For months, activists have camped in front of the Capitol, demanding to meet with Gov. Bill Lee. The governor has refused to meet with them.
By John Gentry
The Tennessee Constitution, Article I, Section 23, says the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by address or remonstrance.
A constitutionally protected right cannot be violated under any pretense whatever.
Refusal of right of address
Tennessee citizens have a right to apply to the powers of the government. Gov. Lee is a power of the government, and the people have a right to meet with him for redress of grievance, or other proper purposes, by address or remonstrance.
Therefore, Gov. Lee has a duty to listen to citizens “address” him.
An address is an oral presentation.
In refusing to permit activists to meet with him, Gov. Lee is in open violation of the constitution.
The right to petition government by address or remonstrance is a right that is fundamental to our form of government. The oppression of this right is at the heart of EVERYTHING that is wrong in our republic.
Gov. Lee has evidenced himself a tyrant or he has evidenced himself constitutionally incompetent.
Activists glad to hear of constitutional right
I have twice spoken with the protestors at the capitol, and those young people were literally on the edge of their seats listening to me teach them about their right to petition government by address or remonstrance.
However, each time after I spoke with them, the protestors informed me they would have to check with “their attorneys.” I can only conclude that their attorneys also oppress the right to petition by address or remonstrance, and so the purpose of the protestors — apparently guided by corrupt attorneys — is to incite, cause division and has no legitimate purpose.
Regardless, assuming the reporter that wrote this article is correct, and the activists have demanded to address Governor Lee, who refuses to hear such address, evidences Governor Lee a tyrant or that he is constitutionally incompetent.
Source: Caitlin McFall, “Tennessee ramps up punishments for protesters, including loss of voting rights; ACLU tells voters to ‘vote like their rights depend on it’” FoxNews.com, Aug. 22. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-tennessee-gov-punishments-for-protesters
