Tennessee state troopers for the second straight night arrested Wall Street protesters for defying a new nighttime curfew imposed by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam in an effort to disband an encampment near the state Capitol.

And for a second time, a Nashville night judge dismissed arrest warrants of the arrested protesters.

The Tennessean newspaper reports that Magistrate Tom Nelson told troopers delivering the protesters to jail that he could "find no authority anywhere for anyone to authorize a curfew anywhere on Legislative Plaza."

Occupy Nashville protesters — including many of the 29 arrested in a pre-dawn raid on Friday — returned to the Legislative Plaza that evening and remained through the 10 p.m. curfew.

"To see it from the other side is even more infuriating," said Chip Allen, one of the protesters arrested in the first raid. "When you're in it, it's almost surreal. This takes on a whole 'nother flavor."

More than 200 people came to Friday evening's meeting to discuss the first round of arrests and future plans, though those numbers had dwindled as the night wore on and temperatures dropped.

There was no noticeable law enforcement presence for nearly two hours after the curfew went into effect, while adjacent theaters let out and patrons filtered back through the plaza to their cars without being challenged for violating the restrictions.

"Nothing was done to them, they were not arrested," said protester Michael Custer, 46. "But we are arrested while we are expressing our constitutional right to free speech."

Once the theater traffic cleared, dozens of state troopers descended on the plaza and began arresting protesters and a journalist for the Nashville Scene, an alternative weekly newspaper.

Troopers wouldn't give any details other than that a press release would be issued later Saturday.

After the arrested protesters were handcuffed, photographed and put on a bus, one trooper told another at the scene that 26 people had been apprehended.


Protesters remaining at the scene vowed to return Saturday, even if it means more arrests.

The 29 demonstrators arrested early Friday were taken to the Nashville jail, only to have Nelson, the night judge, rule the state had not given them enough time to comply with the new curfew.

They were instead issued misdemeanor citations for trespassing, which carry a $50 fine if they are found guilty.

It was not immediately clear whether other charges would be filed against those arrested Saturday morning.

The Haslam administration has cited what officials described as a deteriorating security and sanitary conditions on the plaza, saying that acts of lewd behavior had been observed by workers in state office buildings.

Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons said it was unrealistic to meet requests from protesters for a stronger law enforcement presence to help deter thefts and altercations often involving homeless people who had attached themselves to the encampment.

"We don't have the resources to go out and in effect babysit protesters 24-7 ... at the level that would have been necessary to address their concerns," Gibbons said during a press conference Friday.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/29/occupy-nashville-protesters-arrested-for-second-straight-night/?test=latestnews#ixzz1cF4l9oDS

These cops lack creativity. Not only should they get charged wih the curfew law and tresspassing but also disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, disregarding a lawful order and conspiracy on ALL of the charges including the tesspassing charge to make them felonies.

Since most of these dirtbags will just plead to make the charges reduced it gives the prosecutor more leverage.

Anyone who thinks that these people protesting the banks that caused our economic downfall and the government whop bailed them out as being a problem is plain retarded! These people are absolutely right in what they're doing and as far as I'm concerned they can firebomb wall street.

You have to wonder how this country would have turned out had Fox News been in business during colonial days. How about:



I wonder if our OP thinks THOSE people should have been 'In Jail Where They Belong'?


-Kerry O.


-

FIXED IT!

Simple fact...freedom of speech is NOT illegal...yet!!! People will be kicked in the *** only so long before they start kicking back. That's a fight for survival. The 99% have the 1% outnumbered on this one! It's about time! The revolution's here, America.

I agree, Peccy!

Without the unwarranted violence, I agree.

The protests are needed. The protester have to follow the laws of the areas they are protesting though also.

Our last violence here was caused by the protester not following the agreements made here with the mayor.

These are a little different then the Redcoats, they didn't have a piece of trash like Van Jones or a corrupt org like ACORN(Kinda like the British who we were trying to get rid of) calling the shots.

These people are no patriots, they are a political movement ment to distract the public and get Barry back into the White House for a second term.

These people are human trash and bigots. They are destroying the placed they are protesting at doing MILLIONS of dollars in damaged to the property, pooping and peeing anywhere they want, littering, digging stuff up, breaking things, leaving hazardous waste(IE poop, pee, blood), drug para and needles thrown away on the open ground among MANY other things I didn't list.

It will be up to the taxpayers to foot that bill too. These morons are costing the taxpayers up the A$$ but they are getting away with it because of the heat the White House, DNC and elected Democratic Officials in high elected offices puts on ANYONE who attemptes to do the right then and take these people down like the anials down like they really are.

Think about if if the average citizen(Without the Oval Office or major political backing) pulled a stunt like this do you realize what would happen? They whould be f-ed. They would be arrested, prosecuted, sent to prison AND pay for the damage they cost. We are talking serious charges too.

I agree. And the boston tea party was an organized protest where everyone had the same idea. Here they all have different one's. Nobody stands for the same stuff as anyone else. They're just a bunch of disorganized hippies.

So it's control thru chaos? Seems to work for the gov't and the bankers!

ask Georgie Boy Soros,he can tell you!
It's his MO!
Made him filthy rich!

That's an interestingly limited view of events. The thing about large, complex situations is that there can be many simultaneous truths - and if you focus on one part, you miss the big picture.

Just because various people are trying to take advantage of this development doesn't make them a key player. Just because some people stand to benefit, and they are doing everything they can to fan the flames, doesn't mean that their involvement characterizes the situation, or even reflect the motivations of the majority.

Many of the people involved in the protest are patriots!

Human trash? Morons? Bigots?

With views like this it will be hard for you to take an honest look at the good that inspires many of these people, and the good things that may come of this.

http://www.lookingattheleft.com/2011/10/evil-clowns-and-anti-capitalist-revolution-in-denver/

Morons and dangerous Idiots indeed!


"OWS is the culmination of a process that surfaced at the One Nation rally in Washington, D.C. in October, 2010. The Democrat Party invited a long list of labor unions and communist organizations to publicly support the Obama administration. I wrote at the time: ”The lines between the Democratic Party, labor unions, socialist and communist organizations, were blurred at the One Nation Working Together rally at the Lincoln Memorial … . Organized by One Nation Working Together, which is headed by the cream of the Democratic National Committee, the rally was a showcase for the most radical elements of the Democrat party base. This movement also has its roots in the 2009 astroturf campaign organized by Obama For America/Organizing for America and labor unions to bully and intimidate the Tea Party movement........."

I think your misguided totaly. These people know that both parties are beholden to the economic interests that are basicly running the world. The change they wanted didnt come at the ballot box so they protest. Had Obama come through those folks wouldnt be out there at all.
Most of america supports this movement, gee I wonder why?







THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!
"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." - Thomas Jefferson

Bestinshow, you are completely right to call out lpdon's regurgitation of the rhetoric designed to misrepresent this movement, but I'm not sure what you mean by bringing up obama - there are people marching at occupy who have never voted democrat in their life.

I don't believe the 'actual' protesters are the ones creating the violence...

But they sure do need to rein in their 'fringe' groups.

Then go to DC where the real problem is.

It's America. If we went around arresting everyone who had an opinion, we would not have room for schools after we built all the jails.

There is a lot of argument among the oakland activists about the anarchists in the group. There is a fairly strong (compared to anywhere else I've lived) anarchist movement in the east bay that is always waiting and eager to turn any issue into an anarchist platform. Some of these anarchists support the use of violence.

The majority of the 99%ers do NOT support the anarchists. Some people want to completely ostracize the anarchists (on account of the violent anarchists), and some, of course, argue that 'every voice should be heard'.

The way the cops came down on people - with tear gas and excessive force - has got these crazy anarchists are riled up and ready to fight.

The anarchist do not represent anyone other than themselves.




They face the same problem everyone else faces: how to you 'reign in' a group, while also respecting their liberty?