Saturday, October 29, 2011
Breaking: Scene Reporter Arrested in Troopers' Crackdown on Occupy Nashville
Posted Sat, Oct 29, 2011 at 12:36 AM
Another round of arrests is under way at Legislative Plaza, where just after midnight some 20 Occupy Nashville protesters linked arms, awaiting arrest in violation of the Capitol's newly enacted curfew. A 10-minute warning was issued at approximately midnight, and some 60 to 75 Tennessee state troopers stood ready to enforce it.
Among those under arrest is evidently Scene reporter Jonathan Meador, who has been covering the protests. A fellow reporter asked the trooper arresting Meador if he really intended to lock up a journalist there to cover the events. According to the reporter, the trooper replied, "You want to be next?"
Comments (43)
Showing 1-43 of 43
like
dislikeNow can everyone agree that we are witnessing violations of our constitutional rights?
the media getting arrested for covering a story? what's the point of the media if if it can't freely convey information to the public. Freakin Gestapo.
In Bill Haslam's moral universe, money becomes speech and speech becomes illegal.
Even at least one legal observer, who was there as an impartial observer, has been arrested. Also, the arresting THP would not give their names or badge numbers, badges were not exposed to be seen, again illegal. Yes, this is documented proof yet again of our Constitutional rights being violated. Far as the gov is concerned, we have no inalienable rights.
“When it gets down to having to use violence, then you’re playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you, pull your beard, flick your face to make you fight. Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don't know how to handle in non-violence and humor." ~John Lennon
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always."-Ghandi
They also arrested one photographer, although her crossing of the barricade was rather blatant, so I think that's what she had in mind.
On the way home, I witnessed a patrolman ask a nicely-dressed woman if she would like to cross through their human barricade to cross the plaza.
Freedom of speech and and our rights will soon all be taken away!!!! Be happy Nashville soon you may implanted to just live in your city!!!! The people that are protesting are there for a reason that people just are so blind they can't see... Our freedom will soon be gone and Corporate Business will tell us what to do!!!! Be blind or open your eyes, at least we want be surprised when it happens!!!!
When a peaceful protester is locked up in China, we call it a Human Rights Violation. When a peaceful protester is locked up in the US, we call it the Patriot Act. Democracy ceases to exist when the Freedoms of Speech and Assembly are taken away. All we can do is raise a collective voice. Tell people at work, tell your friends and tell your elected officials you believe in the Constitutional Rights our Country was founded on!
Just go home and get off the damn streets ! You can squeel and babble about any damn thing you 'd like .When the cops tell you to go---- STFU and go home !!! No body cares what you have to say anyway and we arent listening to your socialist BS ! Thank you and go away !
The Nashville government and police department should be ashamed of what they're doing; because they're tramping on the 1st amendment rights of these citizens. Martin Luther King Jr and many others fought for civil rights, they were needlessly arrested by police, and look what happened. They won. In the end the Nashville government will only look like the bad guys, much like with civil rights. Wasn't 8th Ave renamed Rosa Parks Ave?
To all the foolish people commenting on this claiming that the protesters are uninformed or misguided:
How are you going to tell your children that this is the greatest country in the world or that capitalism works when we're in debt to china (a communist country). Did any of you get a bail out?
These people are out here protesting because the "leaders" in our government take their commands from the corporations that are paying them and it's time to end big government and stop this vicious cycle of debt and corruption. They're fighting for the same things that the tea party and other Americans are fighting for. You and I have no rights anymore.
Our founding fathers, my family, and everyone else didn't come here to fight countless wars, work hard, and build up a wonderful country just to watch it fail and hand it over to China.
We have invented and perfected most of the modern technology that has revolutionized and changed the world and you're telling me that we can land on the moon but we can't balance a checkbook?
It's not about left or right, it's about survival. We live like kings compared to people around the world. I'm aware of that, but we're Americans and if we want to survive and if we want to keep America this way then we're going to have to fight for it. Because this nice lifestyle that so many take for granted and feel entitled to... will end soon. Stop lying to yourself, the media is already lying to you. You're the foolish pig in a nice cozy barn not realizing you're about to head to the slaughter house.
Welcome to your revolution America! Join us or suffer at the hands of your corporate masters. Don't tread on me!!
The "media" has been bought and paid for over a 100 years.
See...
iamthewitness. c o m
Buy a vowel.
Esoteric Agenda, welcome to your awakening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJiCU6Jw0Co
google "war is a racket".
google Israel did 9/11
google Joe Biden I am a zionist
Get a clue.
I was there and witnessed troopers treating people - protestors and press - rudely. I was attempting as a freelance photojournalist to photograph police cuffing protestors and was deliberately interfered with by officers carrying video cameras who quickly jumped in front of me multiple times. A few minutes later, one put his hand on me, shoved me back a foot or two, asked if I was "media," (I said yes), and then he told me if I crossed "that line" again, I'd be arrested. There was no visible line. And his imaginary line kept moving - he later threatened to arrest the AP reporter for crossing the same imaginary-but-moving. Officers also in the process of arresting people (for the "crime" of sitting down in public), shoved people harshly down onto their front, and I heard one officer repeatedly telling one arrestee - who was not moving or resisting at all - to "stop resisting."
I'm not in sync politically with the "OccupyNashville" protestors, but I am definitely on their side when it comes to their right to peacefully assemble and protest in a public plaza - especially the main public plaza at our seat of state government.
I was one of the "horn honkers" who descended on the same plaza a decade ago - many times - to protest the attempt by legislators and the governor to create a state income tax. We did not have a permit, and we most certainly were there after 10 p.m. some nights. Today, those protests would be illegal and get a bunch of people arrested. (Remember,also, that back then there was the video-documented case of a state trooper assaulting a protester inside the capitol - and how we on the Right howled hopping mad about it.)
So if you're a conservative and you think "Occupy Nashville" is getting what it deserves because it's just a bunch of commies and hippies, stop and think for a minute and ask yourself if you really want the principle to become firmly established that it is okay for the governor to send state troopers to stop a political protest outside the capitol. After all, today it is "Occupy Nashville." Tomorrow it could be conservatives and Tea Party people protesting another plan to impose a state income tax.
The five freedoms of the First Amendment belong to the people you disagree with as much as they belong to you.
Bill Hobbs
www.twitter.com/billhobbs
www.facebook.com/billhobbs
www.billhobbs.com
Re: Bill Hobbs
Nicely said Bill Hobbs, and though you don't see eye to eye with the protesters it is safe to say that you are without a doubt a very logical and rational person. I commend you for that.
The occupiers are protesting corporate greed and influence that has somehow caused a scarcity of jobs and they also want the government to somehow avoid being influenced by the entities that make our country great. The occupiers want the corporations taxed and regulated until they have no profit and no influence and are left to the mercy of the workers. The occupiers, in essence, are begging the corporations to move their operations overseas which, of course, will mean more jobs lost. (Doh, didn't think of that before.) And now they're getting themselves arrested on purpose in hopes of arousing sympathy. It's like they're immigrants from Elbonia trying to turn our country into an idiocracy.
That one citizen (I presume) would openly "hope" that other citizens, standing for HIS right to say so, would be "fired upon" is beyond ignorance. If there were anything that would trump Governor Haslam attempting to bully the open voice of the people and the Constitution he swore to uphold, protect, and defend, it is this. Yet, it is important that all citizens remember that some folks, regardless of political sway, would attempt to incite peaceable demonstrations be turned into a bloodbath because of a disagreement. These are the values of Americans? No. They are a shameful, humiliating testimony of just how quickly otherwise reasonable people become those they fear, and especially those they hate. To the responder who vulgarly wished the protesters be "fired upon", you should be taken out back to the wood shed, and flogged until you return to reason. Don't worry. In this scenario, you wouldn't be alone. In fact, if things worked out as they should, your Governor would be receiving his public shaming by the time you got there.
This is not a political movement, and nothing you can say or do will make it one. This is a movement of citizens who are offended by the refusal of their leaders to hold to the values of our nation that democracy requires of them--and us. We're doing our part, Sir. What the hell is YOUR excuse?
Dregstudios said: "When a peaceful protester is locked up in China, we call it a Human Rights Violation. When a peaceful protester is locked up in the US, we call it the Patriot Act. Democracy ceases to exist when the Freedoms of Speech and Assembly are taken away." True! If we no longer have a workable representative democracy, we have a moral duty to bring that system back. It's not too late. Take action now.
while i love this movement, this is exactly why i don't go with the whole "let's be peaceful and love them bullshit." i love them as people but when you're the type of people to say "you want to be next?" they deserved to be called every name in the book. WE'RE EXERCISING OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
As a participant in the "Occupy Memphis" manifestation of this movement, I stand in solidarity with my Nashville brothers and sisters. Who would have believed that the Nashville law enforcement apparatus would be less hospitable than Memphis's to this protest? While I'm delighted we got rid of Bill Gibbons, I'm sorry that, in order to get rid of him as our problem, we had to make him yours.
As a Tennessean, I am also mightily pissed off that my tax dollars will eventually be used to pay the protestors whose constitutional rights were violated for the storm troopers' behavior. I am delighted, though, to see that y'all have a judge with the balls to tell the state police to go fuck themselves. I don't think we have any judges here who would do that, slaves to police power that most of them are.
RIGHT ON, OCCUPY NASHVILLE!
"the Nashville law enforcement apparatus would be less hospitable than Memphis's to this protest?"
Point of fact: the law enforcement officers who have been ordered to arrest Occupiers at Legislative Plaza are NOT from the Nashville Metro PD. Our LOCAL law enforcement has been totally tolerant of our efforts, which was noted and very much appreciated at the Occupy Nashville GA.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (state troopers) are the officers who have been ordered to make arrests in the Plaza, which is STATE land. Let's make that totally clear: our LOCAL police have not been a problem at all.
More than nitpicking, Elaine: Governor Bill Haslam and Commissioner Bill Gibbons are giving the orders to break Occupy Nashville, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol was order to enforce the unconstitutional new regulations at Legislative Plaza.
There have been no problems at all with the Metro police or the city of Nashville.
When you're cooling your heels in the slammer, distinctions about who put you there probably don't matter much. The fact remains, Nashville's protestors are being arrested, while Memphis's aren't.
To you in Memphis, it may not matter. Here in Nashville, I'm glad to know that I won't get arrested if I'm on the sidewalk, where Metro PD has jurisdiction, instead of in the Plaza, where THP has jurisdiction.
So another foupaux on the part of the (fake) State Troopers. The refused to identify themselves b badge number when asked. They hid their badges (probably because the are not even Highway Patrol officers) Haslem is going to get the blues in so many ways. Should leave us alon. I hope the had to turn off the lights in the whole building to cut the lights out on the protesters. Hope the lose some stuff on their computers. Wishfull thinking. But I know a couple of lawyers who would love to represent you in this matter.
I want a list of the Nashville 29. Why hasn't it been published? Could it be that most of those arrested were a) professional radicals bussed in for the occasion, b) paid community organizers for various 501 (c) 3s who risk losing tax exempt status if their true roles were revealed, d) members of SEIU and AFL-CIO whose main role in this pseudo-movement is to get Obama re-elected or e) all of the above.
So rich that they pick the Republican Governor's turf, and not Karl Dean's front lawn. Tells you everything you need to know.
Oh, and if the Nashville Scene had an ounce of Integrity, they would fire the lame Hunter S. Thompson wannabe, who is intentionally making himself the story. Attention Whore, Democrat Party Hack. But the Scene is such a rag, it about fits your non-standard.
Should we remember that Occupy Nashville brought this on themselves by complaining about the homeless threatening them and stealing their stuff--after they had "reached-out" to the homeless and had given them free food and all that.
What else was the State suppose to do? They can't have THP there 24/7 to provide private security for a bunch of nit wits who invited the situation, and generally refer to police officers as fascist pigs--when they're not "tax payers" in need of "Protection" form "Meth-Heads" and "Vagrants." Hillarious.
And if the homeless had raped or killed someone--as has happened in the last month--well. We know who would get the blame.
Face it, the professional rent-a-mob people wanted to get arrested. It's the only way they could get a flagging media to pay any attention to their list of---emm, well, they don't exactly have a list of demands. They just want to be like the tea party and get Obama's peeps fired up about--whatever.
So, GODBLESSTHETHP, what you're saying is that it's fine to have one set of rules for some people--important people like Beyonce or anyone with a friend in the THP can call and get all the escort they want from the THP for free on our dime and that's totally cool--and another set of rules for other people--people exercising their first amendment right to peaceably assemble don't get THP services.
That's a great system. And who will decide who's special enough to get THP protection? The THP should be pissed that they're being ordered to arrest people who aren't doing anything illegal just so that they can be dressed down by the judge.
Rather than blaming the people under arrest for doing nothing illegal, perhaps you should save your anger for the bozos who are ordering the THP to illegally arrest people.
The THP are public servants, not the Governor's private security force. The THP should tell Haslam they're not his bouncers.
GODBLESSTHETHP:
You want a list? Why, so you can harass them or try to get them fired? Do your own goddamned research! I, for one, see no use in providing you a list.
By the way, it is not the "Republican Governor's turf," it is the People's Turf!
So, Betsy Phillips and many others find all the fault with THP? A group
like all other law enforcements officers are to do as they are told if they
wish to feed their families? The cause and focus is now on 26 demonstrators
while the object of the protest is being protected by the US Dept of Justice!
What sense does any of this make anymore?
Nice try, NeverFear, but, if you read my comment, you'd see that I'm saying the exact opposite of that--that the THP is only doing what they're ordered to do and the problem is not the protesters, but the Governor who keeps ordering the repeated unconstitutional arrests of protestors.
Haslam KNOWS that what he's doing is unconstitutional and he and his administration know that they've put the THP in a tough spot because people who need jobs aren't going to be risking those jobs even if they know what they're doing is wrong. And so I'm happy to add "abuses his power over the THP" to his list of bullshit activities surrounding Occupy Nashville.
Like I said, the THP are public servants, not Haslam's private security force. If he doesn't understand that, he'd better start figuring it out.
Its the only thing TN cops know to do, be criminals themselves...
They are upset because they were shut down in Night Court when the Judge refused to sign a single arrest warrant.
I look for the cops to start to get violent next...
http://whentennesseepigsfly.wordpress.com/
Solidarity from Occupy Atlanta and Occupy Your Homes. The people cannot be stopped.
I hope all these people wishing for protestors to be fired on, saying no one cares, and calling good citizens mobs for hire, end up on the wrong side of the law one day-- except without a sane judge. See how they like having their constitutional rights violated. Maybe the gvmt will go ahead and put trojan viruses in their computers to monitor everything they do, they're so keen on throwing away their rights after all.
Sue the whole pig thugs, who have forgotten they took an oath of office, one of those things was to uphold and defend the constitution. Call the FBI and swear out, (sign) a warrant for the arrest of those officers whose names appear on those arrest documents, for violation of civil rights, official misconduct, and false arrest. Make a case, and find out who the bond underwriter is and sue them also.
