Battle of Athens

[Drregaleagle]

Athens, Tennessee that is. In August of 1946, a bunch of battle hardened WWII veterans in the small town of Athens led a violent revolt against a corrupt and crooked Sheriff who had been rigging elections and slowly establishing a tiny despotism.

These men were tired, having just fought for liberty on another continent, and now found liberty absent from their own home. Sheriff Paul Cantrell arrested people at random and extorted large sums of money from anyone he booked. Local businesses were forced to bribe the sheriff for protection. Come election time, Cantrell brought in a couple hundred armed soldiers to watch the polls. Anyone who went to vote and wasn't a Cantrell supporter was beaten. Some were shot. This is when the revolt took place and over a two day period the government overthrown to the eventual praise of the Tennessee legislature.

Local politics are often the most corrupt kind and small town politicians historically have been some of the most anti-individual people at all levels of government. Let's not forget that it is the local government that imposes property taxes and it's the local government that polices some small businesses into bankruptcy with liquor licenses and retail permits. East Tennessee has always been a cradle of liberty in our country going back to Watauga. Let's remember one of their triumphs.