A group of protesters in Tennessee is attempting to create an autonomous zone near the state’s Capitol in Nashville.
On Friday night, a group of 50 protesters camped out in front of Tennessee’s Capitol with the goal of establishing an autonomous zone, a similar occupation strategy to the one used by activists who created the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone,” or CHAZ, in Seattle.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, said he would protect peaceful demonstrations, but he warned that “autonomous zones” will “not be tolerated.”
“We encourage Tennesseans to exercise their First Amendment rights and have seen many examples of peaceful protests across our state in recent weeks,” Lee said in a message on Twitter. “As demonstrations continue, we will continue to protect Tennessean’s right to peaceful assembly, while also reassuring citizens that lawlessness, autonomous zones, and violence will not be tolerated.”
“Further, Tennessee law expressly prohibits camping on state property not expressly designated as a campground area, and that law will be enforced.”
As demonstrations continue, we will continue to protect Tennesseans’ right to peaceful assembly, while also reassuring citizens that lawlessness, autonomous zones, and violence will not be tolerated.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) June 12, 2020
Further, Tennessee law expressly prohibits camping on state property not expressly designated as a campground area, and that law will be enforced.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) June 12, 2020
Tennessee General Assembly Speaker Cameron Sexton agreed with Lee’s statement, saying the legislative body is “fully prepared to enhance this type of lawlessness to a felony.”
Protesters unveiled a banner declaring the area “Ida B. Wells Plaza,” displaying it where a statue of Edward Carmack, a former U.S. senator, once stood. Carmack’s statue was torn down by protesters in late May after George Floyd’s death.
The activists have several demands that they say must be met before they depart the area, including defunding the police, demilitarizing the police, and removing statues they deem racist.
Meanwhile, occupants in the CHAZ area of Seattle have established clearly defined borders, marking one end with a sign that reads: “You are now leaving the USA.”
The protesters published an article with 30 demands to Seattle’s government before promising to depart the area, which includes the dismantlement of the police department, the abolition of imprisonment, free public housing, and socialized healthcare.
A spokesman for law enforcement in Seattle told the Daily Caller about a plan to restore a constant presence of police in the area.
“We do have officers in the precinct,” said Mark Jamieson, a Seattle police public affairs official. “There are plans to get all officers back into the precinct.”
