MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- It’s not often Murfreesboro and Nashville get to be in the middle of a national controversy, but that’s exactly what’s happening with the “occupy” movement. Both cities are facing a conflict between the protesters’ First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly, versus the two cities’ very real concerns about safety, security and sanitation.
Under current law, everyone has the right to demonstrate, picket, march and protest. At the same time, communities can impose what are called “reasonable time, place and manner” restraints. Plus, any restrictions that are imposed have to be the minimal necessary in order to both allow free speech and protect the public from unreasonable inconvenience.
