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Occupy Protesters Arrested, Then Released

(AP) Quite a morning for Occupy Nashville. 

Twenty-nine protesters were arrested on Legislative Plaza before dawn, then released just a few hours later.

According to WKRN-TV, Metro's night court commissioner, Thomas Nelson, released the protesters wihtout charges. Nelson said the state hadn't given the protesters enough time to react to new protest regulations. 

Governor Haslam’s Administration announced just yesterday that it was imposing a 10  to six curfew on the Capital grounds where the protesters have been camped out since October 6th.

The state is also insisting on new daytime protest permits.

Seventy-five State Troopers, reportedly including a SWAT team and K-9 units, arrived at the plaza around three o'clock and gave protesters 10 minutes to disperse.  About two dozen protesters chose to stay and were arrested without incident.

Protest spokesperson Cecily Friday says Occupy Nashville hasn’t decided what to do next, but will continue their protest.

After Commissioner Nelson refused to sign the arrest warrants, the State Highway Patrol issued each of the protesters a misdemeanor trespassing citation.