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Unless something unexpected happens, this Thursday could see the end of Occupy Nashville’s presence at Legislative Plaza. This doesn’t mean the end of ON; they’re still weighing their options, but right now their main concerns are protecting their homeless friends who have been braving the elements 24/7 at the Plaza (last night was in the 20′s with flurries, and today was sunny but near freezing, with lows in the teens predicted for tonight) and also the protection of community property. Open Table will be providing a warm and safe haven tonight.
Because the TN Legislature has been crafting revenge with a vengeance. As it stands now, the House and Senate bills will prohibit camping, along with anything related to camping, in the Plaza, which will now be a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $2,500 and up to 11 months and 29 days in jail. And the word is that there is pressure building to make at least one example. In spite of this, about a half dozen Occupiers plan on being arrested, although the situation is fluid. More will be known this Tuesday when the Committee decides when to place the bills on the calendar. After ‘debate,’ the bills will be voted on and passed.
In addition to the steep penalties, all Occupiers’ possessions can be confiscated and not returned. There will be no camping, and no tents, although the law so far guarantees the right to protest 24/7. Protestors could be charged with other crimes instead of/along with practicing the First Amendment, such as trespassing. If someone’s name is found on something inside a tent, even if that person isn’t present, they could still be arrested.
Yet, this week can actually be scored as Christians 3, Lions 1, as ON continues to sneer at adversity, racking up three impressive victories this week alone. First and foremost, Chase has backed off on Helen Bailey’s foreclosure.
Second, Wells Fargo now has to produce original documents in regards to the foreclosure case against Janice Davis
Third, a planned action against Trader Joe’s because of their refusal to honor the Fair Food Agreement was cancelled today due to victory. While this will boost the cost of tomatoes by a penny per pound, pickers will be able to afford to live to be able to pick tomatoes. Publix and Kroger’s are still refusing to sign, but there is a hunger strike planned outside of Publix’ corporate headquarters in Florida March 5th, as they are refusing to even meet with the workers.
What sort of people might be upset at such good news, you might ask? Meet the lions of Tennessee’s Most Christian Legislature. First up is Eric P Watson, who believes that, “the Occupy Nashville movement has actually exploited the homeless for their own political benefit. Such exploitation is condemned by Jesus and his followers.” Another outstanding fan of the Man from Galilee is Vance Dennis, who has inserted the no camping clause in the eviction bills. He’s also in favor of bullies inserting pain into children. You could say he wants to “stomp a mudhole” into helpless children, but that would deny Richard Floyd his moment in the slime light. You might say Our Most Christian Legislature is going “great guns” in it’s war on the unworthy, but it gets to be like shooting fish in a barrel.
A true Christian has spoken up.
This Tuesday is Valentine’s Day; why not show them some love? They’ll be outside Metro Board of Education on Bransford Ave with the United Steel Workers and the SEIU supporting staff unions.
Mavis and Jimmy provide some additional proselytizing.
“Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning” performed by Nigel McTrusty, from the album, “If I had My Way; A Cigar Box Guitar Tribute To Blind Willie Johnson,” available free.
9 Comments
What happened to the hyper-links? Parts of this don’t make any sense now!
fixed, my apologies.
Thanks so much. My end was almost nigh!
It is time for all of us who have participated in OWS, and our local groups, to turn our flags upside down. The country is in distress, and this is the national distress signal. We cannot gather, but we can support one another as we drive, bike, and sit in our homes with our flags prominently displayed. It will serve to unite us in spirit across the country, and keep our drive and commitment strong.
wow! great report and lots of links for follow-up.
really pleased to read of many successes ON has accomplished, and lots more on the fire. even if/when tent encampment “outlawed,” it looks like occupynashville is not going away.
Greatest success of all is that the gov’t of the entire state is so frightened of ON that they have to engineer laws to protect themselves from the homeless, soon to be homeless foreclosure victims and their advocates: occupy nashville.
congrats to ON reaching stage 3 (“then they fight you”) in record time!
karen
A question I have is have the city councils/ legislatures that have passed new laws/ regulations used this as an excuse to write laws that goes beyond limiting free speech and assembly of the Occupy protestors and further infringe the homeless’s ability to survive in these urban areas.
I know of munipalities that have tried to pass draconian laws against “urban’ camping and sleeping in cars as a tool to suppress the homeless.
Unfortunatly too many players such as ALEC have laws written ready for a crisis to propel them through the legislative process.
So back to my question has an unintended consequence of the Occupy movement been increased difficulty for the homeless?
Good question, Rational. Off the top of my head, I think this is more out of sight, out of mind, so their “beautiful minds” won’t be soiled by the sight of the great unwashed. Nashville has a large homeless population, and some of these people have serious issues (like homelessness), and it looks to have been going on for some time (check an earlier post of mine for some links, can’t remember which one but I mention homelessness), and people become immune as it’s so commonplace.
As long as the homeless stay away from Legislative Plaza, and the Legislators, they will be allowed to exist.
ON’s mortal sin was they put this literally under the TNL’s nose, when all the TNL wanted to do was prostitute themselves for some corporate cash and spread a little hate.
It’s weird, all the TNL quotes,links, and headlines I used in this and the last post and their two videos,I just did off the top of my head. I didn’t have to dig that deep. And that’s one very depressive collection of sick.
Thank You for your response.
I am curious if the new laws give the authorities more excuses to harass Homeless whenever they feel like enforcing a code. In some cases if an homeless person is selling one of the papers put out by the homeless ( Wa state has on of these) that cites police brutality now do the uniformed enforcers now have another tool they can use to target that individual?
Also my question goes beyond Nashville to other communities where they have used the Occupy movement as another event to promote a reactionary policy prepared for passage as a “solution” to a “crisis” of the outbreak of free speeech.
Silly seive like brain I know there was a book I wished to refer to about this but the title has escaped my synapses.
From what I’ve seen, the powers that be haven’t needed another event for a solution. They brand the opposition DFHs or communists, or I think socialist is now the new communist, then spray/club away. TN so far has been lucky with that, although we did have the storm troopers last Oct.
I can’t honestly say if the police have been brutal to the homeless here. It hasn’t come up at Occupy or with the ones I buy papers from.
There’s 2 women I’ve bought from for about a year and a half, I think, and they haven’t mentioned it (one certainly would have).