Though we don’t have a script the rough idea is that the segment will include an update, a review of timely news/content, and other information that may be useful for Copblockers.

Watch/chat Friday 4-4:30pm EST: http://justin.tv/copblock

Please leave as a comment to this post any specific questions or areas you think we should cover.

The impetus for our streaming this Friday is two-fold.

Firstly, we’ve long-discussed doing a regular segment. The benefit – discussing relevant content in another medium, especially one that allows for interaction (via chat) – is clear. We can all learn from each other and in the process safeguard our individual rights while growing larger and more tight-knit as a community.

Secondly, it will allow us to test the functionality of various streaming applications, which will be of use for those of you who have a smartphone. A couple of weeks ago I downloaded a number of streaming applications with the intention of writing a comparison post. When I’ve used each app, I’ve kept notes about the experience (quality, whether the stream fed correctly to the Internet, etc.). This Friday’s upcoming segment and future segments will allow for more data to be collected.

If you can’t make it live no worries, the segment be saved and accessible later.

Pete & Ademo of CopBlock to Livestream this Friday is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

The reporters initially seemed a bit surprised to be witnessing the tactics, but promptly resorted to their usual filter: don’t-question-the-government

They rationalized to themselves and their listeners that they were watching “trained professionals.” And that similar police-military exercises were done in Boston and Miami.

Yay! LA public officials can now give themselves another checkmark in the game of security theater.

What would happen if I had the time, money and aptitude to learn how to pilot a helicopter and I engaged in the same behavior? What if a handful of friends joined me? What if we told everyone else they couldn’t fly near us because the area was “restricted.”

So why is it ok for others to do so? Because they wear a badge? Do they have the right to take your money to buy such hardware? Do you even like how such an item will be used?

A sky full of helicopters and more militarized police will not grow our freedoms and security as claimed, it will grow the surveillance and police state as history proves. That’s not the kind of community I want to live in.

Think about it – in some places, the police are flying around in helicopters. Here in quaint Keene, NH, where Ademo and I call home, the police may soon have a Bearcat – an armored vehicle provided by the Department of Homeland Security due to “terrorism” threats. What a joke.

Are you watching the watchmen? Just who are the terrorists?

Unplug from the lamestream media. Don’t buy into the security theater.

Question. Think. Act.

LAPD Conduct Helicopter Maneuvers with Military is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

It wouldn’t happen right away, but if I ignored ever-more threatening letters sent by faceless strangers that I never wronged, their associates with guns would come for me. If I remained steadfast still, they’d use force, including lethal force. And most wouldn’t question their actions. After all, they wore badges. They’re “just doing their job.”

Looking over my shoulder doesn’t sound like a good way to live. So I’m forced to engage in damage control while remaining true to myself. Rather than pay the ransom, I decided I’d sit the time. Using “the state’s” math, 248 FRNs equated to four days and three nights at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections.

A week ago today I checked into my cage.

I wanted to share a bit about my jail experience to personalize what stemmed from an incident last June when I and seven others were arrested when trying to hold aggressors responsible. The natural reaction of the aggressors and their friends has been to target those of us who point-out the double-standards (Ademo is threatened with 21yrs).

I stand by my actions on June 4th. I am confident that I did nothing wrong. In fact I was doing something good – I was trying to hold people responsible for their rights-violating actions. Most anyone familiar with the situation will say the same.

I hope to help draw attention to the injustice inherent in the current monopoly-provided institution and force people to question their own actions. When man-made legislation conflicts with natural law one should be true to their conscience.

From Mark Shepard’s essay “Gandhi and His Myths,” included in the Strength Through Peace compilation:

Gandhi pointed out three possible responses to oppression and injustice. One he described as the coward’s way: to accept the wrong or run away from it. The second option was tro stand and fight by force of arms, Gandhi said this was better than acceptance or running away. But the third way, he said, was best of all, and required the most courage: to stand and fight solely by nonviolent means.

Background:
Response to “Notice of fine” from Chalking 8 (Jan. 10th)
Pete’s Message from Valley St. Jail (Jan. 20th)

Concise write-up:

I was caged just after 9am on Friday until about 7:30am on Monday. Overall, it was pretty much what I expected it would be: never scary, just boring and uncomfortable (previously I’d been caged for half a week at Cheshire Co., a few hours in Denver, CO, a night in Greenfield, MA, and half a day in Jones Co., MS).

Since I declined the TB shot I was put under “quarantine,” which pretty much meant I wasn’t allowed to leave my cell. Still, I attempted dialogue with everyone I could. That netted conversations with three “correctional officers” (COs) and three others caged.

More than one CO asked me if I was a “Free Stater.” I replied that I had moved to the ‘shire to be around liberty-oriented people. One CO said that he supported a lot of what the Free Staters advocate then said “obviously I’m not as hardcore though since I work here.” We both laughed.

Other conversations had with COs happened during booking. Both began with an adversarial tone and morphed into more of a friendly banter. One CO, Beaudoin, said at one point “I hate the government” and “power to the people!” His colleague, L. Frender, said that he’d seen a YouTube video of my conversation with public officials from Nashua, NH and made some generally pro-liberty remarks.

After being fingerprinted, photographed, doing an inventory of my tattoos, and lifting “my package” I was handcuffed and led to a housing unit. It was essentially a circle cut in half, with the CO-staffed control desk at the hub, providing clear views of the two-levels of cages around the curved wall. Almost everything but the toilet paper was concrete or metal. My cage, #15, was on the extreme left of the lower level.

I was let out only twice: on Saturday evening to converse with Adam Mackler, a lawyer friend from Manchester, and on Sunday afternoon to take a shower. My “quarantine” status meant I gloves and a mask when outside my cage. Other than that, I attempted sleep, read two books, stretched, and brainstormed.

Through the narrow, wire-covered opening in my cell door I could see the COs doing paperwork and pushing buttons. I was struck by the seemingly business-as-usual attitude exhibited when caging fellow human beings, many of whom who were alleged to have engaged in actions that even if done, had no victim.

I counted just two statements made by others caged that could be construed as pro-liberty or at least questioning of the Statist Quo. One individual yelled “Heil Hitler” to mock the just-received string of orders a CO delivered to a group of new arrivals, and a second individual, when making clear that he felt his caging unjust, said that his “individual rights” were being violated, which was promptly ignored by the COs present.

Almost all of the COs I encountered shied away from open conversation. Friendly greetings were ignored. Perhaps they know it’d be harder to cage a person once they’re seen as a person? Or perhaps they know, deep down, that their actions don’t align with their stated values – life is easier if they can maintain the cognitive dissonance.

Hopefully one of the conversations I was able to have, or this post, or anything else from this whole Manchester Chalking 8 cause at least one person to both realize how skewed is the present system and act to proactively improve the world around them, first by deciding to live free, then by inspiring those around them to do the same.

Everyone thinks about changing the world, but no one thinks about changing himself.
-Leo Tolstoy

Exhaustive write-up:

*A couple of lesser details might be off, such as the meal time when I had a specific food, but the below is accurate to the best of my knowledge

Friday – 8:30am
I realized I’d be late for my 9am “appointment” thanks to the pair of slow plow trucks on Rt. 9. I called the jail and updated them on my situation. No worries I was told – they’d expect me 20 or 30min late.

Friday – 9:10am
I went into the small entry, picked-up the phone and shared my reason for being there. I was told to “Get rid of the entourage” – friends from Keene and Manchester, and even a pair visiting from Cali, who had come to see me off. After exchanging hugs and goodbyes they left and the metal door buzzed unlocked.

I was led down a hallway with rooms on the left into a rectangular room dominated by a long counter on the right. Behind it were a handful of men and women wearing brown “Hillsborough County Department of Corrections” badges. Adjacent was a small office staffed by other “correctional officers” (COs) wearing white shirts and badges.

L. Frender (sp?) told me to stand “on the feet” – black silhouette outlines of shoes adhered to the floor in various places facing the counter. My Cop Block hat was taken then, due to other business, I was told to wait in the holding cell – a room maybe 10′ by 30′ visible from the counter due to its wall full of windows.

I joined three others. One gentleman, laying on a bench facing the door, complained that he’d been waiting for hours to be transported to the Phoenix House. The second individual, a younger kid sitting on a bench near the door, vocalized his displeasure that he was being brought yet again to court. Both had come to the attention of those in the criminal injustice system due to their selling of substances that some strangers deemed “illicit.” I tried to encourage them to think not in terms of “getting caught” but see that it was their captors in the wrong. That so long as their actions were consensual and didn’t initiate force, they weren’t in the wrong and thus should never have been harassed and caged.

The third man, who later told me he was 50 (a pretty fit 50 for sure), largely remained quiet as he paced the cell, at times stopping to do some reverse dips on a bench. He was caged because some folks with badges had showed-up when he and his significant other had a disagreement. Though neither he nor she thought either of their actions warranted anyone be caged, some strangers who call themselves “the state” thought otherwise.

Friday – 9:30am
L. Frender entered the holding cell. The kid closest to the door shared his displeasure at his treatment. Frender turned so he was facing the kid and asked in a not-too-friendly tone, “Do you want to take a swing at me?” The kid said that that wasn’t the case, but his displeasure was evident. The first gentleman asked when he was to be transported. Frender said “soon” as he beckoned me to join him to complete my processing. I indicated that I thought the first gentleman had a legitimate question and hoped he’d take a moment to provide a more informative response. A short conversation ensued then I got up and followed Frender out of the holding cell.

Immediately Frender turned to me and said that my failure to leave the booking cell when told was tantamount to disobeying an order from a CO, and warned that if such behavior continued I’d face repercussions. I reiterated my rationale for encouraging him to be more forthright with those caged. I pointed out that he obviously would prefer to work in a less-stressful environment, so why be so short and not straight-up? He said something to the effect of knowing and appreciating where I was coming from, but that the situation in the jail was different. I told him that I hoped one doesn’t check their values at the door simply due to their place of employment.

I moved on, and asked why his default when the younger kid solicited more information had essentially been to square-off in an aggressive manner. Again, the default was that I didn’t know what he had to deal with at the jail (a variation of the standard “I’m just doing my job”). He noted that he had previously had to clean up feces that the kid had decorated his cell with. I noted that such actions would probably not occur but for the criminal injustice system. If that kid hadn’t been caged for engaging in consensual interactions. And if people didn’t unthinkingly cage others.

I was asked if I’d cooperate with the rest of the processing. My intention, I noted, was to sit the time and move on. Eventually our convo was more congenial. Frender asked if I “was a Free Stater” (someone who moved to the ‘shire as part of the Free State Project). I told him I choose to live where I lived due to the active and supportive liberty-oriented community present.

We moved into a small side room where I was fingerprinted. Frender commented a couple times that my hands “were the hands of someone who does work with their hands.” His colleague Beaudoin, who had joined us shortly before, jokingly asked “do you want to give him a manicure next?” The mood was generally pretty congenial, all things considered.

I was told to stand on another set of black shoe outlines in front of a camera and my picture was taken and added to yet another database (and by now, other databases thanks to fusion centers). At one point Frender asked, “Didn’t I see you on a Nashua video?” – saying that he remembered the public official that I had called wasn’t as forthright as they should have been.

Beaudoin brought me into the adjacent room. My tattoos were inventoried. I was asked what the “V” on my right calf stood for. I said it was for voluntaryism – essentially that I support anything that’s consensual. Beaudoin paused in thought and a couple of seconds later said, “I can support that.”

I removed my hoodie, kicked off my shoes, and stripped off off my pants, socks, and underwear. I was told to open my mouth and lift my tongue. Then to “lift your package.” Nope, not trying to bring any “contraband” in with me…

The thermal undershirt that I was first handed was replaced with another after both of my arms went through holes in the shirts sleeves. On top of that went an orange shirt and pants emblazoned with “Hillsborough County” in black, some medium-thick socks and a pair of orange shoes that looked like low-top Converses with elastic instead of laces.

Before the end of the process Beaudoin asked me if I was a Free Stater. I gave the same response I’d given Frender. He said he was familiar with Cop Block. I tried to point out the perverse incentives inherent in an institution based on violence. At one point he said “fuck the government!” One of his last statements to me was “Power to the people!”

A third correctional officer put my recently-printed photo ID in my breast pocket (my lone pocket), handcuffed by wrists behind my back, and led me – his right hand holding my left upper-arm – down a couple hardened hallways to an elevator that wisked us up one level where, after entering through a pair of locked doors, he handed my ID to a colleague, removed my handcuffs, and left.

The unit was essentially a circle cut in half, with the control desk in the middle hub to give its operators a clear view of all activities in the area. The room had a high ceiling with two levels of cells, accessed by metal staircases on either end. To the right of the control desk were showers. Privacy came from an ankle to upper-chest-high wall. Bolted to the concrete floor between the control desk and the cells were tables with affixed chairs. The common area. A plastic bookshelf was mounted to the wall 20′ in front of the control desk near a solitary shower with a shower curtain.

I was handed a guide about the rules of the facility, three sheets of lined paper and three envelopes, two sheets, a light/medium blanket, pillowcase (though I never had a pillow), a small tube of Freshmint (from India), a plastic toothbrush the size of my index finger and a roll of toilet paper. Then I was led to my cell, #15 on the extreme left of the lower level.

Friday – 10:00am
A man with a badge on his chest pushed a button and a couple dozen individuals in matching attire exited their cages. Seated at the tables were a facility nurse and a couple of people (who didn’t look too happy) who met with one-on-one with those caged to converse about their adventures in legal land.

I approached the bookshelf. It contained 20 books – about half were christian in nature and half were fat fictional paperbacks. Acting on a suggestion from Ademo, I grabbed not one book, but two books. The two least-worst-looking books from my browsing seemed to be The Slaves Champion by Harry Wheeler and Nemesis by Bill Napier. I chose the former to learn a bit more about the abolition movement in the UK and the latter because the plot seemed more palatable than its competition and because a friend in Keene has a car with the same name.

I approached the control desk, waited for the CO to look up from his paperwork, and asked if I could borrow a writing utensil. A few minutes later he gave me a pencil and said I could only use it during time allowed outside of the cell.

I stood against a pillar and people watched. When the TV flicked to life many others dressed in orange sat down and, like moths to a lightbulb, remained transfixed by a movie.

I decided to write, since I knew that I may not have the opportunity to do so later. I jotted down notes and quotes from my jail experience thus far. I read and took notes on the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections Inmate Handbook ACA Ref #4-ALDF-2A-27 I had been given. The booklet included a threat inside the cover – if it was returned torn or abused I would face repressions. The introduction stated continued the “or else” theme already established:

All that is required of you is that your behavior conforms to the established rules and regulations and that you respect both facility personnel, as well as, all other inmates.

My first thought – why differentiate between “facility personnel” and “inmates”? Why not just say “others”? Oh yeah that’s right, because those with badges believe they have extra rights.

While aggressing against “facility personnel” and “inmates” were both couched under the “Serious crimes” category, significant repercussions didn’t happen until the third instance when the receiver of the assault was an “inmate.” It happened after the first when the person was considered “facility personnel.” Double-standards, after all!

In the “Orientation” section, which gave an overview of the verbal instruction COs give to those newly caged, the lack of two-way communication was underscored with “. . . is an informal session and not an open forum for debate or dispute regarding policy issues, rules and regulations.” Meanwhile, the “Sexual Abuse/Assault” section claimed that “Inmates are not subjected to personal abuse or harassment.” Right.

Friday – 10:30am
A metal industrial cart with stacks of plastic molded trays was rolled in. I grabbed a tray and a cup of “juice” (flavored water?) and was told to eat in#15. In the spaces on the tray was chili, carrots, an apple, wedge of bread, and scoop of rice. The chili actually was alright. I also ate the fruit and veggies and put some butter on the bread, as I know it helps with the uptake of certain vitamins and minerals.

I heard a female call my name.

I sat down in front of the nurse and said hello. She asked about the length of my stay. She handed me a sheet that informed me of my “right” to have certain medical and dental services while housed at the facility, and asked me to return the form with my signature. I told her I was going to read it over and she sat back and gave me a minute.

I couldn’t, in good conscience sign the document since I didn’t want to give my word that I’d obey the text since I planned to decline the TB shot. “Why?” she asked. Because I believe in self-ownership. I don’t think a stranger has the right to put a substance into my body. She told me if I declined I’d be quarantined for the safety of the facility. That I would get out for only an hour a day. I expanded on my statement and she paused for a second, seemed appeased, and said to the CO nearby that I “declined the shot” – the CO acted on that information by taking a step toward me and aggressively inquiring why that was. Immediately the nurse corrected him and said I wasn’t being difficult. The CO changed his demeanor and walked me the 50′ or 60′ back to cell #15. He reminded me that my decision meant I’d be quarantined. He said I’d get out for only an hour. At 3am. Twenty minutes later a female CO opened my cell door and reiterated the same. Shortly after a page was taped to my cell door that said “Quarantined.”

Friday – 11:00pm
I decided to start with the fictional book and was already a couple of chapters in. I laid on the top bunk. The thin plastic-covered mattress was almost non-existent. My back wasn’t too happy on the metal so position changes and stretching were frequent.

Friday – 5:00pm
Dinner was delivered in a foam take-home container under the 4″ gap under the door. The clearance was just enough to also allow foam cups with “juice” to remain upright.

I had became more-familiar with statements left by former tenants in pen or the scraping of metal. The cell itself was a weird shape – six walls but roughly a rectangle about 10′ by 6′. The cinder block walls were painted light blue and the bed frames and desk were purplish. The thick metal door, which had a heavy wire see-through area, was door green, surrounded by dark blue trim. I wondered how much research had been put into determining the colors in the facility to try to achieve the desired results – obedience and complacency.

Friday – evening (?)
Everyone else was out of their cages in the common area. One CO demanded their attention and proceeded to shout instructions in a continuous monotone. Echos reigned. I’d definitely prefer to be listening to a favorite album.

Saturday – 5:00am
I awoke. It was still dark outside but the lights inside were on. At first I thought there was an “emergency” that necessitated a response from the COs. Then I realized that things just started early.

Saturday – 5:30am
Breakfast was brought. Cinnamon oatmeal (with apple slices), wedge of bread, apple, milk. The tray with back with the bread. I down canisters of quick oats pretty this actually wasn’t too far off my norm. The only thing I’d probably add would be a scoop of whey or a couple of eggs (microwaved on-top of the oatmeal then mixed-in).

Saturday – 10:30am
Lunch: scoop of rice, bread, apple, carrots; (imitation?) tuna. I ate all but the non-fruit/veggie carbs.

I overhead one of the COs saying that the same kitchen shift does breakfast and lunch, hence their incentive to churn out both in a somewhat narrow time range.

Saturday – 5:00pm
Dinner: soup (elbow pasta and green beans), two slices of white bread, a condiment-sized plastic cup with peanut butter and another with jelly, apple, chocolate cupcake (?), milk. Two cups of juice. I fished the beans out of the soup, ate the apple with some of the peanut butter, and put the rest and the jelly on one slice of bread.

Saturday – 7:00pm
I was asked if I wanted to see my lawyer. “My lawer?” I asked. “Your lawyer.” Sure. I was given a pair of latex gloves and a mask to wear. The CO already had on the same. I exited my cage and was told to put my hands on the wall. I was handcuffed and led past the control desk, out one door and in another on the right into a room that was barren but for a table, affixed chairs, and my friend Adam Mackler.

My handcuffs were removed. The CO left us and Adam and I caught him up on what was going on. The wall behind me shared with the housing unit was dominated by lots of heavy glass to allow our activities to be visually monitored by the COs. He noted that he’d just seen Wes Gilreath – a mutual friend that recently was told he’d be caged for a year (with six months “stayed.” His statement at the time? “Do you think that will make me become more pro-government?!”).

Saturday – 9:00pm
I finished Nemesis. It was alright but I kinda guessed the plot twist early on. Still, it helped pass the time. And it’s always interesting to infer how others think by how they tell stories.

Saturday – 11:00pm
Lights out.

Sunday – 5:30am
Every time I heard a CO approaching I’d wave or give a nod or say hi – just generally friendly disposition. This morning, after saying “Morning” and “Thank you” when breakfast was brought the CO stopped for a moment and had a conversation.

He asked how long I was in for. I mentioned that I wouldn’t mind getting out sometime to take a shower. It wasn’t long before he posed the “Are you a Free Stater?” question. He said that he supported a lot of what the Free Staters are doing but pointed out, “obviously I’m not as hardcore though since I work here.” I agreed and we both laughed. He said he’d be back to talk more but never returned.

Sunday – 10:30am
Lunch: chop suey, carrots, jello and same beverages.

Sunday – 4:00pm
While approaching my door a CO who looked like he just stepped out of a Marine ad barked “Don’t be fucking taking off your mask!” It was a condition of being able to leave the cell to take a shower. No worries. I was told to use the shower in the middle of the room. While walking there someone yelled from their cell door “Operation!” I thought it was funny. I was given two small paper cups with soap. I took a quick shower. The empty paper cups were put into a medical/hazardous red plastic trash bag. I was “quarantined” after all. [I think the reason why the COs seemed to have encouraged me to get the TB shot was simply to streamline their operations.]

Sunday – 5:00pm
Dinner: beans, two hot dogs, jello (red), wedge of bread, cooked carrots. I ate all but the bread.

Sunday – 5:00pm
A 20″ x 6″ rectangular window (with a stout horizontal bar across the middle) faced to the southwest. Visible was a Napa across the street, a couple hundreds feet of busy Elm Street (Manchester’s main north-south road through downtown) and beyond that, the river and West Manchester. I stood, with my right foot on the lower bunk and my left hand on the wall at my 9-o-clock, to watch the sun set. It was orangish pink.

Sunday – 8:00pm
The two wall-mounted phones used by others housed in the unit when in the common areas were less than 10′ from my cell door. Since Friday I’d inadvertently heard snippets of conversation due to the close proximity. The present conversation caused me to recognize at once the overlapping characteristics: swearing, apologies, requests, statements of “I fucked up.” It caused me to think about why that was.

Why were many of those caged ok that they were caged. Not that they’d choose to be there. But that they “admit” that they “got caught.” But again, in most cases there is no victim. Yet they’ve allowed themselves to buy-into the statist rhetoric they’ve been peddled. And for those actors who did cause harm, would that have happened by for the massive distortions caused by the believe in arbitrary authority? Probably not.

Also, how can so many who systematically harm others (I’m not talking about your common criminals but those, who based on their place of employment, believe they have the “right” to do things they wouldn’t dare do when not on the clock) believe their actions just?

Sunday – 10:00pm
I finished The Slaves Champion. I had hoped to have a more informative look at tactics used by the UK abolitionists but instead found the book allocated the bulk of its time to harping about how great a man was William Wilberforce. By all accounts its sounds like that was the case, but what exactly made it true? What specific lessons can be learned from his actions and applied to today?

But an even bigger failure on behalf of the author was to take his views to their conclusion. If it’s agreed-upon that man can’t make another man his property, then why focus attention on the end of the slave-trade, brought about through many decades of politicking? Why not see that it was the very system itself that allowed for and “legitimized” slavery? Why not advocate just as tenaciously for the abolition of that institution based on violence?

Monday – 5:00am
I woke up and laid listening to sounds from the COs and others in the common area.

Monday – 5:30am
breakfast

I lay on my bunk, wondering what time I’d get out. Hoping it’d be earlier so I could get back to being productive.

Monday – 7:15am
I heard my name mentioned. I was told I had a few minutes to get my things together. Everything was already folded, together and ready to go.

Monday – 7:20am
I was masked, handcuffed, led back to booking, and got back into my own clothes. Out I walked.

The cold and my lack of a jacket couldn’t deter the fact that it was nice to have my freedom of movement. I passed an idling Manchester PD squad. I asked the individual behind the wheel if he could tell John Patti – the man who ordered me and two colleagues arrested on June 4th – that “Pete just did four days at Valley St. – he’d know what it’s about.” Who knows? Maybe, after seven months of being reminded that his actions did harm people, Patti will think about being another cog in the machine.

After a short walk I reunited with friends, made it back to Keene, and continued doing what I do. Lyons and his colleagues had my person immobilized for four days but try how they might, they can’t cage an idea.

The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, and intolerable. . . ”
-H. L. Mencken

More:
the Resource page from LibertyOnTour.com
Voluntaryism on Wikipedia

Caged for Four Days in Manchester is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Ernie also puts his broadcasts to video (so he can include relevant pictures), so if you prefer listening/watching that way, or want to hear the other two guests from the day, check out this page.

Ademo and I were fortunate to meet the awesome Freedom’s Phoenix crew when on the road with The Motorhome Diaries in 2009. Since then we’ve only solidified ties both online and off. They have some really forward-thinking thinkers and inspiring doers (which is why I’m actively trying to recruit them to the ‘shire.

In 2010 when on the road with Liberty On Tour their vibrant community were the reason we made a stop in Phoenix. And their banners took up the most real estate on MARV.

After the hour-long segment I told Ernie that the conversation reminded me of a write-up I recently did called “‘A’ Was for America” as it shares a bit of my background.

CopBlock’s Pete Eyre Interviewed on “Declare Your Independence!” is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

The Police, school and local government officials sought to criminalize Frank, Mike and myself. They expelled Frank from school, charged Mike as an adult (over a teenage fight) and charged me with three counts of wiretapping. Crimes the state says justifies caging me, at your expense, for 21 years.

Donate to Ademo's Wiretap Fund

I’ve been through this before in Greenfield, MA and am confident I can present my case, logically. The problem I face in Manchester that I didn’t have in Greenfield is the personal vendetta those in Manchester seem to have for me. After all, I was given the max sentence (with 10 months of it stayed for 2 years good behavior) for ‘resisting’ my arrest.

With that in mind I’ve thought long and hard about how I’d like to tackle this case. I’ve done all the homework, reading up on New Hampshire’s wiretapping law, talking with lawyers, brainstorming ideas with fellow activist and more and it’s come down to one thing, funding. Which is why I made this video asking for your help.

As stated in the video, I think a lawyer would be beneficial to ensure I have fair pre-trial hearings and ‘proper’ (in their eyes) procedure during trial. Considering this will be an expectation of privacy trial – and that public officials have none – it will be more difficult that my Greenfield trial. Yet, a win here could do wonders for activists in the “Shire” attempting to change coercive government actions.

That being said, I also know, and appreciate, the offensive tactic as well and when done properly, is mightier than the current justice system. In terms of risk, I end up taking more with this tactic, as these actions will be done outside the court room. The best part of this strategy is that the actions the government is trying to distract you from – excessive force, deletion of evidence and criminalization of those who question government – will be front and center. As this issue goes further back than just one phone call, the Manchester police have gotten away with murder (literally) for a while now.

Regardless of how this fund raiser goes, I’ll be in court, speaking the truth and defending my position on filming, recording and monitoring public officials. I would greatly appreciate you donating to either cause as it would help me (and other activists) further the message of police accountability. You can also buy CopBlock.org swag, which help funds our CopBlock activities, or contact me for video intro/outro’s and power post. For those unable to donate, sharing CopBlock.org content and social networks is just as good as FRN’s and I need/appreciate your support as well.

Thanks in advance.

—–

Ademo’s First Hearing (video) – CopBlock.org
CopBlock Founder faces 20 years – Photography Is NOT a Crime
Ademo Responds to Charges by CopBlock
Manchester’s Chalking 8 by Cop Block
High School Student Catches Excessive Force on Video by Cop Block
Video shows West High student’s arrest by Mark Hayward in the Union Leader
West High student arrest video goes viral by Kathryn Marchocki in the Union Leader
Teen on school arrest: ‘I was goofing around’ by Mark Hayward in the Union Leader
Manchester students say videotape of arrest was not planned by Shawne Wickham in the Union

Defensive or Offensive? That is the Question… is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

This past June I was one of those arrested in the Chalking 8 incident. Most people assume I engaged in the heinous act of writing with non-toxic children’s chalk on a public sidewalk and building (!!!) but that’s not the case. I don’t have anything against chalking, it just wasn’t my preferred outreach method. Instead, as one-on-one dialogue can be very effective, I sought to engage with those wearing “Manchester PD” badges.

I was at the pro-police accountability rally on June 4th because the week prior the “top” law enforcement “authority” in the state concluded that four men who brutally beat another man were not to held to the same standard as would you or I due to the fact that they wear a badge. I was outside Manchester PD to voice my concern and to encourage the colleagues of those aggressors to realize that actions ‘illegitimate’ don’t suddenly become ‘legitimate’ based on ones attire.

A few hours into the pro-police accountability event I was placed in handcuffs. I (and others) had been told to get off the “crime scene” (the chalk on the sidewalk). A wall of cops had walked us back. The entire time I was having conversations with those who, despite the fact that I had harmed no person or property, claimed the authority to dictate my actions.

Once clear of the “crime scene” the entire group stopped and a pretty good dialogue was had. That continued until John Patti, approaching from the street, said “Arrest them!” causing men wearing badges who moments before were entertaining questions and asking their own, to aggress against me and the two others closest to them (Garret Ean and Charles N.). I immediately asked “What changed? We were just having a civil discussion?” The oft-cited “just doing my job” was muttered.

I was charged with a “class b misdemeanor disorderly.” Then a second. After over six months of “public official” unaccountability and kangaroo court antics, I was found “not guilty” of the disorderly’s but “guilty” of a city “violation” and ordered to pay – or else (first letters, then if ignored, men with guns).

I stand by my actions on June 4th. I am confident that I did nothing wrong. In fact I was doing something good – I was trying to hold people responsible for their rights-violating actions. Most anyone familiar with the situation will say the same.

Should I be caged for four days because I had conversations with individuals who chose to speak with me? Was it right that I was handcuffed and fingerprinted and photographed? Was it right that my cell phone was taken and never returned? Was it right that I’ve had to allocate my scarce time and resources to defend myself from these threats?

I cannot in good conscience fund a system that is both immoral (funded by theft) and inefficient (sheltered from market signals due a claimed “legitimate” right to use force).

If one looks at this situation or other situations and deems them wrong wrong but fails to act, nothing will change. And if one fails to act today, it’ll only be more difficult tomorrow.

I’ll spend four days total at Valley St. And though I really appreciate the well-wishes there’s no need to mail anything (it probably wouldn’t get to me in sucha  tight time-frame anyway). That said, if you have the interest to do any of the following I’d be most-appreciative:

• become familiar with Ademo’s situation in Manchester and support where able (share links, participate in call floods, create content, give input, donations, etc). From the Chalking 8 incident: Ademo just sat four days at Valley St. rather than pay the 248-FRN ransom (for chalking aka “criminal mischief”). He is appealing his concurrent 12mo “sentence” (with 10mo stayed in lieu of two years of “good behavior”) for going limp, aka “resisting”. For more on this watch Update on Ademo’s Caging and Pending Appeal Options. From the Manchester West High School incident, when Ademo sought to hold accountable a Manchester PD school liaison employee who assaulted a student,  as well as public school officials who actively attempted to censor the incident (and Cop Block literature at the school). For believing it wrong that a grown man assault a 17yr and is not held accountable, Ademo is being threatened with 21 years in a cage for three charges of felony wiretapping. For more on this watch [video will be posted within the next couple of days]
• support Bradley Manning. Links: Bradley Manning entry on Wikpedia, Bradley Manning Support Network
• support good people caged for breaking bad legislation. Learn more and connect via Mail to Jail and Prisoners For Liberty
• invest in yourself. Make the time to watch the video The State Is Not Great: How Government Poisons Everything by Jacob Spinney (50min) and 130+ Reasons to Move to Keene (5min)

Pete’s Message from Valley St. Jail is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Bob Tebo

[Originally posted at FreeKeene.com]

On December 21st, 2011 Bob Tebo, a bailiff at Cheshire Co. superior court in Keene, NH aggressively arrested two individuals who chose to remain seated when a man wearing a black robe entered the room. One of the two arrested was dragged across the courtroom floor by his handcuffs.

As cameras are “banned” from supposedly “pubic hearings” per a order signed order from Edwin Kelly, the sole footage of this latest example of double-standards is possessed by the bailiffs and those employed at the Cheshire Co. Sheriff’s Department (which has their office in the court building).

Kelly has stonewalled inquiries that seek to uncover his motivations for implementing the draconian camera ban. And despite requests, the footage from Tebo’s latest incident has yet to be provided and complaints made against him remain “under investigation.” It’s probably not a stretch to guess that that’ll go no where. And why would it? When there’s no competition there’s no reason to even attempt good “customer service.”

Instead of being thankful and acting on information provided by those concerned about double-standards, “public officials” have remained standoffish. They haven’t just refused to converse about the situation but have actively compounded the harm by levying additional threats of arrest, should those commanded not move off public property, most-recently going so far as to “ban” one person from the public parking lot without explanation.

It’s as if the legal land of the courtroom spilled outside. These sorts of incidents will not end until authority is no longer granted to Tebo and his colleagues who have acted and continue to act in the wrong.

If you'd like a CopBlock.org Power Post - as seen above - contact us.

More:
Sheriff Dick Foote Bans Activists “Forever” From Court
Happy Holidays, Keene Bureaucrats!
Cheshire Superior Court Blocking – Part 2
CopBlocking the Sheriff’s Department
“Judge” Edwin Kelly Refuses to Comment on His Order Banning Media from Court in Keene
Will NH Courts Continue to Censor?
Voluntaryist.com
“Justice Without the State” video with Bruce Benson
Anarchy & the Law: The Political Economy of Choice edited by Ed Stringham

Much love to JJ Schlessinger who’s latest video Judge Burke Victim Reel inspired me to cut-up this compilation of clear unaccountability by “public officials” at superior court.

Out of Control Deputies & Bailiffs in Cheshire County is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Several months ago Ademo Freeman was arrested outside Keene District Court in Keene, New Hampshire. Initially there was a lot of mystery surrounding the circumstances and what he did to get arrested. Early reports indicated that he had simply been asking Judge Burke some questions and the idea that asking questions could get you thrown in jail was too absurd to accept.

Ademo was released roughly two weeks later and his video of the incident was available shortly thereafter. After watching the video and witnessing myself Judge Burke’s abuse of power I felt inspired to cut up a compilation video of the people who have been victimized by Burke. Ademo was literally caged for asking questions. No foul language or threats were heard from Ademo, only three questions.

This is not a complete compilation by any means.

This video contains the arrests of the following individuals:
Ian Freeman
Dave Ridley
Pete Eyre
Beau Davis
Ademo Freeman
Derrick J Freeman

—————————————————

I was arrested on January 24th, 2011 and held for half a week. A week after that I wrote and saved (but never published) a post I titled “Pete’s Story.” Seems pretty fitting to share it here:

The below is my account of what happened two weeks ago when I was sitting in Keene district court and the following days. It’s pretty thorough, but if you have specific questions that aren’t addressed let me know.

BACKGROUND
Just before 10am on Monday, January 24th, Ademo, Ethan Lee Vita and I braved the subzero temperature and walked to Keene district court. We did a Qik update on the way. We went inside and up the steps to the second floor, where a few people were milling around, including two bailiffs doing security detail.

Lance Walton, one of the two bailiffs and the administrator of the court, spotted me and told me to take off my hood (I had my hat on with my hood over it). I told him I was cold but after his second request I pulled it down, figuring it’s not worth the fight. I was there to support my friends, not deal with petty bs. Lance wanded and patted me down and looked inside my hat. He gave the all clear. I put my hat back on and strolled down the hallway into court.

ARREST
I walked toward an empty seat. Before I had even sat down another bailiff – Pete Macy – told me to remove my hat. “Why?” I asked. He told me it was policy of the court. I told him that I hadn’t signed the policy and that I wasn’t hurting anyone. He reached for my hat and I leaned back and advised him not to touch my property. My voice was calm and my hands were in the pocket on the front of my hoodie staying warm – I did nothing aggressive.

Moments later Keene police officer James Cemorelis barked “You’re out of here!” and yanked me to the ground. My friends whipped out their cameras and started recording. For no reason, Keene police officer Matt Griffon, who had been sitting in the front row, put his knee at the base of my neck as he assisted Cemorelis in the handcuffing (read a letter sent to Cemorelis about his actions). I tried to express just how uncalled for was the treatment I was receiving. I was roughly carried out of the room, down the hall and into another room. Another bailiff, apparently undeterred by the “Do Not Block Door” sign bolted to the door, stood in front of the door in an attempt to block Ademo from filming the scene through the door’s narrow vertical window.

From the ground, I asked the officers why they felt the need to utilize such a level of force. I glanced up and posed a question specifically to Griffon (his name was embroidered onto his shirt). Apparently he didn’t want to have a conversation. Griffon and police officer Chris Simonds (?) carried me toward the back staircase. As we approached, one of my captors commented, “I hope you don’t fall on your head”. I asked why, if that risk exists, would they choose to transport me – a peaceful person – in such a manner. Didn’t seem worth the risk…

Outside I was set on the ground in the snow as a cruiser door was opened. My bud JJ was there, camera in hand. I was shoved across the police crusier’s plastic molded bench seat and transported to the Cheshire County Jail.

I learned later that minutes after I was arrested someone else present in the same room donned a hat. Yet for some reason they received completely different treatment – some claim that was due to their different attire.

TRANSIT
I asked Simonds if he felt the level of force used against me was just. He responded in the affirmative since that was the law – he had his orders. I asked if he would use deadly force against me for similar allegations. He said that was ridiculous. “Well what if you were so ordered?” I asked. “Of course not” he responded. “So, at what point between the force you used against me today and shooting me would you say “No!”? At what point would you stand up and do what’s right?” He didn’t respond.

Soon we pulled into the sally port at the jail. I could hear men talking. The door by my feet opened. I was told to sit up and get out. I explained that though I would not resist, I would not assist in my caging since it was I who had been victimized. I was dragged out feet first, carried inside and placed on the floor of the closest cell in the booking area. My hands were still handcuffed behind my back. I remember looking to my right, seeing a forest of black combat boots and thinking “There is no accountability for these guys. They could just beat the hell out of me right now and claim that I was aggressive.”

My handcuffs were removed and the gang of grown men yanked off my hoodie and workout pants. The cell door slammed shut. I lay on my stomach on the cold concrete floor in my thin gym shorts, t-shirt and socks, replaying the previous 30-minutes over and over in my head, trying to figure out how someone could possibly try to justify the treatment I had endured by “public servants”.

BOOKING
I was asked to provide my information for processing. Why would I willingly provide my private information to strangers who kept me caged? I was asked what name I wanted to go by in their system. I responded, “I just want to be free to go man. I haven’t hurt anybody.” “Ok”, came the response, “Free to go man” is your name. I didn’t laugh.

After a while I sat up and faced those who carried me into the cell. I figured that if I were out of sight my captors could more-easily put me out of their mind, thus allowing them to belittle or rationalize the force they used against me.

At 1pm, 4:30pm, 6:15pm, 8:15pm and 10:45pm correction officers approached my cell and pressured me to process. The 3/4″ Global Security Glazing glass muffled our communication. During later visits the correction officers opened the door to talk with me (presumably it took half a day for these folks to realize that I was not violent).

My cage was constructed of institution-white cinder blocks, each about 18″ long and 8″ tall, making the interior dimensions of my cell about 9′ 9″ deep, 8′ 3″ wide and 7′ 4″ tall. The front wall facing the elevated booking area was primarily made of glass and the heavy steel door. When it was light out I could catch glimpses of the stars and stripes flying outside. Land of the free, huh? A narrow elevated slab of concrete along one wall, painted red, served as the bed. There was a steel comode/sink with three buttons. One flushed the commode. The other two both ran cold water. I was told if I were thirsty the sink faucets doubled as a “bubbler”.

At one point I noticed a gentleman talking with the correctional officers manning the front desk. He stuck out to me because in lieu of a silly costume he wore slacks, a black turtleneck and a light blazer. I later learned he was Rick Van Wickler – the superintendent of the facility.

After explaining to one correction officer who stopped by my cell – J. Richard – that I hadn’t harmed anyone and that my caging only compounded and exacerbated the harm already inflicted, she noted that what I had done was a “victimless crime”. I followed-up on her statement by noting that when arbitrary man-made legislation conflicts with natural law one must side with the latter. She didn’t agree. She was just doing her job after all.

No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.
– Stanislaw J. Lec

Night came. It was cold. I sat on the floor, legs pulled to my chest with my t-shirt over my knees and my head tucked inside to maximize warmth. I was still damn cold. I wrapped toilet paper around my exposed legs (I learned this tactic from Ademo, who turned himself into a toilet paper mummy when being held in a cold cell in Las Vegas earlier in the year). My feet, with layers of toilet paper under white ankle socks, looked like bloated marshmallows. And they were happier. The heat-sapping concrete now had a couple of layers of toilet paper to get through. Sleep came in short 30min snatches.

After a long, uncomfortable night, I was asked to process. I declined. Hours passed.

ARRAIGNMENT
M. Willis asked if I wanted to speak with the judge. “Sure”, I said, “but I’m going to tell him the same thing I’ve been telling you” – that I haven’t hurt anyone.

I was escorted through the facility and instructed to sit in a chair while the video link connected with Keene district court. Initially there was a technical delay. I largely remained silent, not too keen to be buddy-buddy with someone willing to place and keep peaceful people in cages against their will. He was adamant that his policy, which does not investigate whether someone deserves to be caged, is best.

Why would someone unthinkingly take possession of another human being and place them in a cage without having more information? As I told Willis, the system does not result in “checks and balances” but unaccountability. Every individual involved – legislators, bailiffs, cops, correction officers, judges – claims that they personally are not to blame for your predicament but that you can fix it if only you talk to someone else.

Once the video link was made, Burke explained that he needed two things from me – 1) to identify and 2) for me to indicate whether I planned to apply for counsel. “Well, frankly,” I noted, “what I’d like to see is for the bailiff to apologize to me for using aggressive force” but Burke cut me short.

Burke claimed that I was “presumed innocent,” causing someone in the audience out of my field of vision to laugh. Burke ordered them removed.

I told Burke that they day prior I felt like the victim (i.e. tackled, carried, caged). Then Ademo spoke his mind for about 40-seconds (~4:00), ending with: “One of your men assaulted him! Assaulted him!” and “Get a life!”

Burke wasn’t too fond of what he heard and ordered those doing his bidding to handcuff Ademo and remove him from the room (note that Ademo had been walking out of the room on his own accord, and was only feet from the door). He was brought across my field of vision and into the room to Burke’s left.

Burke told me it was “up to me” to comply to gain my freedom. I told him that he had “the ability to throw this out and say there shouldn’t be a charge. I didn’t hurt anybody.” Burke said “Ok. Alright. I guess we’re not going to get anywhere. Thank you” and left.

Willis led me back to my cage, informing me not to breath deeply when in the lobby area as his colleagues had had to “deploy mace”. Against a lady.

I worried about Ademo. I hoped they cut him loose. I watched the sliding door that opened into the booking area, hopeful that I wouldn’t see him.

I was told that I was going to be moved since I’d reached the 24-hour-maximum stay in booking.

Then in came Ademo carried by a group of men wearing badges. We exchanged glances. He was placed on the floor of a cell two away from mine. He held up six digits and mouthed/yelled that he had been given a 60-day sentence. “What the hell!?” was all I could say as I was being led away.

I was told that I had to first take a shower. I stripped, lifted up my scrotum and spread my cheeks for Willis. Then I took a quick shower (which helped to warm me up) and put on jail duds. Fun fun. As I was led to my new cage other inmates looking through the window on their doors yelled down to my captor, “What’d he do?” Why is he going in there?”- the “there” being segregation.

SEGREGATION
I was told I would kept in the cage for 23-hours a day. I eyed the thin, plastic-covered mattress sitting up on the metal frame bed bolted to the wall. I laid down. A short time later a correctional officer brought me blankets and some toiletries. I turned myself into a human burrito and tried to sleep.

I didn’t eat. I was told that if I continued not to eat I’d end up in a hospital being fed via an IV. Days later I questioned my stance – if I wasn’t eating because I didn’t want to burden taxpayers wouldn’t ending-up in a hospital defeat that principle? Hospital tends to be damn spendy after all…

I chewed on the few options that I had any control over.

Van Wickler asked if I knew “Lance” [Weber, a liberty-friendly lawyer from the area]. “Yes” I said. Lance’s number was placed on a list that wouldn’t incur collect call charges.

I called Lance. It was around 11am. I told him about my last 24-hours and he updated me on the activity happening on the outside, specifically mentioning the Chipin George Donnelly created to help pay for a press release distribution.

Correctional officers peered through the window in my cage door on their rounds (hourly?), sometimes shining a flashlight my way. During mealtimes I was offered food. I declined.

On Wednesday Van Wickler stopped by my cage in the early afternoon and asked if I would like to speak with my mom. “Of course!” I responded. We walked to the phone, Van Wickler read her number while I dialed, then he left. It was good to talk with her.

Over the two-and-a-half days I was in segregation Van Wickler visited my cell about five times for a total of 45-60-minutes. He’s pressured me to process. He brought two copies of documents that outlined the information that I’d be required to share if I were to process.

During one visit Van Wickler asked his colleague to leave us so he could talk with me alone. He asked if I thought Burke was concerned with my actions in the jail and answered his own question with a single “No.” And, despite agreeing with me that the force that had been used in my situation was uncalled for he was unwilling to let me out. He had keys to the facility. He could act on his conscious.

At one point it was communicated to me that Ademo had processed and was going to be released later that evening. I hoped it were true, but doubted it. Like cops, correctional officers lie.

I thought through potential avenues to gain justice. I had lots of time to think and do some internal creative destruction about strategy, tactics, relationships with people, incidents, etc.

On Thursday I wasn’t able to reach Lance when I tried his number. I only remembered three other numbers – Ademo’s, which didn’t help, Allison Gibbs and Ian Freeman. I called Ian as my ultimate goal was to reach Michele Seven to see about getting picked-up if I did process. Ian was more than happy to help and conference called us all together. I informed them of where I was at and learned that M7 had unfortunately slipped a couple of times when in Keene exiting the district court and wasn’t too mobile. Ian offered to grab me so long as he could get an exemption on his no trespass, which stemmed from the insane arrests last year that became known as the Trespass of Twelve.

I decided I could have a bigger impact on the outside. I decided to process.

At one point when in segregation Van Wickler asked me if I knew “Brandon Ross” who he said had claimed to be my lawyer. I noted that Brandon was “a friend” and Van Wickler commented that a case like ours didn’t necessitate multiple lawyers (since Lance Weber had already been communicating with me and Ademo). Later, after I processed, I learned of the work Brandon did behind-the-scenes for us. At one point he had been told by Van Wickler that he’d be able to see me in segregation. Ross made the drive from Concord and waited six hours but was denied access entirely. I was never informed of his visit.

PROCESSING
Thanks to lengthy time delays, sub-par “customer service” and accepted bureaucracy, it would be impossible to not know I was interacting with a government agency when processing. I sat in a chair in front of the counter and answered questions posed by Willis. My picture was taken – each side and straight-on. My fingerprints were taken and checked via IAFAS, the FBI’s database. Willis told me my fingerprints would be deleted automatically if they returned no hits. Sure.

I had questions about some of the stipulations on the paperwork Van Wickler had provided me. “Why was the check-box next to: ‘Is ordered not to drive until the defendant’s license or privilege is restored by the Director of Motor Vehicles’ checked?” I asked. “Or why am I to ‘refrain from excessive use of alcohol, and use of a narcotic or controlled substance as defined in RSA 318-B’?” Willis claims to not have known.

The bail commissioner – an angry man named Frank J. Obuchowski arrived. After getting his paperwork and “official” stamp laid out he barked orders at me. I stopped him and asked him why he thought it necessary to speak with such a hostile tone. Another inmate – who was a big dude – turned from watching the TV to us. Obuchowski quieted down some, but before leaving he made a point to tell me that he spoke that way so there was no question what he was communicating.

I asked him about the two check-boxed items. On the paperwork he brought the drivers license stipulation was not checked. He read to me that I could not have any alcohol or controlled substances. I pointed-out that on the form I had it just stated no “excessive” use of alcohol. He looked it over and, on his copy, angrily wrote the word “excessive” above to the sentence. Then I asked him how “excessive” is defined, and who gets to do the defining. He didn’t have an answer.

My arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9th at 9am. The paperwork threatened me with increased penalties if I were arrested when out on bail. I thought I was innocent until proven guilty. What if I were arrested by another out-of-control cop for a victimless action?

Obuchowski told me I owed him $40. Van Wickler, who had been hovering around the lobby through this proceeding, had earlier told me when I brought up that the fee was the man’s “bread and butter”. He indicated that it didn’t have to be paid. Sounds good to me. I told Obuchowski that I didn’t have any money (I didn’t), that this fee had not been mentioned earlier and that it was unfair for him and his colleagues to continue to add additional criteria so that I could regain my freedom of movement. He said, “Well who’s picking you up? Maybe they have money.” No dice buddy.

Then Obuchowski told me that I had to go to the Keene Police Department before 4pm (it was 2:30pm). I questioned why this was added? And at who’s direction? No one gave me any information.

Van Wickler called Ian and “granted” an exemption on the no trespass order. Soon he was on-scene and I was out.

In the five or ten minutes I had been waiting Van Wickler told me about how he’d recently declared three Cuban cigars on his flight back from Canada, where he had spoken to parliament about drug policy (Van Wickler is a speaker with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition). He explained that he’d been barred from bringing the cigars across an imaginary line so he gave them to a taxi driver. If one can see the failures of drug prohibition then why not stand against all victimless “crimes”?

FREEDOM
As I climbed into Ian’s car he handed me a meal replacement drink Meg Mclain had wanted me to have. Perfecto! I put out a Keene411 to announce my freedom and to see if any friends in the area wanted to join us for a bite at a Mexican place in town. About 16 did, despite the short notice.

After the hugs, conversation and burrito (thanks Heika!) I was reminded at just how many awesome individuals make up this community. It was exactly what I needed.

Afterwards we went to the Keene Activity Center to chillax and brainstorm. A couple of hours later Mark Edge graciously sat aside so I could join JJ and Ian on the first couple of segments of Free Talk Live.

THOUGHTS
The support Ademo & I have received has been amazing. Thanks so much! It has not only had very real impacts for us but it shows others that we’re here for each other, which may make them more-likely to stand up for what they know is right.

Now let’s get Ademo out and get some accountability! To get involved and stay up-to-date check out the Free Ademo! post, the Free Ademo! Facebook group, the Free Pete! post and FreePete.org.

—————————————————

Does it make sense that individuals who have harmed no one end up in cages? Though I can’t authoritatively speak for everyone I think it’s fair to say that we each are standing on principle, despite the threats levied at us, knowing that failure to do so today will make it more difficult tomorrow.

If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.
– Thomas Jefferson

More:
A Conversation with My Arresting Officer
Judge loses it on cam, jails man for sitting too slow
Ian Freeman arrested and jailed for 93 days RAW FOOTAGE
Derrick J Arrested in 6 Seconds
Kate Ager to “judge” Ed Burke: Release Ademo & Beau
Ademo’s “Improper Influence” or Edward Burke’s Abuse of Power – You Decide
Ademo Caged for Felony Charge of “Improper Influence”
Five Days for a Hat!
Plea for Help: FREE Pete Eyre & Ademo Freeman!
Free Pete Eyre, Caged for Wearing a Hat
Jesse Arrested for Wearing a Hat
judge burke v. a hat
Court camera ban sparks arrest of YouTuber
NH videographer broadcasts own arrest live
Will NH Courts Continue to Censor?
Out of Control Deputies & Bailiffs in Cheshire County
Media Day at Cheshire County Jail, Keene NH

Hey Burke: The Robe Doesn’t “Legitimize” Your Actions is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Rather than pay the ransom I submitted a letter indicating that I’d sit the time.

In this video I read the text of the letter in the hope that it causes people to think about how deeply flawed is the criminal “justice” system. It’s not something that can be “fixed,” the whole structure must be changed.

Rather than allow for a group of people to exercise an exclusive monopoly on the provision of any good or service recognize that a certain title or costume doesn’t grant extra rights. Then act accordingly, so we can more quickly live in a world where individuals are responsible for their actions, regardless of where they work.

http://voluntaryist.com/fundamentals/introduction.html
http://libertyontour.com/resources
http://copblock.org

Response to “Notice of fine” from Chalking 8 is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

I couldn’t agree more.

Read the entire post, Record Gun Sales! by the Muslim Agorist, from our friends at Silver Circle Underground, who almost a year ago bestowed upon Ademo and me the prestigious title “Rebels of the week”:)

Know things aren’t right with policing? Watch this video by John Bush on solutions
Check out Silver Circle’s 60-second trailer

If you'd like a CopBlock.org Power Post - as seen above - contact us.

Record Gun Sales! is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

No one was held accountable, but that’s not too surprising. We’re talking about an association of individuals that claim the sole right to provide protection and security. They have no competition. There’s no reason to care about customer service or worry about being held accountable for actions.

Still, some continue to pander for internal investigations, completely ignoring the fact that everyone involved – legislature, police, judges, politicians – are only interested in perpetuating and growing their claimed authority. At the direct expense of individual rights.

Watch Into The Fire by Press For Truth. Then think for yourself. How can this best be prevented? How can rights-violators best be held accountable?

“Into The Fire” Details Toronto G20 Security Theater is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

————————
On June 4th I was one of eight arrested outside the Manchester Police Department when at a pro-police accountability event. I was alleged to have been “disorderly” – twice. Over six months later, I was told I was “guilty” of violating an ordinance and told to pay a 248 FRN ransom.

From Garret Ean:

Pete Eyre, was found guilty at the non-criminal violation level of one of the two charges. Interestingly enough, the charge he was convicted on was not the reason for his arrest, but was attached later. John Patti, who ordered Pete’s arrest but was my arresting officer, arrested us for allegedly refusing an order regarding a city ordinance violation. Neither the order nor the basis of the order were substantiated in court, yet Pete was, retroactively, in a sense, found guilty of having been in the “crime scene” and having been ordered out of it. The disorderly conduct statute is so over broad that you are automatically guilty at the violation level if you have been given what is considered a “lawful order”. By refusing the order, you are then guilty at the criminal level.

Order of events:

• March 3rd, 2010 – Christopher Michlovich is beaten by four off-duty Manchester PD employees (Jonathan Duchesne, Matthew Jajuga and Michael Buckley, and Ernie Goodno). An internal investigation exonerated the actions of the four aggressors. Tom Clark (city solicitor) toed the “official” line.
• May 25th, 2011 – Michael Delaney (NH attorney general) states that the Michlovich beating was “not the Manchester police department’s finest hour” but will not pursue charges against those responsible.
• June 4th, 2011 – individuals gather outside Manchester PD to voice concerns about the lack of accountability, eight were arrested and nine phones/cameras were seized
• October 24th, 2011 – Pete Eyre has court at Manchester District, two class b misdemeanor disorderly conduct threats, ordered to submit “memo of law” to support points argued
• November 10th – “memo of law” deadline, document was received days prior
• December 27th – William H. Lyons (aka “the court”) says Eyre is not guilty of the two disorderlies but is guilty of a violation. Ransom is set at 248 FRNs.
• December 29th – Eyre calls “the court” to inquire how to sit the time rather than pay the ransom

I self-describe as a voluntaryist and therefore don’t want to fund the violence of the state. The state – to be specific – is just a bad idea. Everything its actors do is destructive and if not immoral, inefficient. The initiation of force, censorship, and control are its only tools.

So, I may sit at Valley Street for four days. I’ll have time to brainstorm. Read. Maybe workout. And, unless they keep me segregated, time to have conversations with other individuals harmed due to the belief in the bad idea that grants some a “legitimate” right to use force, as well as those who pretend their costume allows them to do actions wrong for you or me.

The greater the number of laws and enactments, the more thieves and robbers there will be.
– Lao Tsu

On the phone Kim even said most people “just pay.” What if everyone didn’t? What if no one took plea deals? What if everyone realized that they have nothing to fear if they’ve done nothing wrong?

I think it’d be a lot better world.

CopBlock.org/Chalk
CopBlock.org/ManchesterDocuments
CopBlock.org/ManchesterIndictment
State vs. Garret Ean: NOT GUILTY on FreeConcord.org
“The Tiny Dot” by Larken Rose
LibertyOnTour.com/Resources
FreeKeene.com

A couple of the Manchester PD employees told me they’d meet me for a bite after the conclusion of this round in legal land. (As I did with Keene PD employee Jim Cemorelis.) Let’s see if they hold true to their word.

Hey Manch: I’d Rather Stand on my Conscience Than Fund Your Violence is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Last month a few of us from Keene traveled 45min south to Montague, MA* (right next-door to Greenfield) to join others in helping Bill move out the rest of his furniture, welding supplies, and appliances. He had been given an eviction notice, to be “served” by employees of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, based on what Bill considers a fraudulent mortgage issue related to the robo signature controversy.

For over four years Bill, assisted by friend Jeanne Golrick, had successfully won in court (aka mounted an effective defense) to keep his house. He views this latest theft as temporary. His words, written in chalk on a scrap piece of metal on the side of his welding building sums it up: “We are out! At this time.”

More:
Study: Invalid mtg. assignments found by WWLP.com
22News I-Team: Homeowner Warning by WWLP.com
Foreclosure Fraud – How They Do It video by StopForeclosureFraud.com
“Erica Johnson-Seck” search results via Google
Robo Signing Becomes More Efficient by TakeYourHomeBack.com

Below are two documents Bill shared with me that are related to his situation. I would have shared a third but I wouldn’t upload due to “security” reasons…

Franklin Co Sheriff’s Dept Protects & Serves (the Banks) is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Over three hours we had a freewheeling discussion that touched on the Keene community, activism, rights, the role (if any) of government, the provision of courts and law enforcement, philosophy, books, families, and single-issues like firearms and drug prohibition.

Some people have communicated that such meetings are a waste of time – almost likening the other party to “the enemy.” While I appreciate such feedback I disagree. As I wrote on a previous post:

There is no benefit to write-off an entire group of people based on their place of employment. . . Don’t you think it likely that some of those individuals [cops] might, once exposed to new, better ideas, shed their old, worse ideas? Like anyone else the average cop has been exposed to a lifetime of pro-State, defer-to-authority rhetoric.

When our conversation kicked-off Jim noted that there was probably only a “minutia” of things that separated our perspectives. With the glaring exception of how we each subsist, I found that statement was pretty accurate. We both want to live in a safe, prosperous community, where individual rights are respected – the question is how is that best-achieved?

In the least our chat allowed for personalization, which means ideas shared will likely be given more weight. And while I haven’t heard that Jim has yet moved on from the Keene police department, based on how we parted ways, I’m hopeful our conversation will continue.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A Conversation with My Arresting Officer is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Complete article from The Daily Mail:

An off-duty police officer has been charged with executing a man in a sports bar – after an argument over a game of darts.

Riverside County sheriff’s deputy Dayle Long, 42, allegedly shot Samuel Vanettes, 36, three times, leaving him to die on the floor of the bar in Murrieta, California.

It is reported that Long, who had been drinking alone, struck up a conversation with Vanettes and his friends at Spelly’s Bar and Grille before the shooting.

An altercation allegedly broke out after the police officer told one of the friends ‘I’m better at darts than you are’, Chris Hull, 39, told Patch.com.

‘My buddy says, “Aw, you suck at darts”. (The man) says, “That’s why I’m a cop, I can do whatever I want to do”.’

Hull tsaid his friend asked; ‘Really, you can do anything?’

The police officer then pulled out his gun, Hull claimed and after the group repeatedly asked him to put it away he ‘pops three rounds into my friend Sam’.

The ten-year department veteran appeared at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley in a red prison uniform, on Friday charged with murder.

Vanettes, a gas station cashier, was trying to keep the peace in the bar when he was gunned down, John Hall, a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office, according to Patch.com report.

Long and another man were in an argument when Vanettes had stepped in to break up the fight.

‘He came in to act as a peacemaker and ended up getting shot,’ Hall said.

He added that the victim was unarmed and showing no aggressive behavior.

According to a family member of the victim, who spoke to the LA Times, Vanettes was at the bar with his sister, her boyfriend and another friend when he started playing darts with Long.

‘They were getting along good,’ the relative said Vanettes sister had told.

‘When the cop started having more whiskey, he started getting belligerent.

‘He lifted his shirt up and showed his gun. Sam was standing by the dartboard.

‘He said, “You don’t want to do this; you’re a nice guy”. And he shot him. That’s what I’m told.’

If convicted, Long could face 50 years to life behind bars.

It’s important to remember that all cops aren’t evil. I’m not anti-cop. Individuals, including Dayle Long (whether the allegations against him are true or false), are responsible for their actions. That means everyone – no matter their place of employment – should be held accountable for their actions.

If we really want to mitigate such atrocious rights-violations it won’t happen from another “civilian review board” or internal investigation but from a systemic change. The Statist Quo changes only when we each change our own outlook.

Live free and refuse to grant anyone authority simply because it’s claimed. Real change happens not at the ballot box but one mind at a time. When no one claims to be a master and no one allows themselves to be a slave.

The current “law enforcement” model is provided at the barrel of a gun. “Customers” are forced to pay or else. The lack of market signals means perverse incentives. Think for yourself:

“I can do whatever I want” says badge-wearing individual to man he shoots is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

The video, by YouTube.com/StormCloudsGathering, speaks candidly and persuasively at its intended audience: individuals who work in police or the military.

Thoughts?

Thanks to Beau-dizzle ( on Facebook, on FreeKeene.com, on LibertyOnTour.com) for putting this guy on my radar earlier today.

For more, check out his video “The Chain of Obedience” over at FreeKeene.com.

An Open Message to Police & Military – a SOLID video is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Censorship, even if done for the best of intentions, subsumes the initiation of force – something experienced by individuals seeking transparency at Keene district court and Cheshire Co. superior court. On Friday, Dec. 16, 2011 at the NH supreme court the “rules committee” took comment to determine whether they will “allow” you and me to film their actions.

Despite using different arguments and rationale, every commenter advocated for increased openness. A couple even mentioned how bad things can get when that is lacking. The “committee” seemed receptive. But even if they “rule” on the side of secret proceedings, their text on paper can only usurp your rights if you allow it so.

Below is a video Ademo published yesterday, featuring a not-so friendly public official. Are you happy you pay for such actions?

In late June Ademo was caged and charged with “improper influence” after he politely asked Ed Burke a few questions (about the unjust arrest of Beau Davis):

Shortly after Ademo’s arrest Derrick J. Freeman was arrested:

In July FreeKeene TV did a segment on this issue:

In September Jason Talley was arrested a block away in superior court:
Jason Talley Arrested at Keene Superior Court

Will NH Courts Continue to Censor? is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

At the end of it all the cameras, all of them, were allowed into the committee hearing and folks were able to speak their mind about the importance of transparency, as seen in the video below by Pete Eyre – also of CopBlock.org.

(VIDEO of Committee meeting coming soon!)

Government Employee Attempts to Intimidate Journalist is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

More:
CopBlock.org
FreeKeene.com
NeverTakeAPlea.org
Strike-The-Root.com
Freedom’s Phoenix
MegMcLain.com
High School Outreach by Kager on FreeKeene.com
School Sucks Project
John Taylor Gatto: Schooling is not Education – Part 1
Sheldon Richman on the Separation of School and State

Monadnock HS Public Officials Attempt Censorship is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Cop Block typically focuses on the abuse perpetrated by those who wear badges and the subsequent lack of accountability. However, due to the militarization of policing, more peaceful actions being classified as “illegal”, and more individuals refusing to take plea deals based on their principles, seeing the inside of a courtroom isn’t implausible (see links below for some examples).

As Nathan outlines, the symbolism present in court is just one example of its prevalence (and conditioning) throughout society, which underscores the need to think for yourself and not grant another individual, whether they wear a piece of metal  on their chest or a black robe, authority simply because its claimed.

———————————-

There are certain courtroom rituals that, while not necessarily specified in any law or rule, are nonetheless traditions commonly used to the lay participants into a habit of obedience. Whole treatises have been written about how the juror’s oath is used to deceive jurors into thinking they can be held into contempt for conscientiously refusing to convict a defendant who violated the law. Then there are the practices of addressing the judge as “Your Honor,” and of rising when the judge enters the courtroom.

Why is everyone expected to stand when the judge enters? It is probably because standing is culturally identified as a gesture of respect and honor. In certain religions, e.g. Judaism, one stands to pray to the Deity. Americans are sometimes asked to stand for the national anthem or the pledge of allegiance. A standing ovation is viewed as a sign of higher acclaim than a sitting one. When I went to a British-style private school, there was a rule requiring the students to stand whenever a woman entered the room. Soldiers stand to salute the flag or when an officer enters the room. The list goes on.

But why should we make a special gesture of respect for the judge that we wouldn’t make for others? He is merely a political hack who achieved his position by doing whatever was necessary to satisfy the pressure groups and/or politicians in charge of judicial appointments. And, at the time of the command to rise, he has done nothing special to deserve acclaim; he has not delivered any brilliant speech in favor of high ideals, or laid his life down for the greater good. All he did was walk in through a door.

Further, whether one believes in popular sovereignty (rule of the majority of voters) or individual sovereignty (rule of each person over himself), the judge’s office, or the court, should not be elevated above the common citizen (s), even symbolically. In a republic, the people elect the judge either directly or by electing the politicians who appoint the judges. They also directly or indirectly create the laws that bind the judge. In a system of “anarchy,” on the other hand, each individual is in charge of ruling himself, and any institutions for mutual protection are derived from contracts entered into by the willing. Either way, the citizenry, or citizen, must be regarded as the final source of all legitimate government (governments deriving any just powers they might have only from the consent of the governed), so why should we be making gestures of submission to the judge, rather than the judge signalling submission to the sovereign people?

I think this tradition serves as a subtle psychological trick. Salespeople and demagogues know that by getting a person or audience to answer “Yes” to a series of relatively uncontroversial statements, they will be more primed to respond “Yes” when they quickly follow with the decisive question. Governments and other organizations, too, often like to use compliance rituals early in certain proceedings in order to set the tone for the events to follow. An example would be the pledge of allegiance or the quasi-religious moment of silence, which begins the school day for many students. It is intended to remind the students of their place in the political or religious scheme of things. Their submission to this compulsory activity primes them for a whole day of submission to higher authority.

The Washington, DC-based museum of the Laogai (the system of Chinese prison camps) has a catechism-like set of phrases on the wall that prisoners were required to repeat periodically, reaffirming their status as lawbreakers in need of correction. It was, obviously, intended to assist in conditioning a certain response to subsequent instructions. Likewise, beginning the court proceedings with a gesture of obedience to an arbitrary command helps establish a mood that will, however subtly, help nudge people in the direction of meek compliance to the authority of the courtroom. The audience’s participation in this pointless ritual makes even them players in this drama (court proceedings are, after all, like theater designed to tug at people’s heartstrings in certain ways and stimulate knee-jerk responses to convincing-sounding, but fallacious arguments), and distracts from the political realities behind what is going on. The display of pomp stirs people to awe, so that they are less likely to think of the baser goings-on (e.g. backroom political deals over legislation and judicial appointments) that led to this scene taking place.

When I went to court, I decided to experiment to see what would happen if I didn’t stand. When the magistrate judge came in and the bailiff commanded us to rise, I remained seated. The U.S. Marshall ordered, “When we tell you to stand, stand!” Then two of them then twisted my arms rather painfully and forced me to my feet. The transcript records this colloquy (U.S. v. Larson, case no. 10-4964, 10th Circuit, J.A. 24-25):

MR. LARSON: I question the officer being able to lay hands on me to make me stand. THE COURT: Well, you need to stand because that’s just one of the rules that whenever anybody addresses the Court or when the Court or when the Court is addressing anyone, that they need to stand. And so, that’s just the way things are. If you refuse to comply with that, then they were required to assist you in standing. Once you were standing in compliance with that rule, then they have taken their hands off you, and you’ve been able to, obviously, participate in the proceedings as you should be able to participate. So, that’s — that was that situation. Any other questions at this time? MR. LARSON: Where is that rule? THE COURT: Where is that rule? I think it’s just standard practice to stand when you’re being addressed in court.

Nicholas von Hoffman once said in reference to the pledge of allegiance, “Unthinkingly reciting words whenever one is told to do so is either ridiculous or imbecilic or an obedience drill for a people already susceptible to group think.” The government imposes many obedience drills these days, but typically — as in the case of security searches at airports and government offices — there is some excuse for why they are necessary. The command to rise for the court, on the other hand, has no legitimate function, much less a purpose worthy of enforcement by laying hands on people. Therefore, we should look for opportunities to resist, when the benefits seem worth the costs.

Sometimes a defendant will find himself in a position of having little or nothing to lose by resisting. An example might be a terminally ill medical cannabis defendant who already knows he will die in jail while awaiting trial. Or he may have an important enough audience that the benefits of resisting (such as inspiring the observers) will outweigh the costs, in his eyes. In such cases, one might want to refuse to stand.

Audience members, too, can resist participation in the obedience drill. As any prisoner knows, many situations arise in which it is possible to disobey with impunity. An example would be at the end of a meal, when the correctional officer orders all the prisoners to clear out of the cafeteria so that cleanup can begin. If enough other prisoners remain eating, it is safe to stay awhile longer, because it would be inconvenient for that staff to try to discipline all the stragglers. Likewise, in a courtroom, when the command is given to rise, an audience member might wish to delay complying until almost everyone else has risen. Who knows, there might be enough people who refuse to comply that one can get away with it; and one’s own reluctance to rise might inspire others to remain seated as well. Eventually, if enough people disobey, the tradition’s purpose will be defeated and it will be a small, albeit symbolic victory over the State.

Symbolism does matter to governments, after all. That is why they invest so many resources in rituals, ceremonies, etc. designed to impress and manipulate the people. Perhaps it is time for us to take control of the symbolism and turn it from the purposes of authoritarian propaganda to a public statement in favor of individual freedom.

———————————-
Examples of court:
Dec., 2010 Ademo goes in Jones Co., MS
July, 2011 Pete & Ademo in Greenfield, MA
Oct., 2011 Pete in Manchester, NH

More:
Never Take a Plea
Don’t Take a Plea Deal
The Most Dangerous Superstition by Larken Rose

On the Harms of Blindly Obeying by Nathan Larson is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights