By Chris Cannon
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Without the fear of arrest, members of Occupy Nashville are once again settling into Legislative Plaza. Now, the group is looking for ways to ensure their safety during its occupation.
"We have females who want to occupy up here and they don't feel safe when they see a bunch of drunken people running around up here and creating fights, and what not," explained member Devin Pena.
Monday night, occupiers had an issue with an injured, intoxicated man who came to their camp after his involvement in a fight elsewhere.
"And that's not fair to us. We have our own issues to deal with right now, and having that on top of everything just brings everybody down," Pena said.
Pena sent an email to two unions who have voiced their support for Occupy Nashville. He asking the local United Steel Workers and United Auto Workers to help with security.
"To hopefully see if they have any barricades that we can put up around our perimeter, so we can feel a little safer inside our own area," said. Pena.
He also asked if union members would volunteer to patrol the plaza.
Occupy member Eva Watler did just that during the overnight hours of Tuesday, walking Legislative Plaza with a group the named the "vibes patrol."
"Keeping the vibes good, you know, keeping things up and happy and focused on what we're doing," Watler explained.
She said Occupy Nashville have set up to on the plaza for the long haul.
"Occupy means occupy your home, this is our home," Watler said.
Now the group is determined to makes sure their make-shift home is secure as the wait until their message is heard, and understood.
The temporary restraining order issued Monday in federal court allows Occupy Nashville to stay on Legislative Plaza until November 21, 2011, without the fear of arrest.
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