(Photo by John Partipilo, The Tennessean)

The stormtroopers arrived in the middle of the night, as they so often do, in order to take advantage of the vulnerability and disorientation of the sleeping Occupy Nashville protestors.  An incredible series of photos by Tennessean photographer John Partipilo can be found here. Twenty-nine protestors were arrested.  It was reported that, as of this morning, charges had been dropped and all had been released, but Occupy Nashville says that protestors are still being held.

Occupy Nashville began on October 7th, and a small core of protestors had maintained a constant presence on Legislative Plaza, in full view of the state capitol building, since that time, with others joining when they were able. For the most part, the protest has remained peaceful, but the movement has struggled to integrate the needs of the homeless into its mission.

Yesterday, Governor Bill Haslam announced that a curfew would be instituted on the Plaza, effective between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.  (Why a public space should be subject to a curfew is anyone's guess, and I am hoping that the Tennessee ACLU will become involved in this matter very soon.)  However, protestors were told that the curfew would not be enforced on Thursday.  They must have really meant  Thursday, as barely three hours into Friday, the Plaza was forcibly cleared by dozens of officers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which is the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over public spaces like Legislative Plaza.

Protestors have been told that they must apply for a daily permit, costing $65.00, have a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance in order to hold any kind of event on the Plaza, and that such events can only be held between the hours of 9:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m. It's nice to know that free speech has regular business hours!

There is a general assembly scheduled for this evening at 7:00 p.m. on the steps of Legislative Plaza.

(Photo by John Partipilo, The Tennessean)

Here is the press release issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (how I hate that the words "homeland security" are involved in arresting people exercising their First Amendment rights) regarding the actions last night.

Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons tries to defend his actions in a press conference today. Says that the state can't "babysit protestors".  Hmm, babysit or arrrest?  Babysit or arrest?  Are those really the only two options?

Jim and I hope to get downtown tonight and see what's happening. Jim has been down several times already, but hasn't had a chance to edit his photos. I thought this most recent development was too important not to write about, though, even without them. Hope to publish something with original photos early next week.

Update:  More protestors arrested Friday night, including a reporter for the Nashville Scene, who was arrested despite identifying himself as a journalist.  And an unlikely hero of sorts has emerged in Tom Nelson, the night court judge who has refused two nights in a row to sign the Tennessee Highway Patrol's arrest warrants, stating that he could "find no authority anywhere for anyone to authorize a curfew anywere on Legislative Plaza."

Here is a Keith Olbermann interview with Adam Knight, a Metro Nashville teacher who was arrested on Friday night.

Sunday, October 30:  No arrests on Saturday night. Interestingly, there was a gala on Legislative Plaza to benefit the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and many of the attendees and support staff were on the plaza well after the curfew. The state troopers may have had to arrest those people as well, and maybe that played a part in the decision to stay away. We'll see what happens tonight.

Monday, October 31:  Lawsuit filed today challenging the curfew as "invalid and unenforceable".  And a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent any further arrests.

Tuesday, November 1:  Protestors are setting up camp again on the Plaza!

WE ARE THE 99%!