Williamson Herald: 'Enough is enough' after extremists vandalize newspaper's office

The Franklin Police Department is leading an investigation into vandalism of the Williamson Herald offices with flyers targeting journalists in an escalation to recent threats of violence against both members of the press and the general public as Election Day is in full swing. 

Williamson Herald staff discovered the vandalism on Monday morning, which included flyers and images glued to their downtown Franklin office and others stapled to utility poles outside of the office.

Some of the images and flyers were the same ones created and disseminated by the white nationalist group, Tennessee Active Club, who escorted Franklin Alderman and mayoral candidate Gabrielle Hanson to and from the Oct. 2 candidate forum in city hall.

In April, Hanson threatened to have this reporter arrested for asking for comment on a story, and she continues to evade questions about her criminal past. Her allies have since threatened both reporters and citizens. 

Those flyers allege — without evidence — that some members of the Franklin community, as well as some local activists, journalists and elected officials, are a part of a larger "antifa" scheme.

“The threats and intimidation tactics are disturbing and won’t be tolerated," Williamson Herald Publisher Derby Jones told The News. "Coming from people who want to lead our city is quite concerning. I expect more from any candidate who is running for office in the city of Franklin. This is not who we are as a community. They have threatened our reporter, our business, our advertisers and continue to harass us for doing our jobs. We won’t stop reporting the truth.”

The Williamson Herald also published a column addressing the attempts at intimidating both the press and the public the day before Election Day.

Franklin Police are leading the investigation, but it's unclear at this time if any state or federal law enforcement agencies are involved in the investigation at.

Local leaders are reacting to the vandalism with support for both the Williamson Herald and the collective Constitutional right of a free press. 

"Williamson County does not support this type of behavior and will assist the City of Franklin in any way we can," Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson told The News. "Targeting a free press for doing their job is reprehensible. Derby and his staff serve our community and deserve our support." 

"Intimidation of citizens or media covering local elections will not be tolerated," Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey told The News. "The Franklin Police Department will be providing additional patrol near all polling places throughout Election Day. All citizens who are registered to vote are encouraged to exercise their right to vote. Our police department team will be in contact with the Williamson County Election Commission to support their administration of the election process. There will be no tolerance of voter intimidation or disruption of any kind."

Ken Paulson, Director of the Free Speech Center and professor at Middle Tennessee State University, issued the following statement to The News about the importance of the press.

"It's important to remember that the first generation of Americans created freedom of the press because they wanted someone to keep an eye on people in power," Paulson said.

"The first and foremost mission of news media is to keep a careful eye on how government conducts it's business and those who would seek positions of responsibility in that government."

"Power of the press is not a meaningless cliché," Paulson continued. "At their best, news organizations shore up democracy by representing the public and the public's interests. Throughout history, however, there have been examples of people who have sought to prevent the press from doing its job through illegal means and violence. The good news is that news organizations, literally over centuries, have persevered and delivered exactly what the American people needed in the form of vigilance and scrutiny of the powerful."

“I am saddened to hear of the recent acts of vandalism and threatening messages directed toward some of our citizens and our friends at the Williamson Herald. Criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our community," Williamson County Sheriff Dusty Rhoades told The News. "I have complete faith in the investigation conducted by the Franklin Police Department, and as always, they have our full support and assistance.”

On Sunday, State Sen. Jack Johnson spoke out against threats of violence against the press and public.

"First and foremost, I condemn any threat of violence, any suggestion of violence in the harshest of possible terms," Johnson told reporters. "There is no place for that in our public discourse in the state of Tennessee, Williamson County, the City of Franklin or anywhere else." 

"Anyone who is threatening violence, they need to be exposed, and where appropriate, prosecuted, because it is against the law to make those kinds of threats, and I would encourage our law enforcement officials to look into that as appropriate."

Johnson also blasted what he called "political terrorism" that he said has been a part of recent Tennessee politics, pushing back on the idea that some far-right political figures in Williamson County and Middle Tennessee are actually conservatives.

Early voting ended on Oct. 19 after record turnout. The Polls are open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.