Official Occupy Nashville Legal Defense Fund Online!

Due to the passing of HB2638/ SB2508, Occupations across the state Tennessee will be subject to immediate arrest, their property confiscated and destroyed, and charged with a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months, 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine for exercising their First Amendment Rights.

However it is not only the Occupy movement and the First Amendment that is under fire. When passed into law your favorite recreational areas such as lakes and parks across all of Tennessee will be required to enforce the “no camping” bill making it illegal for ANYONE to pitch a tent, cook a meal, or sleep on tax payer funded state owned property.

Outdoorsmen, hunters, fishermen, hikers, even boy and girl scouts will be affected by this egregious law that will make them criminals for the use of the land and properties their tax dollars pay to operate and maintain. As well the homeless will be further marginalized, and now criminalized, on the tax payers’ dime for seeking shelter from the elements on any public property owned by the state.

We ask that you help us fight this bill by donating to our legal defense fund, helping to keep us out of jail and on the streets protesting against the corporate corruption in our government that makes these laws possible.

We Are Occupy Nashville, We Are The 99%.

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.