Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Friday afternoon that state officials will not entertain any criminal behavior at a demonstration scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Legislative Plaza.
Organizers have scheduled the event, which they call “Free Capitol Hill” at 5 p.m. Central today. In a Facebook flyer organizers do not address the venue as “Legislative Plaza.” Instead they refer to the landmark as the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (Formerly Legislative Plaza).”
Organizers do not identify themselves in the flyer. They said they want government officials to defund and demilitarize the police, remove what they call racist statues, and fire Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson.
Lee said on his Facebook page that demonstrators must abide by the rule of law.
“We encourage Tennesseans to exercise their First Amendment rights and have seen many examples of peaceful protests across our state in recent weeks. As demonstrations continue, we will continue to protect Tennesseans’ right to peaceful assembly, while also reassuring citizens that lawlessness, autonomous zones, and violence will not be tolerated,” Lee said.
“Further, Tennessee law expressly prohibits camping on state property not expressly designated as a campground area, and that law will be enforced.”
In an emailed statement, Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) warned “there is a difference between peaceful assembly, and lawlessness or unlawful camping, occupying, and autonomous zones on state property.”
“The General Assembly enacted laws after Occupy Nashville making it a Class A misdemeanor to occupy state property,” Sexton said.
“I agree with Governor Lee’s decision to enforce our current laws, and the House is fully prepared to enhance this type of lawlessness to a felony before the 2020 legislative session concludes next week.”
U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07) said on his Facebook page that “Tennessee will not tolerate anarchy” and called on state officials “to stop any form of lawlessness in its tracks.”
“Peaceful assembly is a Constitutional right that I’ve gone to war to defend, and will continue to fight for,” Green said.
“But if the organizers of this ‘Free Capitol Hill’ rally intend to recreate in Nashville what we’ve seen in Seattle, that’s anarchy.”
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said nothing about the planned protest on his Facebook page as of mid-Friday afternoon.
A Facebook user went to Nashville At Large Metro Council member Steve Glover’s Facebook page and asked “if there is a plan in place” to deal with any civil unrest.
Glover’s response:
“The plan won’t be shared but they are very aware.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bill Lee” by Bill Lee. Background Photo “Seattle Autonomous Zone” by Ochlo. CC BY-SA 4.0.
[…] Star reported Friday, Lee said Friday afternoon that state officials will not entertain any criminal behavior at the […]
Well I believe I see tents up Downtown and why is that? Good leadership stands behind their word. It is unlawful. Not a good way to start the weekend. Governor Lee you can do better. We don’t expect much from Cooper, but we do from you.
And what does Governor Milquetoast have planned if they do take over?
If the Governor stands his ground and these thugs know he means what he says they will take over the plaza in front of the Metro Courthouse instead because they know”Chicken Coop” COOPER will allow them and probably go make sure they have enough mask and help the protestors set up their tents. Cooper is a political hack democrat looser who is all for the protesters. Cooper is such a jerk!!!! Damn him for not opening Nashville (he is playing politics) and ruining peoples lives. I do not trust the covid 19 numbers by the Metro Health Dept. (the mayors puppets) or the lying mayor “Chicken Coop”.
I’m with you
…you turn your craft beer bottle into a Molotov cocktail.