Byrd Protesters Arrested at Capitol, but Aren't Deterred

As the 111th session of the Tennessee General Assembly prepares to adjourn, State Rep. David Byrd remains a fixture at the state Capitol — and so do several protesters who want him gone.

Though bereft of his chairmanship of the Educational Administration subcommittee (an honorific lifted from his shoulders last month by House Speaker Glen Casada, who acted under pressure), the Republican state representative from Waynesboro is still a member of the legislature in good standing.

This is despite the fact that Byrd has been accused of sexually abusing high school students from his days as a Waynesboro basketball coach. That’s the reason for the protesters — a group including Christi Rice, who says Byrd sexually assaulted her while she was a student in Waynesboro. The group began demanding Byrd’s expulsion last year and redoubled their efforts this year when Speaker Casada made him a subcommittee chairman.

Protesters' efforts crested this week when they staged a sit-in at the Capitol office of Gov. Bill Lee, whom they want to issue a statement in favor of Byrd’s expulsion.

Not only did they not get an answer from (or an audience with) Lee — five of the protesters were arrested by state troopers on Wednesday night and were booked for trespassing, a charge they will have to answer to in a June court hearing.

Read more: https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pith-in-the-wind/article/21065076/byrd-protesters-arrested-at-capitol-but-arent-deterred