Music City Liberty Fest Recap
A week ago today I was at the Music City Liberty Fest with my good buds Ademo Freeman and Clyde Voluntaryist. My two previous visits to Nashville had left me with a good impression – that there was potential for a solid community to gel. It seems like that’s happening.
The event, which lasted from 4pm to midnight, was well-organized by Dan Hagen and crew. The schedule moved quick, with speakers and bands alternating, each with 10-20min sets.
The brevity wasn’t ideal when I wanted to rock out more to rebel inc. but it was welcomed when the content delivered was patriotic in fervor (which at least made for some good conversations).
During our speaking slot, Ademo gave an overview of Cop Block – how it came into being, its impact, and how we can use the site and its functionality as a resource to connect and grow a decentralized community of individuals who recognize that badges don’t grant extra rights, and who advocate a better alternative.
I spoke about the importance of language and, when working to share ideas, do it not out of hate and hostility but from a position of love and appreciation.
On the way to and from the event, thousands driving on I-40 between Nashville and Winston saw the big “CopBlock.org” URL on my truck, including someone driving a car with Tennessee State Patrol graphics. That person shadowed me for a couple miles in the lane to my left, then switched to shadowing me from the lane on my right, then he moved on.
We also unveiled at the event our new female shirts and “We’re Watching” shirts and hoodies. The former graphic was made by jslongboards and the latter by Dave Dixon.
We shared a table with NeverTakeAPlea.org and had lots of free handouts. I’d guess most folks present had a conversation with us and/or took something.
One of my principle reasons for going to to the event was to meet, connect, and brainstorm with good folks from the area, including Billy, the founder of Cop Block Nashville, Bob Murphy who writes at Mises.org, local activists Adam G. House (who wrote the essay Veterans Should Know Better) and Matt Gulliver, as well as others who came in from surrounding states.
Also awesome to meet was Joe Fuller, of Tennessee Sons of Liberty (who’s wife wife Amanda made Cop Block chapstick!). Joe wrote this spot-on blurb for the video conversation below:
It’s about letting go of fear and unraveling the social programming inflicted upon all of us since birth…Copblock doesn’t exist to bully the police, but to keep them accountable. In my opinion, it is necessary to defuse and humanize interactions between those who wear a uniform with a badge and individuals who desire to live freely.
In Nashville there is a good sized-community present, many who are getting more-connected and more-consistent in their ideas and actions. It’s good to see. And it’s happening at an accelerated pace in many communities.
Get-active with one of over 70 groups now listed on this page: http://copblock.org/groups or if there’s not-yet a group near you, start one. Plant a flag. Others will join: http://copblock.org/startagroup We can learn from and support each other.
