Video Journalist Dave Ridley Imprisoned by “State of New Hampshire”

July 7, 2009 by Ian
Filed under: National, News, Obscured Truth Network, Personal Freedom, Police, Thuggery, Video

As of Monday July sixth, the people calling themselves the “State of New Hampshire” have imprisoned another videographer at the Cheshire jail. This time it’s Dave Ridley from RidleyReport.com. He’ll be spending six days in Chez Westmoreland because he dared to use his freedom of the press and record video in the lobby of the Keene district court. Videographer Sam Dodson spent 58 days in the same facility for recording video and then using his alleged right to remain silent. Sam, also a blogger here at Free Keene, was arrested at the arraignment forced on Dave. Now having been forced into a trial and found guilty, Dave has turned himself in (under their threat of violence, of course) for a six day sentence. Nearly twenty liberty activists came out and had a picnic and sign-waving rally on the jail grounds. The prisoners were pleased to see us, as always.

Total cost to jail peaceful activists in Cheshire county so far in 2009? At over $30,000 per year to imprison people in NH, Dave’s six days, Sam’s 58, and Andrew Carroll’s nine, that’s at least $6,000. How much they spent on all the bureaucracy (police, court, sheriffs) to get them in jail is another question entirely. Either way, it seems that mass civil disobedience and noncooperation are keys to freedom (plus education and enlightenment) and that when more disobey and say no, it will begin to cost the violent monopolists more and more. May they one day see the error in their ways!

JailedActivist.info has contact info for the court, jail, police, and Dave, so feel free to get in touch. Also, you can write to Dave via mail-to-jail.com, but hurry because he’ll likely be out Sunday.

More video of the jail scene to come, but prior to his arrival at the jail, Dave was interviewed by Motorhome Diaries‘ Jason Talley:

Comments

11 Comments on Video Journalist Dave Ridley Imprisoned by “State of New Hampshire”

please on Tue, 7th Jul 2009 4:41 pm

I think after Dave is done with his stay in westmoreland he should be evauluated promptly for a mental disorder or defiency

George Donnelly on Tue, 7th Jul 2009 4:55 pm

While the cost is regrettable, I think it’s a footnote. Highlighting opens you up to the charge of “Well, if it’s so expensive, stop causing them to spend it”, which is obviously stupid, but still.

Paul on Tue, 7th Jul 2009 5:17 pm

Right please, because really intelligent and brave people roll over and do what they’re told. They would assuredly never be foolish enough stand up for their rights, or for government accountability. And they never, ever have fun.

michael garcia on Tue, 7th Jul 2009 6:55 pm

Please is just trolling but it is true that the government does call people crazy in an attempt to discredit their objection against the state.

George Donnelly on Tue, 7th Jul 2009 7:05 pm

Dave is an artist. Ignorant people have trouble recognizing this.

NickJames on Tue, 7th Jul 2009 9:52 pm

This would be the point where mark would say “What purpose is he serving by sitting in a jail cell?”

George Donnelly on Wed, 8th Jul 2009 5:20 am

Ask the Judge that question.

Dan Steward on Wed, 8th Jul 2009 7:25 am

The man’s/woman’s name is “Please”. So sad that he/she doesn’t even get that the “name” is equivalent to begging. Perhaps (although I hope not) this person is able to sustain him/her self from begging for scraps from their overlords.

Hey, “Please” your Freudian Slip is showing.

EdanMilner on Wed, 8th Jul 2009 7:51 am

Remember, Dave is not in jail for videotaping. He is in jail for *refusing to pay the fine* imposed by the judge for illegally videotaping. Had he paid the fine, he’d be free. Now I’m not saying that it’s right not to allow videotaping, but you need to be clear about why he’s in jail. If you FSers are going to blatantly break the laws, then decide not to take the responsibility for doing so, what other option does the court have? “Oh, you don’t want to pay the fine? How about community service? No, you won’t do that. Okay, well, go home then …”

By the way, as you may know I do try very hard to see the FSers’ point of view, but when you hurt your own credibility, it must be noted.

George Donnelly on Wed, 8th Jul 2009 8:01 am

Dave is not avoiding responsibility. He is taking the hardest road. Pretending that is the case brings your credibility into question, sir.

The government does not have to punish Dave at all. He has done nothing wrong. On the job, on the record. It goes for all members of the government gang.

Paul on Wed, 8th Jul 2009 10:28 am

Edan, Dave offered community service. The judge wouldn’t let him do it.

He has a moral problem with rewarding these people for harassing innocent people, as do I. It really eliminates the purpose of civil disobedience to simply get out of it by sending a check the way of the people whose immoral actions you are protesting. Can you imagine any other civil disobedients through history avoiding punishment by cutting a check? Gandhi, Rosa parks, etc?

THAT would be to shirk responsibility.

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