Perhaps 100 to 150 or so protestors claimed Friday night that they had taken control of Nashville’s Legislative Plaza.
They renamed it Ida B. Wells Plaza and draped a black tarp with the civil rights’ journalist’s name over a post visible to almost the entire surrounding area.
And then the protestors pitched their tents and said they weren’t going anywhere.
As of press time Friday, no law enforcement officers were rounding the protestors up to arrest them, even though such acts, if one is indeed guilty of committing them, are Class A misdemeanors.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol officer told The Tennessee Star around 8 p.m. that no one had instructed him to arrest people as of yet. Other than what they said in their speech, none of the protestors had made any move— such as laying their heads down on pillows — to indicate they would stay the night.
Gov. Bill Lee’s office did not return requests for comment on the matter Friday night.
Left-wing activist Justin Jones spoke.
“The governor seemed a little scared today because we said we were going to spend the night and we meant that, because this is stolen land. This is our land and that we have been marching for weeks now. There has been no change from those in this building. And so we are holding this space. We will set these tents out here. We intend to stay until Governor Lee comes out and talks to people about why we are out here,” Jones said.
“We saw Marsha Blackburn today call us anarchists. We saw Speaker [Cameron] Sexton today say that if we stay out here they will try and raise the penalty to a felony. The real criminals, though, work in this building. The real criminals work on the Metro Nashville Police Department. The real criminals work in the legislature. So we are here to reclaim this space. We encourage you to tell other people to come out today. We intend to stay here. We are a non-violent protest.”
As The Star reported Friday, Lee said Friday afternoon that state officials will not entertain any criminal behavior at the demonstration.
Organizers said they want government officials to defund and demilitarize the police, remove what they call racist statues, and fire Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Gov Lee they’ve called your bluff. Either back up what you said and remove them or resign.
Just don’t come to my neighborhood. We have certain rules. But if you come to protest please leave before sundown.
[…] The Star reported Saturday, perhaps 100 to 150 or so protestors claimed Friday night that they had taken control of […]
Time to round them up and move them out.
Well, after going soft on immigration, our “conservative” governor appears to be softening toward antifa like an ice cream cone in the sun. Please grow some new cajones, guv, you appear to have lost your first pair!
I have friends who have prayed “the night watch “ over and on the Plaza and are so thankful the police did not run them off.
As long as the protesters are peaceful exercising their 1st A rights and they acknowledge my 2A rights, I am Ok !
Right, Doug! All of the Bill of Rights for everyone, special rights and privileges for no one. And all protestors and demonstrators should leave this or any public area just as they found it. That is, treat it just as you would want hour own dwelling or property treated. Otherwise, it sometimes happens that “what goes around, comes around.” Anyone who violates that should be arrested and removed. I’m all for “the rule of law” and “no one is above the law”!
Stand your ground, protesters! Hold the Governor’s feet to the fire until he decides to meet with you.