Perilous times are upon our city and county. Basic God given rights are being threatened on a consistent basis.
Our enthroned government has become so presumedly powerful that the general citizenry is now becoming fearful of its entity of government. Any resistance to it’s force is viewed upon as hate speech or being contrary. Defending against tyranny, restoring a lost republic, pursuing life, liberty and happiness is no longer viewed upon as valiant or brave, but pitiful by it’s elected representatives.
Recent actions to limit free speech upon it’s citizens by a runaway government is indicative of the times of the day where citizen participation in matters of freedom are frowned upon.
We have seen government abuse and it is very ugly. The sadness of this reality outweighs the strength of those words.
People are being criminalized and marginalized in Cleveland Tennessee by our elected representatives for portraying the actions set forth by our forefathers which among other subjects gives us the right to free speech.
When, on June 18th, 2012 this mayor and his court took a vital liberty from it’s citizens by passing a resolution 7 to 0 to basically hunt down, expose and imprison law abiding citizens for exercising free speech.
A travesty was committed and a protected innocence taken away by an assembly of men well intended to disperse and quash free speech in Cleveland Tennessee. Feeling threatened by your citizenry for challenging bad policy should never be reprimanded in a public or private setting with freedom stealing resolutions.
Free speech is being perceived as a threat instead of a reassurance of our inalienable rights and the people mocked for exercising our rights.
Let it be known that no entity or establishment of government will stifle, delay, quash or eliminate our most basic right as a free people.
Reverse the recent resolution that took away our rights and replace it with a confirmation of our free speech rights.
Our leaders witnessing this debacle should be standing side by side with the people making these demands. Our leaders should be rallying to the aid of their people being stripped of their rights. Instead, we stand and gaze from a comfortable distance as the slaying ensues.
Where are the supporters of freedom. Shame on any man that adds to our demise by doing nothing. Why are detractors in abundance when it’s people are quashed. This phenomenon may only be realized when our detractors have all our rights in their fists!
Freedom once lost is exactly that, lost!
The only thing that is standing between inprisonment and freedom for its people are these very well written constraints below, that at the moment still rule the land.
United States Constitution, First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
― (United States) Congress
Tennessee State Constitution:
Article 1, § 19. Freedom of speech and press; defamation
That the printing presses shall be free to every person to examine the proceedings of the Legislature; or of any branch or officer of the government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions, is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write, and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. But in prosecutions for the publication of papers investigating the official conduct of officers, or men in public capacity, the truth thereof may be given in evidence; and in all indictments for libel, the jury shall have a right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other criminal cases.
http://www.tncrimlaw.com/law/constit/I.html#21
Thursday, August 9th, 2012
Bradley County Tea Party says its rights abused
by Randall Higgins
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/aug/09/tea-party-says-its-rights-abused-tennessee/?local
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Tea Party of Bradley County members are warning the Cleveland City Council not to interfere with their right to free speech.
On June 18, the City Council voted for a resolution supporting a city police investigation into the distribution of leaflets in South Cleveland. The anonymous leaflets, left on doors and porches, warned that a city renewal plan meant taking over about 300 homes in that area and tearing them down.
Alarmed people who contacted City Hall were told that was not true.
After the council’s vote to find out who distributed the leaflets, tea party members came forward and admitted doing so.
Police Chief Wes Snyder sent a memo to the council, stating there were no criminal violations and that the tea party members’ right to speak could not be restrained.
On Monday, attorney Stuart James, on behalf of the Tea Party of Bradley County, sent a warning letter to the council and announced he wants to address its members at their next meeting Monday.
“As you know, political free speech is protected by the Tennessee and United States constitutions,” James wrote in the letter. “Although free speech is not an absolute right, free speech is protected. Moreover, free speech is protected from retaliatory actions by governmental bodies, such as the City Council. “Therefore, any resolution attempting to undermine those rights is in and of itself, constitutionally suspect. Moreover, the City Council may have exceeded its authority and may have violated the Constitution of the United States of America and the Tennessee Constitution attempting to pass a resolution designed to stop the exercise of free speech.”
Donny Harwood, president of the Tea Party of Bradley County, said Wednesday the group is being proactive.
“That’s a great portion of what we do, getting information to the public,” he said. “We can let them trample on our right to free speech or we can take a stand.”
Mayor Tom Rowland said Wednesday the city has no response, but James is welcome to speak to the council.
“We did receive the letter,” he said. “There were some inaccuracies in it.”
The county, Cleveland and Charleston hired a consultant to look at growth potential through 2035 and a batch of proposals came out of that study, but no final plan has been suggested or discussed.
There may be future opposition to the renewal plan, as well, James wrote in the letter.
“Any actions by the City Council to quash or quell free speech will be met with the appropriate response to enforce and protect the rights of individuals and organizations to exercise their free speech,” the letter stated.
James asked the council to repeal the previous resolution and adopt instead a resolution calling for protection of free speech in Cleveland.
Rowland routinely invites anyone not on the council’s meeting agenda to comment at the beginning of the official sessions. The council meets Monday at 1 p.m. for a work session and at 3 p.m. for its official voting session.
Bradley County News Network 