Name: Protesters plan to camp out in front of Capitol, claiming area as autonomous zone
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Protesters plan to camp out in front of Capitol, claiming area as autonomous zone

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Nashville TennesseanView CommentsActivists and protesters gathered Friday night outside the Tennessee state Capitol to claim&nbsp;the space as an autonomous zone, bringing forth a new strategy for demonstrators who have been consistently protesting statewide since the end of May.&nbsp;A group of approximately 50 people gathered around 5 p.m. Friday and plan to stay for an undetermined amount of time. Ahead of the protest,&nbsp;Gov. Bill Lee issued a warning 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 statement midday Friday. "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.&nbsp;The crowd brought chairs, tables and a few tents to set up camp while state troopers watched. Despite Lee's warning and state law prohibiting camping on state property in undesignated areas, by 10 p.m. demonstrators weren't asked to leave.The effort comes as activists in , taking over multiple city blocks in recent days and refusing to leave.The Seattle occupation, which has not involved reported violence,&nbsp;has become a&nbsp;temporary encampment for artists, musicians and other protesters trying to demonstrate&nbsp;a society without law enforcement amid&nbsp;calls around the nation&nbsp;to "defund police."The group moved in after police in Seattle vacated their precinct in the Capitol Hill neighborhood on Monday after clashing with protesters for days.Albert Bender of&nbsp;the American Indian Coalition, who is Cherokee-American, spoke at the beginning of the rally where he shared support&nbsp;to Black men and women.&nbsp;"On behalf of the Native American community here, we support the reclamation of this land for the liberation and the freedom and the justice of all the people of this land," he said.&nbsp;Demonstrators unveiled a banner they created proclaiming the area in front of the Capitol as the Ida B. Wells Plaza, which they hung where the statue of Edward Carmack previously stood before it was toppled by protesters in May.Carmack, a newspaper editor, incited a mob against Wells, who destroyed her newspaper office&nbsp;in Memphis in 1892. Wells&nbsp;posthumously this year for her work covering the "horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching."Protesters have repeatedly called for the defunding of police, an idea that has circulated among demonstrators as rallies have popped up around the country to protest police violence and systemic racism among law enforcement.&nbsp;The group's listed platform includes the firing of Metro Nashville Police Department Chief Steve Anderson, to "defund" and "demilitarize" police, as well as removing "racist statues."Activist Justin Jones, who was arrested and&nbsp;had his warrants recalled hours&nbsp;later after the initial Nashville protest in May, called for Lee to address defunding law enforcement across the state.&nbsp;For hours Friday, the group chanted the names of Black men and women killed by law enforcement, sang hymns and other songs and worked on promoting creativity in the space.People blew bubbles, free books were distributed, signs and banners were made, and musicians brought instruments to play tunes for the crowd. The group offered a festival vibe.&nbsp;Demonstrators hung signs around the Capitol and drew messages in chalk.&nbsp;"We have an insensitive sick America," said Venita Lewis. "There's no more hiding all of this hate."&nbsp;Addressing troopers stationed outside the Capitol she said: "I understand your work. It's hard. ... Don't put your racism behind that suit. Don't put your anger behind the suit."&nbsp;Hannah Duncan, 23, was driving from Georgia to Kansas with her three children, who are biracial, when she spotted the protest while driving through Nashville.&nbsp;She stopped, gathered up her small children and helped them make signs scribbled on the back of spare paper before heading to join the movement."They need to see it at a young age," she said. "The world isn't for them but we're trying to change that."She is specifically worried for her son, who is now 3 years old. Although his skin is lighter and he has blue eyes, she knows he'll face racism in his lifetime."It makes you fear for what is going to come in 20 years," she said.&nbsp;Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at .Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our&nbsp;&nbsp;gets you unlimited access to all the latest politics news, podcasts like Grand Divisions, plus newsletters, a personalized mobile experience and the ability to tap into stories, photos and videos from throughout the USA TODAY Network's 261 daily sites.View Comments

Nashville TennesseanView CommentsActivists and protesters gathered Friday night outside the Tennessee state Capitol to claim&nbsp;the space as an autonomous zone, bringing forth a new strategy for demonstrators who have been consistently protesting statewide since the end of May.&nbsp;A group of approximately 50 people gathered around 5 p.m. Friday and plan to stay for an undetermined amount of time. Ahead of the protest,&nbsp;Gov. Bill Lee issued a warning that autonomous zones "will not be tolerated.""We encourage Tennesseans to exercise their First Amendment rights and have seen many...

Protesters plan to camp out in front of Capitol, claiming area as autonomous zone

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