Tom Sweet
Wood strikes the marble steps at the plaza with every step he takes. His cane keeps him steady during the rounds through the tents. Everything about Tom Sweet is methodical, timely and even-keeled. Until he speaks with passion, that is. His whole demeanour changes and his normally soft-spoken voice booms across the plaza.
At 53 years-old, Sweet’s 6 foot 2 inch frame is bent and withered. A side effect from the three strokes he suffered in Montana.
“The doctors say I’m a miracle, and well I already knew that cause I’m walking,” said Sweet.
Crippled he calls himself. A social defect in normal society, but at Occupy he’s a respected individual.
It’s Sweet’s turn on the soapbox during General Assembly.
“Our rights are being violated,” he said. “We need a government for the people by the people. … We must be in unity, but we’ll take this one day at a time.”
He’s a late joiner to the movement but most of the group on the plaza. Sweet is willing to risk jail time for the cause.
“Come back out on Thursday to see the show,” said Sweet. “I’ll be in my tent just waiting for those troopers to take me away, to take the cripple away.”
Sweet sings a gospel tune he wrote himself as he limps off to return to the safety of his tent and home for the final days of the movement.
Andrew Henry
He proudly strolls into the public library, pointing out inspirational photos and quotes as he goes.
“I draw inspiration from this room,” Henry said as he walks into the Civil Rights Room.
A college degree, a championship fighting title and a well-off family all sit in his past. A past that Henry doesn’t talk about much.
Conversations with him center around big-world topics. Corruption in government, education and sports are just a few of his favorite. For Henry, the world is his soapbox.
Occupy Nashville provided the chance for him to take a stand and fight inequalities.
“This movement really comes down to inequalities. Being black, this is a prominent issue for me. This has always been a passion of mine,” he said.
With the certain passage of HB 2836, Henry is not only losing his platform, but his new family.
“You really get to know people out here. You become family,” he said.
