Anti-tax rally leader files assault charge

By JIM EAST
Staff Writer

A Nashville man, apparently angry at a radio personality's
anti-income tax protest, may soon learn that rough-and-tumble
Tennessee politics should not include a punch in the gut or a kick in
the shin.

WWTN talk radio host Steve Gill swore out a misdemeanor
assault warrant late yesterday against James B. Johnston, of 17th
Avenue South, for what Gill said was an attack after a Saturday
rally at Bicentennial Capitol Mall.

Metro police spokesman Don Aaron quoted Gill as saying that
Johnston, 66, approached him after the rally as he was standing on
the amphitheater stage shaking hands with well-wishers.

''Mr. Gill extended his hand to the suspect to shake his hand, and
the suspect responded by punching Mr. Gill in his stomach and
kicking him on his right shin,'' Aaron said.

Efforts to reach Johnston were unsuccessful yesterday. Gill said
Johnston apparently has called the radio show and referred to
himself as ''Homeless Jim.''

Gill told The Tennessean yesterday he filed the charges so all tax
demonstrators will be treated fairly.

''We got a state trooper that assaults a protester who's still on duty,
and apparently � my understanding was � still performing duties
in trooper uniform at the Titans game, so I guess if you beat
somebody up, that's okay,'' Gill said.

He was referring to television videotape showing Highway Patrol
Sgt. Harold Gooding placing his hands on protester Steve Rogers,
who either fell or was pushed to the floor during a July 12 protest
inside the Capitol. The tape then showed Gooding dragging Rogers
by a leg across the floor.

Gooding was placed on desk duty pending completion of an
investigation of the matter.

Gill said Johnston was an income tax supporter who had been
''bragging and that he took a poke at me and has been saying we
need more violence. . . . He called the [radio] show today and said
that he was going to take me on Tuesday.''