Friday, October 28, 2011
Politics Right-Wingers Back Occupy Nashville's Right to Protest
Posted by Jeff Woods on Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 5:40 PM
Occupy Nashville has gained support from a couple of unlikely sources: state Sen. Stacey Campfield and conservative blogger David Oatney. When these guys are on your side, you know you're in trouble. Campfield writes:
While I am no fan of the flea baggers Occupy Nashville protest, I do not think they should be banned from protesting at the capitol. They should have the right to assemble if it is peaceful and not hurting anyone. If you cant protest at the state capitol where can you protest? ... I say let them stay as long as they can stand up. Those that make peaceful protest impossible make violent protest inevitable.
Oatney's upset about the sudden curfew and predicts the protesters will file a winning lawsuit:
[The reaction of State officials in how to deal with the protest has been overly broad and is blatantly unconstitutional, and whatever the circumstances of the sit-in at this point, the State has acted in a way that brings danger to the rights of all of us. First, the State abruptly changed the rules for assembly on Legislative Plaza, banning protests without a permit-one was not previously required until Friday-and closing the Plaza from 10pm to 6am. The Capitol grounds were not closed to the public at any hour of the day or night until today. Clearly, this sudden change of rules-while it may apply to all of us later-was aimed at Occupy Nashville right now, and that means that the State of Tennessee has invited a lawsuit, will probably have it by nightfall, and those suing will be in a position in which liberals rarely find themselves—on the constitutionally correct side of the issue.
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