Huge Victory at Occupy Nashville as State Declines to Defend Gov's Crackdown on Demonstrators

[nadinbrzezinski]

Over the weekend, we highlighted a video of a night court judge in Tennessee refusing to jail Occupy Nashville demonstrators after they'd been arrested, bussed downtown by state troopers, and detained for several hours in the wake of a seemingly arbitrary enforcement of a curfew in a public space where protesters had been camping out. As seen in that video, Judge Tom Nelson ordered the protesters released, telling the arresting officer, "You have no lawful basis to arrest or charge these people."

A similar scene played out after arrests on two nights in a row, where the judge refused to jail the protesters.

And now, late today, comes yet another, even larger victory for Occupy Nashville demonstrators, along with a stinging rebuke for the state's Republican Governor Bill Haslam. The turn of events is certainly great news for admirers of the U.S. Constitution and the Rule of Law and stuff, as the state has "declined to defend the governor's crackdown on protesters" in the wake of a lawsuit filed by demonstrators and the ACLU.

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8884

[appleannie1]

1. I am so grateful that our Forefathers were brilliant men. And thankful that judges abide by their

wisdom.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. And that citizens are willing to stand for it too

I had my permit today... the US Constitution

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I hope the good people of DU realize how freaking huge this is

and in REALLY FREAKING HUGE!

Yes, precedent... and I am sure it will be used.

[BradBlog]

Thanks for picking this up here, Nadin!

[BradBlog]

4. Thanks for picking this up here, Nadin!

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. You welcome

:hi:

[coalition_unwilling]

5. Emphatic K&R - n/t