Update: Porta-Potties arrive at the Plaza!
Chas Sisk coversthe breaking news and snaps a picture of the all-important toilets.
A delegation from Occupy Nashville went to the state Capitol this morning to deliver a letter—what the four protesters called “a gesture of good will”—to Gov. Bill Haslam, the guy who just had them hauled off to jail. With TV cameras in tow, they walked into the governor’s office and read the letter aloud to one of Haslam's assistants, who then accepted it for him. At which point, they said thank you and walked out to meet with the media in the marble hallway.
Two of the protesters—Megan Riggs and Tristan Call—told reporters about their hopes for a Porta-Potty, for help with security, and for a little better understanding from Haslam regarding their right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Is that too much to ask?
"We just want to draw attention to the corruption currently in the government, and we’d like to change it," said the soft-spoken Riggs, 25.
In the Commercial Appeal, Rick Locker points out:
In contrast to how the protesters have been depicted by Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney, the four members of the delegation were professionally or casually attired. Devaney issued a statement Monday calling the protesters “loiterers who would’ve serve their cause better by simply occupying a restroom.” Devaney also blasted three Democratic leaders who defended the protesters’ rights, saying that if “Democrats want to associate with this bunch, more power to them. Maybe on top of the pizzas they’ve offered to purchase, they might also offer to pay for the decontamination crew.”
Pinned to Bill Howell's chest like a badge of honor was the number 23 scribbled on a piece of paper. It was the number that state troopers slapped on Howell's back when he was arrested along with 28 others on the first night of Haslam's crackdown. Howell has given the scrap of paper a plastic sheath to protect it from the weather.
"I'm No. 23 of the 29," Howell explained. "We're embracing the number. They are trying to dehumanize us."
The protesters said they will welcome young Republicans from Vanderbilt who plan to stage a counter-protest tonight at the Plaza. Here are excerpts from their little press conference:
