UPDATE: The judge ordered them released, and chided the governor's office for "deciding which protestors" are allowed on public land.
These sure are some dangerous hippies. Not only do they get thrown off public land, guards have to be posted to make sure they don't come back:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Authorities in Tennessee made about 30 arrests early Friday at the site where a few dozen Wall Street protesters have been encamped for about three weeks in Nashville, protesters said.
Authorities began moving in a little after 3 a.m. using a newly enacted state policy that set a curfew for the grounds near the state Capitol, including Legislative Plaza where the protesters had been staying in tents. The state's new rules specifically banned "overnight occupancy" at the public space and require permits and use fees for rallies.
But later in the morning, Jeff Blum of the Davidson County Sheriff's Office said the protesters were being released after a night court judge wouldn't sign the warrants. He didn't elaborate on the judge's refusal.
Protester Steve Reiter, who works closely with the group's legal team, said there were apparently problems with how the protesters were taken into custody, particularly concerning being given proper notice. Reiter said their release is a victory for Occupy Nashville.
Katy Savage, another of the protesters, said she peeked out of her tent around 3 a.m. and saw that the camp was surrounded by state troopers.
"I was grabbing our stuff to try to get it off the area," she said.
Savage said people who had already decided they would get arrested sat down together and began singing "We Shall Overcome" as troopers took them, dragging some to waiting buses.
About 20 protesters, who remained on a sidewalk, were not arrested and were still there later in the morning. All the tents had been removed from the plaza and state workers could be seen picking up items left by the protesters. Several state troopers stood guard at the steps to the Capitol.