Tennessee state troopers went undercover among Occupy protesters

It may come as a surprise to the police that Americans have a Constitutional right to protest the actions and/or in-actions of their government.

They have the right to "peacefully assemble." Having a peaceful assembly and having "illegal and lewd behaviors" are two different things.

Certainly nice to see confirmation that the cops are on the side of corruption and big corporations. So much so that a judge gave them a restraining order smack down!! When is the last time you saw THAT?

The rich get richer. The rest of our citizens get police infiltration and surveillance, to make sure that our free speech rights, guaranteed by the Constitution, don't challenge the oligarchic rule of politicians and corporations who have presided over the loss of the American Dream to their own private, selfish benefit.

terrybham, If they were protesting the gov shouldn't they be in washington? I have heard they are protesting against capitalism. They want free stuff and they want it now. Just look at the supporters of the protest and you can see exactly what they really want.

Hint: It isn't freedom.

Here is a list of the wonderful organizations supporting OWS. Linkage: http://pjmedia.com/zombie/2011/10/31/the-99-official-list-of-ows/

Support does not equal control. Should there be a law that prevents the American Nazi Party from saying "We support these people"? Interesting...

I personally find the list of people and organizations opposed to OWS to be WAY more frightening. And that is not an endorsement of the groups that merely mouth support for them either.

Betcha none went "undercover" on those tea party gatherings.

XGS, groups support things they think will further their cause. Look at the list again and ask yourself why they would support the OWS movement. Noone said anything about control. Someone is controlling the movement. They have some serious funding too. Who is providing all of this?

Talk about a waste of tax dollars... undercover? Really? Not only has our Governor Bill Haslam had these protestors arrested but has pushed his agenda of suppressing the Constitutional Rights of Tennesseans throughout his brief tenure in office from shooting down Nashville's anti-discrimination laws to creating the bill banning the use of the word "gay" in public schools. He's railroading civil liberties to the extent of making it illegal to upload a "potentially offensive image" to the internet this year. I addressed our Governor's antics with a visual commentary of him and his wife on my artist's blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/07/potentially-offensive-portrait-governor.html Drop by and let me know how you feel about our rights being infringed upon.

Why would parts of Al Queda support W in '04 and McCain in '08? The question doesn't matter. The groups have their agenda and if they happen to think OWS is somehow a way to further their agenda, I can't stop them, no one can. Some have the impression that OWS wants socialism as the form of govt. Some think OWS wants madatory union membership, some may think OWS hates Jews. Heck, there may even be a sprinkling of people camped out that feel all those things to be true! But to trying to paint every Occupier with ANY brush is pretty close to impossible.

Let the Communists put out a press release saying that they stand with OWS. Talk is cheap, and if the "sheeple" (I don't mean you) want to equate OWS with commies, then that's not very analytical of them.

I find it interesting that a stat that purports to be so patriotic is so willing to revert to threatening free speech/assembly rights, but it is pretty clear the only ones with rights are the ones with the guns

You are right. They can't control who endorses their antics. They don't really have one central theme. All of the points of view you mentioned are represented by someone camping out down there. It is like one group went down there to protest banks and a bunch more group decided they wanted to protest for their favorite cause becuase those other guys were doing it. I do however worry about who is funding these groups and organizing them with hand signals, rules and tactics. Who is putting out their newspaper and paying the huge amount of money it takes to advertise on cable television? I guess you are wrong in a way too. Some of the OWS protesters can be equated with commies, some with socialists, some with nazis, some with anarchists, some with radical muslims..... and on and on. Each of these can be found in individual groups down there, but all of the participants can't grouped by anything other than Occupy Wall Street.

Seems like a waste of taxpayer's money,I mean, how many cops should it take to watch non-violent protestors?

Thanks FPSE, I appreciate the dialog with you. Happy Thanksgiving!

So if you don't think like FPSE, you are a commie, socialist, nazi, anarchist, or radical Muslim. Makes perfect sense.

I am sure glad the THP/Nashville cops/Governor have nothing better to do the go after these very dangerous groups exercising their Rights. Kind of reminds the better educated of what went on during 60-70s when Nixon, Hover and others targeted groups, authored fake stories/rumors, the usual Right wing paranoia if anyone speaks out. Seems TN just moved back to 60's, perhaps 50's to reclaim it's title as most backward state in Nation, as already ranked as one of most corrupted. Amusing how sources reported to cops etc rather reminisent of Joe McCarty witch hunts for commies, although fashion for such in TN is not witch hunt for "evil Muslims" etc. Yep the tolerance and education levels of TN once again on display and it seems no other issues then to play FBI by TN cops as nothing else worthy of there time, funds and energy. Way to go Gov, put TN back on most dumbed down paranoid right wing lists. Should sell well at the fool level in TN. Yep, as in 50-60-70's, "Thum proetestiers isn evil en dun;t unner stan TN, en how we'n due thungs here" (thank god for that), which probably equates to what Brits said in 1700's about those folks gathering on the various green's.

"Haslam the Sham"

Well in recent articles Halsam stated Cyrfew,arrests, necessary for safety 11-1-2011. Then Haslam seeks to drop protestors charges 11-11-11. Now we hear that the tennessee government of Nashville inacted some new policy and had undercover troopers infiltrate the OCW in nashville. Meanwhile there is at least one shooting everyday here in Chattanooga and the government can't tell it's A%$ from a whole in the ground when it comes to real police work. Unemployments up people are tired and fed up with it all. Something horrible will have to happen for any progress to be made. And 80% of that horrible thing will effect the poor and downtrodden. This isn't America it's the united Corporate States. You think these protests are a problem now things are getting worse. It won't be long before violence is the only option! But then it will be to late to compromise.

Ill of d Shhhish, your are not supposed to tell the truth in TN, might upset the population as reality is not a priority from many, and most of elected. They just need new targets since they kind of backed off on attacking Muslims for now.