Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Legislature Bill Advances to Evict Occupy Nashville; Protesters 'Pee in Public's Eye,' One Lawmaker Says
Posted by Jeff Woods on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Watson went on a rant against "disgusting acts" on Legislative Plaza, denouncing "drunks and drug addicts" and "sex scenes." He said Occupy Nashville has "literally peed right in the public's eye."
"It's shameful what has been taking place on the plaza," he said. "This needs to be sacred ground, ladies and gentlemen, for our schoolkids. I'm proud to be a Tennessean and I'm proud of these Capitol grounds."
"This is not a bill that limits the right to protest," Watson told lawmakers, prompting laughter from the audience.
For any one group to take over and dominate a piece of property thereby preventing other members of the public from using that space is equal to the theft of what rightfully belongs to the whole public. We can't stand by and let this continue. I am a strong proponent of First Amendment rights. But I am not a proponent of setting up housing on the public property and defacing it. It's wrong. It's just wrong.
Protester Bill Howell appeared before the subcommittee to argue against the bill, likening the occupation to flag-burning. You might not like it, but it's protected speech, he said. He elaborated on his viewpoint in this Tennessean column, contending the bill is aimed not at preventing unsanitary conditions but at stifling free speech.
The bill distracts from the important business of the state. Its sponsors are trying to push ordinary citizens and homeless people back to the margins of society where they will be “out of sight, out of mind.” It is important that the Occupation stay right where it is to be a constant reminder to our legislators that their job is to serve their constituents.
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Comments (12)
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"For any one group to take over and dominate a piece of property thereby preventing other members of the public from using that space is equal to the theft of what rightfully belongs to the whole public."
You can't steal what already belongs to you, Rep. Watson.
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The last paragraph expresses Mr. Woods position very plainly. This law does
not ONE thing to stifle Free Speech, just free camping!
Rep. Watson: Neither Legislative Plaza nor the State Capitol is "sacred ground," for schoolkids or anyone else. Sacred means "devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated; entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy."
In addition to a little remedial education on the First Amendment, I'd say based on his use of the word "literally" ("literally peed right in the public's eye") that Rep. Watson needs to spend more quality time with the dictionary.
Mr. Barry, I was thinking the same thing. It's actually kind of funny, because, over the last couple of days, I have been harboring fantasies of peeing in Eric Watson's eyes. Literally.
This is everything about trying to squelch free speech that is offensive to a politically powerful class and this sleaze politician knows it. Sacred ground, what a freaking joke.
Saw this comment on channel 4 website and thought it was interesting.
Here is another blog from a occupier and the things going on down at the Plaza. They have stolen iphones from people giving support and have stolen money from donations given. http://occupydixie.blogspot.c?om/2012_01_0… http://evil-unveiled.com/Wolf?y1619 http://imgur.com/GxADH This guy said he was going to use this knife on the police because when he was first arrested the police took his knifes. This guy digs up information on police from other states and puts there information all over the internet. He brags about how he likes to go to the bars at night on donations when he is on his ustream and twitter begging for money. It is against the law to do that to police officers.They drink on the plaza and get high but oh yea they are about change. http://pastebin.com/u/nonymou?s https://www.facebook.com/prof?ile.php?id=1… ;sk=wall Matthew Hamill
go to this site for the links.
http://www.wsmv.com/story/16655736/bill-ta…
Representative Eric Watson is the last person who should be lecturing people about right and wrong. He should have resigned from his office as state law maker soon after he resigned his position as a law enforcement officer for having cheated the system by falsifying his timecards. Everyone knew what he did was both unethical and illegal , so he resigned before charges were filed.
Occupy Nashvillle should haul Rep. Eric Watson and his legislation co-sponsors into federal court for civil rights intimidation....
I would have thought Mr. Barry, as intelligent as he claims to be, would understand the difference between squatting and living in a camping village on the War Memorial Plaza versus demonstrations stating one's opinion on a subject. Obviously not.
@grits_girl I do not do drugs nor do i drink on the plaza lol. STOP HATING MY AWESOMNESS!!! and the donations i live off of are donations to me through my wepay not to Occupy Nashville #lulz #getAlife to everyone else follow me on twitter @tangell0
