Occupy Nashville members sue over new plaza rules

Friday, October 26, 2012, Vol. 36, No. 43

NASHVILLE (AP) - Members of Occupy Nashville have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging new rules governing the use of the War Memorial Plaza next to the capitol.

The Tennessean reports (http://tnne.ws/VMQfpy) Occupy members are asking a federal judge block enforcement of the rules that include a prohibition on camping at the plaza.

Occupy protesters who had camped out there were arrested last October. A federal court order found the hastily drawn rules that prompted the arrests violated the protesters' First Amendment rights. Legislators then passed a law banning camping on all state property, including the plaza.

The Wednesday lawsuit names Gov. Bill Haslam and other state officials as defendants.

Occupy Nashville members have a separate suit pending in federal court related to the October 2011 arrests.