman, I think it’s Flying J that’s owned by Pilot. Great statement, though. Kudos to you.

      • fed up with everyone

        nice job dipstick. maybe they will end up laying off some childs mom or dad in the process. maybe the Occupy Nashville people should start collecting for people that are hurting rather than using the website and their way to get hand outs. and yes, occupy nashville can accept packages of any size. If you believe this hogwash then probably get excited when you get the email from the foreign prince telling you he wants to send you a check for 10K …

        by the way… I didn’t realize trucking companies are non profit. I admire the fact that you don’t run this company to make money.

    • RickTNRebel

      What a hero you are knightman! Actually, “Mom & Pops” will suffer because they are the weakest, the most regulated (to favor industry and limit competition) and the ones who are on the edge of being devoured by corporatism…but I can Assure you, “Mom and Pops” will be the really big winners when this thing is over with. We’re gonna put the NATION’S collective POWER back in the hands of the small business men and women who were once the backbone and overriding authority of all that is sacred in America…buy your gas from mom and pop…bank at your local bank…eat food produced on local farms…make these good people strong, and we ALL become strong once again.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2W2LQWIQRJAKGN43RBUFCV7TEY Michael

        Interestingly, Pilot markets its products in Tennessee as “mom and pop.” I can assure you, however, that the Haslam residences are not your typical “mom and pop” abodes …

    • AvgJane2

      Boycott Pilot and Flying J (both owned by the Haslams).

  • Aliert

    Hey freaks and parasites on parade…get off our plaza and go to your mommies basement and wash your ass…damn you feaks are pathetic!!!!

    • newjk

      I’m 64 years old and my mommy is dead. And my entire body is quite clean, thank you. I do, however, enjoy the parades and marches.

    • RickTNRebel

      What the hell is a “feak”? Also, it’s “Mommy’s” not mommies…dum bass…read a phuchkin’ book.

      • nwo5150

        This is a perfect example of what you get when you say something these parasites don’t like …… you get name calling and they point out typos ……… that is because they have nothing of substance to say ….. not one will answer about supporting all of the violence around the country like the protestor in New York who got mad in a McDonalds when they wouldn’t give him free food or the women having to set up tents in different areas to avoid being raped!!

        • RickTNRebel

          …and the movement is STILL growing, every…single…minute.

    • http://www.facebook.com/edward.brinson Edward Brinson

      don’t be douchie

  • http://www.ryanrobertsphotography.com Ryan Roberts

    Hey guys, I’m a Nashville artist and I made a video supporting Occupy Nashville and the 99% with my art toys: http://www.ryanrobertsphotography.com/blog/blog.html

  • RickTNRebel

    I just can’t believe we’re not getting these “perps” on video! If the state isn’t doing it already (they probably are), we should put OURSELVES and the Plaza proper, under 24 hour video surveillance. I’m sure everyone knows this is simply “circumstantial case production” by the Gadafi regime for the upcoming hearings. Our brave front line outpost troops are in a fishbowl on the plaza; using video, we can welcome scrutiny (and compile a little “circumstantial evidence” of our own!). We can also capture the Gadafi “plants” who are subverting our cause. I really hope we have established an active “fire watch” manned with video cams constantly recording.

    • Anonymous

      Yea right your people are destroying a beautiful piece of property and you want to blame others!!!

      • RickTNRebel

        I live downtown. I’ve lived down here for years. You don’t know shit about downtown, or the Plaza. You have no idea how fucked up that Plaza has been. The homeless have ALWAYS taken baths (with soap) in the fountain pools and they have ALWAYS used the bushes around the Plaza and over by the war museum as a latrine. If anything, the occupiers are actually protecting the property from the sort of vandalism people perpetrate against the place all of the time, including STEALING brass plaques to sell as scrap metal. To anyone from OC reading this: Have the legal team get in touch with me, I will sign a sworn statement concerning the damage or vandalism I have seen or witnessed at the plaza over the years

        • nwo5150

          YOU’RE SO FULL OF SHIT YOU NEED TO WIPE YOUR MOUTH AFTER YOU TALK! I WORKED AT LEGISLATIVE PLAZA FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND KNEW THE MAINTENCE PEOPLE AND YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LYING PIECE OF SHIT!!!!

  • Ashleycorinne711

    Lets band together and clean up the plaza just like the Occupy Wall Street protesters did. Lets show Nashville that we dont need their help. We can be self sustainable. Gather buckets to go to the bathroom in and lets keep our town clean while still sending the message!!!

  • RickTNRebel

    The occupiers on the Plaza are our “outpost” of brave volunteers. Please don’t make the error of assuming that removing these “few” from the plaza will end the occupy movement. Every incident that happens, every single bit of “press”, good or bad, serves a useful purpose…it gets Americans talking to each other. You can hardly go anywhere (a restaurant, a club, church, etc) and not hear a (often heated!) discussion taking place over the occupy issue(s). “Occupy” has swiftly achieved its initial goals. We are “occupying” the American collective conciousness. Wall street, the banks and large corporations have already “blinked”…innocent people don’t “blink” in a confrontation.

  • Tools93Red

    Protest somewhere else.

  • MarcusIII

    I have read some of the comments, and concerns, and I think it is time that someone who cares about the message the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement, and also the concerns of destruction to public property, and the ‘abuse’ of any innocent child may be subjected to, speaks out. I have made Nashville my home by choice, loving the time I have been here. A well diversified city, that offers many cultural events, people of differ ethnic backgrounds, and work ethics. So naturally, families, children, and varied ethnic individuals will be in close proximity to protesters. If the message is to be heard, understood, believed, and gain support of the 99%, then the protesters must at all times be respectful, if not go out of their way to insure that the property is maintained, that when children are involved, be respectful to their age, and gender. Abuse will not be tolerated when a child is the victim. Abuse, verbal or otherwise is a criminal act, and should NEVER be tolerated. Wise up protester, understand the objective is to get the word out, and gain full support. My God, we are not barbaric.

  • Trailhiker

    Bill Gibbons is kinda like a cross between Rumsfeld and Cheney – he is a scary, power hungry freak. Who appointed his dumb ass?

  • RickTNRebel

    An article is not a “Fact” nor is it “Proof” but then, some people are easy to dupe with such things as “propaganda”…look up the word…study it’s use in history.

  • Anonymous

    The troublemakers are easy to identify… they’re dressed in blue and display badges.

  • RickTNRebel

    That’s it in a nutshell, isn’t it? How much “money” someone has is how they are measured. Materialism is a pretty sad to way measure yourself…yes, I said YOURSELF. If you’re using materialsim to measuring other people, you’re using the same yardstick on yourself…

  • RickTNRebel

    wow NWO! You been checkin’ us out at the other sites on the web? Good boy! You’ll be joining up soon. I knew you loved us XOXO:)

  • Anonymous

    I understand your feelings. When ever there is a demonstration it will invariably draw the ne’erdowells. There will even be those that seek to discredit a movement through their bad behavior. Would you really be in favor of scrapping the greatest protest movement in the history of the U.S. because a couple of jerks made your daughter feel uncomfortable? Seems incredibly shallow to me.

  • Trailhiker

    Hey nutamused – its a nice workd you will be leaving for you child. Imagine how much gov control you child will forced to live with when she gets to be your age – thats what its about – not some stupid play you wanted to go see. I say, get yourself informed, and do something useful with your life and for your child.

  • Anonymous

    Shallow? Are you freakin serious? How dare you tell me that the feelings of my child are not as important as your stupid protest. Who do you people think you are? What right do you have to tell me I can’t make gross amounts of money unless i share it with you. You don’t understand s”*t pal. greatest protest movement in history? i think Dr Martin Luther King would seriously disagree with that comment.

    You obviously don’t have children you would do anything to protect. I don’t care about your “cause” you haven’t accomplished anything other than cost the tax payers of nashville a fortune. You cause is stupid…just like demands. Idiot!

  • fed up with every one

    you are the one who is shallow, sir. and selfish. from what i have seen from Nashville, to Chicago to New York to Washington, it’s more about greed, selfishness and jealousy – morally you are no different than the ones you protest. And if you are indifferent to the feelings on one child in favor of your movement, then your movement means absolutely nothing and stinks just like portapottys you made the state pay for because you wouldn’t quit crapping in the bushes.

  • nwo5150

    You really are the stupid aren’t you there are witnesses and the troublemaker is where all of you squatters belong IN FUCKING JAIL!!!!!!

  • nwo5150

    IF IGNORNACE IS BLISS RICK YOU ARE ONE HAPPY INDIVIDUAL ……… YOU SAY THE NEWS IS NOT CREDIBLE BUT YOU ARE COMMENTING ON A NEWS STORY!!!!!1

  • nwo5150

    YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A SQUATTING PIECE OF SHIT ALL OF THESE MOVEMENTS ARE NOW WHY DON’T YOU GO BACK TO YOUR MOMMY’S BASEMENT!!

  • nwo5150

    UNLIKE YOU I GO TO ACTUAL NEWS SOURCES NOT JUST THIS SITE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!

  • nwo5150

    These people don’t give a damn about anyone ……. in Washington D.C. Today a woman used her two children to block a parking area!!

  • Flack

    I don’t care about your “cause” you haven’t accomplished anything other than cost the tax payers of nashville a fortune. You cause is stupid…just like demands. Idiot!

    You keep drinking the kool-aid there bubba

  • fed up with everyone.

    that’s about the stupidest thing I’ve heard. what are you accomplishing anyway?


Occupy NATO 2012   |   Needs of the occupiers   |   FAQ   Number of Occupy protesters arrested counter