I can’t speak for Pete, but for me, the outcome of our trial on Monday doesn’t matter – we’ve succeeded at making our point. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to go to jail (who does?) but my conscience is clear. I know without a doubt that Pete and I didn’t harm anyone (though one officer claims he was ‘scratched’ when arresting us – yep, a scratch – lock us up now!) nor did we damage anyone’s property.
To me, we’ve already “won” (for lack of a better word) by making an impact. We’ve personally met 100′s of people here and brought the issues of police accountability to the streets of Greenfield without the local media, city officials or any other major information distributor. Instead, we have – with on the ground activism and outreach – distributed thousands of fliers, DVDs, and business cards, while also showing people how effective a camera is when interacting with police, especially when they’re doing (or have done) wrong.
Folks in the downtown area of Greenfield are consistently stopping Pete, Beau and myself to thank us for highlighting these issues here. Several have gotten, or are talking about getting, cameras of their own, with plans to use them in future police encounters of their own. Others have continued the Robin Hooding that we introduced them to on our last visit to the area. Even a current Greenfield Police Officer bought one of our shirts and said, “you’re doing valuable work.”
Everything I’ve done the last year inside of Greenfield has been for education. To show others how hypocritical and unjust the ‘justice’ system is. How the system is stacked against you from the moment they put you in it; the police, the district attorney and the judge are all paid by the state. Not only do they work together, but they’re most likely friends (in some way, shape or form), as are most people who work together. They’re certainly more likely to do favors for one another than for you.
Yet, it’s a whole new game (for them) when the actions are clear as day on video. When the folks harmed (like me and Pete) start asking more questions, take steps to highlight the wrong-doing, and refuse nearly all of their demands or deals. It also doesn’t hurt to have a great group of supporters (people who still believe in personal freedom) that share our stories/videos, send messages to those involved, and even engage in call floods on our behalf. It’s these actions that cause those prosecuting us to worry, which leads me to the video below. A few days ago we posted a video about one tactic we’ve used – making fake fliers (like we did in Mississippi) – and the very next day the chief of police ordered them taken down (he could also have been pissed about the summons to court he got that day, oops). Proving that the camera and public opinion scare the government agent to death, or at least into acting like a total tyrant.
A big thanks to everyone who has spared a few moments to assist us with this task, we’re not alone, and neither are you if you’re the victim of police misconduct. Become a Cop Blocker yourself, say NO to bad laws, say NO to the plea deal and encourage others to do so as well. As someone who’s gone through this all too many times, enough is enough, let’s stop sending money on criminalizing and caging people for victimless crimes.
Why is this video private?
Good point about the judges, prosecutors, etc, being buddies. My father was on trial here in La.– the Judge and the DA played poker together, and the assistant DA was the judge’s ex-wife. My dad’s now doing double life in Angola for something he never did. Fuck the system.
Your conscience in clear, I think. Maybe your conscious is clear too, I don’t know.
Video works fine for me.
Metermaids don’t have the same mentality as a police officer. A police officer would have had a DPW worker out pulling the fliers down, they don’t get their hands dirty.
Boy, I sure hope you guys have “GREAT” attorneys.
Get ‘em guys! Good luck! You shouldn’t need an attorney to understand how a court proceeding works don’t listen to the yahoo above. If you can’t understand how the court system works then obviously it was set up that way, only to get money from you. Good luck from Wi.
There are so many levels of wrong with this video.
The “Public” do not own those light posts. They are property of the City of Greenfield. If you think the public has a right to those street lights, go and ask to drive a cop car and they will tell you no.
Go to Fort Knox and ask to drive a tank. That does not fly.
Yes, all of those things I mentioned are paid for by TAXES raised from We the People. However, that does not give us the right to use them however we choose.
The meter reader tearing down those signs? You damn right she tears them down, the Police Chief can fire her or make her job hell. Don’t like that fact? Vote the bum out. Otherwise, as long as he is the legal police chief, he has every right to make the meter reader tear down those signs.
Really good point. I hope that this just opens peoples eyes to Gpd’s ways. Thank you for hopefully making a change in the system. A much needed eye opening possitive change.
Take the signs down! Thanks City of Greenfield! According to you, as a resident, I could take down your signs…well, if I see them up on “public property”, that’s what I’ll do!
Thought you all should know about this one.
http://endthelie.com/2011/07/15/nude-bound-woman-found-dead-in-big-pharma-ceo%E2%80%99s-home-not-yet-a-criminal-investigation/#axzz1S2OvxRHe
You guys should be thrown underneath the jail just for being idiots. Go back to Keene where stupid doesn’t matter. When we start taking legal and constitutional advice from you morons we are in serious trouble. Anyone can parrot platitudes, but you guys and and your merry band of knuckleheads are devoid of respect, reason, and a basic understanding of what you are saying. You think that talking over people makes you right. You think acting like horses asses makes you legal analysts. The people occupying the courthouse today acted like empty headed fools. I think the two empty vessel defendant’s should be sentenced to a year in the house of correction. Jeff Bengsten should get a civic citation for prosecuting those jamokes and he has probable cause to prosecute the rest of you for contempt. Assholes should learn some manners maybe people would listen to serious issues presented in a reasonable format.
Congratulations on the WIN! Just read the brief article in the Recorder!!!
You guys are f ing idiots! Get a life.
Good job fuck those brainless, KKK, MOB clowns you made a fool out of them at their own game.