Thread: TnRIP LAW ENFORCEMENT SABOTAGES RALLY IN TENNESSEE

Date: 2006/06/25 Sun AM 10:53:53 EDT
Subject: TnRIP NEWS": TN Law Enforcement sabotages rally in Morristown, TN


www.TnRIP.org

Anti-illegal Immigration Rally in Morristown shut down by law enforcement!!!
TnRIP has received word that the THP (Tennessee Highway Patrol) sent troopers from at least as faraway as Putnam County (Cookeville) who used the event as a 'training exercise'!!!

http://www.citizentribune.com/news/view ... ticle=3694

Rally to focus on costs of illegal immigration
Robert Moore, Tribune Staff Writer

The organizers of a rally scheduled for Saturday at the Hamblen County Courthouse say they’re on a mission to educate Americans about the financial and less tangible costs of illegal immigration.

The group, which doesn’t identify itself by name, maintains their purpose "is not to spread racism or hate."

Morristown Police Chief Roger Overholt says everyone has the constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful assembly, but he’s not taking any chances the rally will go off without a hitch.

Overholt says the Morristown Police Department plans a "strong police presence" at the 2 p.m. rally on the courthouse lawn. The police chief says he sees the potential for a disturbance, not necessarily from the event organizers, but from those whose view of illegal immigration specifically and Hispanics in general lies outside the mainstream.

"Sometimes, people who organize these types of events do so believing they have good intentions," the police chief said this morning. "The problem is these types of events often attract people who may be associated with hate groups or who have extreme prejudices."

Several months ago, a courthouse lawn rally organized by a Knoxville employment agency that places large numbers Hispanics attracted more than one individual associated with the Ku Klux Klan, according to Overholt.

One of the most vocal men who spoke out against immigration reform at the first rally wore a KKK ring and had an "SS" Nazi tattoo on one of his forearms. Another man who attempted to shout down a speaker at the event was asked to leave.

The police chief says history could repeat itself Saturday.

"Anyone who attempts to prevent this from being a peaceful event will be dealt with from a legal standpoint," Overholt said. "Obviously, we’re not going to tolerate any threatening behavior or any disruptive behavior.

"If language and gestures become threatening to the point where it could cause somebody to be harmed, we will deal with that."

In a flier advertising the Saturday rally, the group maintains illegal immigrants are a financial drain on the United States, and granting illegals amnesty would create a further financial burden.

The group says illegal aliens are overburdening the health care system and crowding legal U.S. residents out of colleges and universities.


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http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5074675


Ralliers Say Constitutional Rights Were Violated

The debate over immigration reform is getting more attention from folks in Morristown. At a rally there, a strong police forced outnumbered anti-immigration protestors two-to-one. And those involved in the rally say they aren't happy.

In fact, protestors and police tell us one elderly gentleman, a veteran became aggressive because security wouldn't let him take his flag into the rally on its pole, citing the pole as a potential weapon.

He was taken into custody.

"You know we have fought hard for what we've got in this country and everybody's welcome to be part of it if you don't break the law," said Audrey Lowe a protestor.

Audrey Lowe and several dozen others are teaming up to send out a message.

"I'm for America. American people. I'm for all people, I want them to be here legally though," said Jaime Skeen.

The group is protesting immigration reform.

"In those massive rallies all I saw was mexcian flags, panamanian, hondouran flags," said Tome Lowe.

But as they gathered at the Hamblen County Courthouse they were met by a strong police force, including a riot squad.

"We have been asked by Chief Overholt from Morristown Poilce Department for assistance in case there were any kind of trouble," said Lt. Glenn Cantwell from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Protestors say that's a problem.

"Our right of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech has just been violated in the worst sense," said Audrey Lowe.

Jaime Skeen woman wasn't allowed in with her flag.

"You can bring the flag, you can't carry your pole. It's considered a weapon."

"The mic has been cut so the speakers can't even peacefully speak, that is not American, that is a violation of our American rights," said Lowe.

And protestors say too much noise from helicopters and other security measures were so disrupting that they moved to the local V-F-W.

Meanwhile, police say it's better to be prepared...

"Any protest is always possible of getting out of control, but to be able to handle it before it does get out of control, can keep it from getting out of control," said Lt. Glenn Cantwell.

"They certainly weren't here in force when the Hispanics had their day," said Lowe.

But local immigration leaders say the extra security measure is good.

"I'm glad that there was not a lot of people here, that means Morristown is more accepting of the Immigrant Community and what they're doing here, so that's one step forward," said Lisa Barba Immigrant supporter.



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http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=5074855



Rally against illegal immigration ends with arrest and chaos in Hamblen Co.

June 24, 2006

By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter

MORRISTOWN (WATE) -- A rally that was supposed to be peaceful ended with chaos Saturday afternoon outside the Hamblen County courthouse.

Things got testy for a while as police tried to stop a disabled veteran from carrying an American flag onto courthouse grounds.

Teddy Mitchell, 62, was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Police say the flag pole he carried was too sharp and they did not want him to take it onto courthouse grounds.

Organizers of the group Citizens for Legal Immigration say they had received permission to peacefully take a stand against illegal immigrants. They say they were surprised to see the overwhelming police presence when they arrived.

A Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesperson, Lt. Glenn Cantwell, told 6 News troopers were prepared for the worst.

"You never know who may show up to these things," he said.

Authorities had received word that the Tennessee Minutemen and Ku Klux Klan members might show up to protest. Morristown Police Chief Roger Overholt asked THP to assist.

Lt. Cantwell says there were about 80 armed officers at the scene. They included officers from Morristown, a police SWAT team, Hamblen County deputies, THP officers, and a police helicopter.

Officers barricaded public parking lots around the courthouse.

Rally organizers say the show of force was intimidating. They tried to go on with their scheduled speeches, but said their public address system was not working because they had no electricity.

Organizer Audrey Lowe told 6 News the city and county violated the group's First Amendment rights. "One hundred percent violated," she said. "Our freedom of speech was violated. Our freedom of peaceful assembly was violated. Our freedom to fly our flag, the U.S. flag, on the public courthouse lawn was violated today-- big time."

Rally organizers moved to the VFW building on Highway 11E to continue their protest. They say they did not feel welcome outside the courthouse.

At least one rally organizer now plans to file a federal lawsuit against the city and county.

Hamblen County commissioner Tom Lowe says the action police took was a violation of the group's First Amendment rights.

"I am 95 percent sure that I and other members of the group, we'll all file a federal lawsuit against the city and the county and anybody else involved in shutting us down," Lowe said.

Mitchell, the disabled veteran who was arrested, posted a $3,000 bond and has been released from jail.





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Publication: Citizen Tribune; Date:2006 Jun 25; Section:Front Page; Page Number: A-1
Opponents of illegal immigration rally in Hamblen



BY ROBERT MOORE Tribune Staff Writer




The voice-drowning whir of a Highway Patrol helicopter disrupted, dislodged and in short order disbanded a rally staged by opponents of illegal immigration at the Hamblen County Courthouse Saturday afternoon.
The rally might have continued if the group, the Concerned Citizens of Hamblen County, had electrical power feeding their microphone, but they didn’t.
Event organizers relocated the rally to the VFW club a few blocks away, but momentum was lost. Not all the group’s supporters made the trip, and 50-odd Concerned Citizens who did didn’t stay for long.
Hamblen County Commissioner Tom Lowe, who spoke at the event, said he planned to sue in federal court to fight what he perceives as a violation of the group’s right to peaceful assembly.
The rally was mostly peaceful, but a troublemaker could not have found a worse place to practice his pastime Saturday afternoon than the county courthouse.
Approximately 100 law enforcement officials — approximately the same number of people who attended the rally — had central Morristown completely locked down.
An orange plastic fence was erected around the courthouse lawn. Access to the rally was limited to two points, which were heavily guarded by law officers carrying metal detectors.
Everyone was searched, and a THP videographer and still photographer documented the event. Two men equipped with high-powered binoculars — and presumably high-powered rifles — were stationed on top of the courthouse annex.
One Morristown man who wanted to attend the rally, 61-year-old Ted Mitchell, allegedly ignored all the warning signs.
Mitchell began shouting when gate sentries told him he could not bring a metal flagpole onto the courthouse lawns. Flags, law officers told him, were permitted, but he’d have to leave the flagpole outside the orange plastic perimeter.
Mitchell allegedly ignored the invitation and was quickly subdued into a hedgerow by four large officers. Mitchell faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Morristown Police Chief Roger Overholt says he had specific intelligence about members of extremist groups planning to attend the rally. Overholt said late Saturday afternoon that it was unclear whether or not those individuals were no-shows.
“We would rather err on the side of safety and caution than to have a situation like we had last year where you had people starting to get confrontational, and we were not sure we had the resources to handle the crowd.”



Tom Lowe, a member of the Hamblen County Commission, said he wants to leave local children “with a legacy they’ll be proud of” by opposing illegal immigration. Lowe spoke at a rally on the Hamblen County Courthouse lawn Saturday afternoon.

This is disgusting. Hordes of illegal, border jumping criminals can wave foreign flags in our country but REAL AMERICANS can't.

What is up with that?

Oh yea, this is Senator Frist's state, Isn't it?

"We have been asked by Chief Overholt from Morristown Poilce Department for assistance in case there were any kind of trouble," said Lt. Glenn Cantwell from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Organizer Audrey Lowe told 6 News the city and county violated the group's First Amendment rights. "One hundred percent violated," she said. "Our freedom of speech was violated. Our freedom of peaceful assembly was violated. Our freedom to fly our flag, the U.S. flag, on the public courthouse lawn was violated today-- big time."

OUTRAGEOUS

Figures.......these criminals can stop traffic, make terriorist threats, cause riots and when anyone has anything to say against them........what our RIGHTS just dissappear?

I hope these protesters are going to sue the pants off those denying their legal right to protest against illegal immigration. I hope it goes all the way to the Supreme Court. This is a national disgrace. If we keep on letting things like this happen to those of us who protest against illegal immigration, we are soon to become Mexicana! It is so hard to believe law officials would act this way against their own citizens who "pay" their salaries, it is a black day for America, when Old Glory, is not allowed access to an area that a court house sits in, and even considered to be a possible weapon. These law officers,are a joke. I have often heard friends say, they are almost as afraid of the "law" as they are of the criminal elements, now I understand what they meant when they said this about officers of the law!

I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I'd prefer not to see any KKK members present at any anti-illegal immigrant rally. Such hate groups only act to strengthen our oppositions cause.

I realize there were no KKK members at this specific rally, but I think the rally organizers should have made it known that the KKK is not welcome. I understand even the KKK has the right to free speech and protest, but we need to keep our cause distanced from them - it's for our own good!

Police say the flag pole he carried was too sharp and they did not want him to take it onto courthouse grounds.

A veteran of our country is not allowed to proudly carry an American flag. But if an illegal carried a mexican flag on 2 flaming samurai swords that would be fine.


dataman said

Oh yea, this is Senator Frist's state, Isn't it?

That's the first thing I thought of as well.

don't know about the rest of you folks, but I'd prefer not to see any KKK members present at any anti-illegal immigrant rally. Such hate groups only act to strengthen our oppositions cause.

No I don't think anyone here wants that sort of radical group present. But they weren't even there. It was just the idea they MIGHT be. Why weren't they so upset and prepared for the RADICAL hispanic groups that actually supported their rallys?? Just seems to be a dual set of rules. Like it was sabatoged before it even started, on a rumor.

Crazybird,

Just seems to be a dual set of rules. Like it was sabatoged before it even started, on a rumor

.

No, no one here wants that ilk associated with us. re your quote, see my sig. I think a rumor is a good excuse as far as the other side's concerned.

Of course nobody wants the KKK involved. But that is just what the opposition wants. Keep the KKK on the front page of this issue. Straw dog and we should all be outraged that they can even get away with suggesting such. It is slander to try to tie the KKK to this rally or the MM. The KKK is only an issue because we allow the press to make it so. Does anyone even know a member of the KKK? They are an almost defunct organization that gets drug out ever time someone wants to libel some person or group. This mayor and police force should all be taken to task and apologizeand be investigated for such racial slander and treatment of law abiding citizens.

The group, which doesn’t identify itself by name, maintains their purpose "is not to spread racism or hate."

This needs to stop too. Quit apologizing.