Posted on 10/26/2016 9:42:02 PM PDT by PanzerKardinal
The Battle of Athens TN, August 1-2, 1946
On 1-2 August 1946, some Americans, brutalized by their county government, used armed force to overturn it. These Americans wanted honest, open elections.
For years they had asked for state or Federal election monitors to prevent vote fraud -- forged ballots, secret ballot counts, and intimidation by armed sheriff's deputies -- by the local political boss.
They got no help.
These Americans' absolute refusal to knuckle-under had been hardened by service in World War II. Having fought to free other countries from murderous regimes, they rejected vicious abuse by their county government.
[...]
The Lessons of Athens
Those who took up arms in Athens, Tennessee:
- wanted honest elections, a cornerstone of our Constitutional order;
- had repeatedly tried to get Federal or State election monitors;
- used armed force so as to minimize harm to the law-breakers;
- showed little malice to the defeated law-breakers;
- restored lawful government.
The Battle of Athens clearly shows:
- how Americans can and should lawfully use armed force;
- why the Rule of Law requires unrestricted access to firearms;
- how civilians with military-type firearms can beat the forces of "law and order".
_____________________________
One thing this article fails to mention is that Athens and McMinn County were a solid Republican, until the Democrats stole the 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1944 elections through massive fraud.
And the veterans who fought back included both Whites and Blacks
(Excerpt) Read more at constitution.org ...
I love history.
And old quotes.
“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” The quote is most likely due to George Santayana, and in its original form it read, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’
Take THAT Boss Hogg.
This i one of the most INCREDIBLE stories I’ve NEVER read until now!!
I’m 48. NYC boy but still, something like this should have been in the history books.
I would like to share this on facebook but apparently can’t.
WHY?!?!?!
They also used BARs and dynamite to convince the corrupt officials to give it up.
It really is sad that few know about the Battle of Athens.
The veterans who took up arms to defend our liberty are as important as the minutemen who stood up against the British at Lexington and Concord.
Of course the government doesn’t want people to know about free men taking up arms against tyranny.
My brother is 58 and an avid reader. I am very interested if he knows about it.
Is it at least well known in the south?
It’s a VERY important piece of history.
And pertinent.
Totally agree. I wish more people knew of this.
The best source of information about the Battle of Athens is a long article written for American Heritage magazine.
http://www.americanheritage.com/content/battle-athens
Even more interesting was the battle started because the corrupt Democrat officials refused to let a black man vote!
Tom Gillespie, an elderly black farmer, went to a polling place and ask for a ballot.
A sheriffs deputy assigned to assist with the fraud, told Gillespie, “N*gger, you can’t vote here.” When Tom protested, the deputy struck him with brass knuckles.
Gillespie dropped his ballot and ran for the door. The deputy pulled out a pistol and shot him in the back.
When they heard of the shooting, the veterans decided they had to take immediate action.
There was also a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie made about the Battle of Athens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re6CfoKwdsM
Santayana, goodbye.
When I was a kid I thought Santayana and Santa Ana were the same person. But Santa Ana never learned from history.
there is freeper that had relative at this to do- I found out when I posted either semi sarcastic ping to a friend or myself, this was some years ago
Thank you very much.
How the HELL did I not know this?
I almost skipped over it when I saw “Athens”, thinking it was WAY back history.
C’mon! Get out! This story has been on FreeRepublic many times over the years. IIRC, there was an article a few years back where the author said up on the ridge outside of town where the rebels exchanged fire with the authorities there was still spent brass littering the ground.
Another bit of suppressed history you may be unaware of, did not go as well. Ludlow Massacre in Colorado.
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