TN man arrested for asking local official to speak up amid dispute over wastewater plant

[geardaddy]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/21/tn-man-arrested-for-asking-local-official-to-speak-up-amid-dispute-over-wastewater-plant/

A 76-year-old man in Greeneville, Tennessee was arrested for asking a local official to speak louder during a public meeting amid a dispute over a proposed wastewater plant affecting their community, WATE-TV reported.

Eddie Overholt was charged with interfering with a public meeting and resisting arrest after being taken out in handcuffs from a meeting of the Greene County Industrial Development Board on Friday, His removal came on the order of County Mayor Alan Broyles.

Overholt was one of several people at the meeting who had planned to speak in opposition to a proposed wastewater disposal plant by U.S. Nitrogen that would involve installing a pipeline into the nearby Nolichucky River. The board was deliberating whether the company should be allowed to file a second application to the state Department of Transportation. U.S. Nitrogen’s first application was rejected earlier this year.


“Eventually whatever they put in the river, we’re going to get in our wells,” Overholt told WATE. “Knowing it’s a chemical company and a fertilizer company, we know what they put in the river.”

But the Greeneville Sun reported on Monday that board members did not use microphones during the meeting, and some of them sat with their backs to the audience. The board also sat behind a rope barrier, with Greeneville Police Chief Terry Cannon standing between it and the audience.

Broyles reportedly warned the audience to remain quiet during the board’s discussion or risk being thrown out. At one point, his request for the crowd not to applaud was interrupted by laughter, prompting him to repeat his warning.

“Would you all speak up until the whole audience can hear what you say?” Overholt then reportedly asked Broyles. The mayor responded by ordering officers to take Overholt out of the building.

“It’s a public hearing,” said Overholt, a member of Save the Nolichucky, an advocacy group formed to protest the proposed pipeline.

More at link.

Police state and gov't officials bending over for industry.

[RKP5637]

1. ... democracy in action I guess, basically, STFU or be arrested. Yep, democracy.

[geardaddy]

2. Yep.

[raouldukelives]

42. I find it unconscionable they didn't set up a free speech zone for them outside somewhere.

We must continue to demand free speech zones. If we lose them, what will we have?

[RKP5637]

43. Amazing! More of this is going on and on. Too many Americans IMO do not collectively

stand up for their rights. I don't know if they just don't know too, or if they just don't care. It gets to me to be a mystery, and so many fall hook, line and sinker for propaganda.

[DirkGently]

3. Wow. "Public meeting," huh? With their backs turned?

Reminds me of the of local County Commission meetings here in Orlando, where commissioners texted with Disney and Darden lobbyists while citizens petitioned for earned sick leave. At least those guys pretended to listen to the public, though.

[chervilant]

4. Most distressing,

and nary a peep from the M$M about Eric Garner's death at the hands of a brutal NYPD.

[geardaddy]

5. Yes!

thank you for saying this!

[DirkGently]

7. Chris Hayes had a whole piece on Garner last night.

Had Sharpton on. Talked some about the woman beaten by the CHP as well.

[chervilant]

24. Let's hope for more coverage in the coming days... n/t

[damnedifIknow]

11. What they fail to realize is

they won't be young and have their crap talking buds around forever so this is when all the stuff they have done regarding brutality will hit them. Find them on a bar stool throwing down whiskey unable to cope.

[chervilant]

33. Their blatant disregard for Eric's life is appalling.

I'm surprised we're not seeing stronger reactions -- I'm stunned by this "'meh' same story, different day" response I'm witnessing.

[stjohndoe]

6. Link to local group Save the Nolichucky

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Nolichucky/240125856178528

[Duppers]

13. Thanks for that. Remember the actress Park Overall?

She's very active in this cause. I'm surprised she wasn't there that night, getting herself arrested.

(She happens to be a friend of a friend of mine.)

She challenged Bob Corker for his senate seat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=678070

[stjohndoe]

21. Yes, I remember.

I wish she stood a chance in this part of the country. Perhaps someday.

[Petrushka]

15. petition

I just signed the petition: "Petition to Stop the Exploitation of the Nolichucky River by Austin Powder dba US Nitrogen LLC"

It would mean the world to me if you could also add your name to this important issue. Every name that is added builds momentum around the petition and makes it more likely for us to get the progressive social change we want to see.

Will you join me by taking action on this petition?

http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/petition-to-stop-the-exploitation-of-the-nolichucky-river-by-austin-powder-dba-us-nitrogen-llc

After you've signed the petition, please also take a moment to share it with others. It's super easy – all you need to do is forward this email.

Thank you!

Patricia A.

[IrishAyes]

18. Thank you!

[stjohndoe]

23. There is also a petition asking for the immediate resignation

of the Mayor of Greene County.

http://www.change.org/petitions/alan-broyles-immediate-resignation-due-to-abuse-of-power#share

[Dustlawyer]

39. Anyone know how much he has surely taken from them in campaign donations and/or trips,

Jobs for relatives and the like?

[geardaddy]

25. Done!

[fasttense]

30. Thanks, I just signed

We live just 12 miles outside of Greeneville (we call it Green Evil). But I note that it is the Greene County Mayor who is pushing for more pollution of the the river, Not the Mayor of the city. The city is somewhat more liberal and votes in a Democrat every now and again.

[vkkv]

32. Signed

Thanks for the link.

[frylock]

8. Meet Alan Broyles, the County Mayor

Give the mayor a call. Let him know what you think.

Office Information

Address
204 North Cutler Street, Suite 206
Greeneville, TN 37745

Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Telephone Number
[phone]

Email Address
[email protected]

http://www.greenecountytngov.com/e_mayor.php

[IrishAyes]

12. Thank you!

[kelliekat44]

9. And we should worry more about NSA? nt

[questionseverything]

16. the trampling of Constitutional rights

will always lead to MORE trampling of Constitutional rights

new whistleblower says.....

Tye is but the latest surveillance whistleblower, though he took pains to distinguish himself from Snowden and his approach to dissent. "Before I left the State Department, I filed a complaint with the department’s inspector general, arguing that the current system of collection and storage of communications by U.S. persons under Executive Order 12333 violates the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures," Tye explained. "I have also brought my complaint to the House and Senate intelligence committees and to the inspector general of the NSA."

These steps—which many say Snowden should've taken—produced no changes to the objectionable NSA spying and wouldn't be garnering attention at all if not for Snowden's leaks. It is nevertheless telling that another civil servant with deep establishment loyalties and every incentive to keep quiet felt compelled to speak out.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

44. Without question. They're international in scope.

This pissant mayor needs to lose his job of course, but I'm not planning on ignoring the rape of the Constitution by the NSA because of this mayor. You?

[Uncle Joe]

10. That's disgraceful!

Thanks for the thread, geardaddy.

[questionseverything]

17. in detroit sound cannons were used on peaceful protesters

this week for the second time

[IrishAyes]

20. Yeah, but at least they're not turning off the water anymore either, from what I hear.

Hope that's right.

[questionseverything]

27. i read the same but

these sound cannons were demeaned too inhumane to use when we were at war in Iraq.....and now they are being used against US citizens

I feel Detroit is being used as a guinea pig to see how far,how fast they can go

[fasttense]

31. The federal government at the request of the local government and mine owners dropped bombs on

protesting mine workers who were trying to Unionize in the Battle of Blair Mountain Virginia. So water cannons seem like a useful tool for the corporate state.

Desperate greedy rich men will stop at nothing to get richer. So which corporation is pushing for those water canons I wonder? They'll say it's the government but there is always a corporation behind these war like tactics.

[Petrushka]

35. Psst! Don't look now but Blair Mountain was and is in WEST (by God!) Virginia . . .

. . . West Virginia, that wild and wonderful Mountain State located to the north and east of its olde mama, Virginia.

[IrishAyes]

36. Hate to agree with you about that but can't deny it.

They may come in for a bit of a surprise, however. I don't want the people of Detroit to suffer any more than they already have, but I don't think they'll take much more. For every weapon there's a counter-weapon (if there's such a word).

[questionseverything]

37. you are correct about it being a corp developing,pushing these weapons

if i am remembering what i read correctly,these sound cannons can kill everyone in a 20 square block area if they are turned high enough

scarey times

[geardaddy]

26. No problem.

[Uncle Joe]

28. Peace to you, geardaddy.

[Duppers]

14. damn shameful!!

We know who's been bought, don't we!

Thanks for posting this.

[Scuba]

19. "Shut up", he explained.

[geardaddy]

22. Amazing, isn't it? n/t

[KansDem]

29. Jobs: "If people make good wages, they live better."

Yeah, while they drink poisoned water from the wells!

This "it's all about jobs" schtick is pure horseshit!

[Enthusiast]

34. Kicked and recommended!

Funny how paid disruptors were given full support when they attacked town hall speakers during the health care debate.

This is another example of Fascism.

[Octafish]

38. Terrorist.

Obviously. And, in fact, most people who don't "go along" now are.

[geardaddy]

41. Yep.

It's all back to the company store, too.

[PatrickforO]

40. No mikes? Backs turned? Roped off?

And then arresting a guy who asked them to speak up. They should be ashamed. This isn't democracy, it is corporatocracy.

[lpbk2713]

45. I'd be arrested then. I'm hearing impaired.

And after I got out of jail that mofo would have some 'splainin to do.


Mr Overholt might have lost his hearing during the Viet Nam era like I did.
And it's not worth fighting with the VA for a couple of years to "maybe"
get hearing aids. So I do without.