2nd Arrest Made at 420 Protest – No Charges

September 27, 2009 by Nick Ryder
Filed under: News, Police, Video

Police arrested and soon released a protester named Evan downtown on Sunday afternoon. He was let go after the police realized he wasn’t actually in possession of marijuana.

Lt. Shane Maxfield continued his undying urging of activists to “work within the system.” I was taught in school that democracy was defined as “Majority rule with minority rights.” When the rights of minorities are stripped by the majority, democracy falls apart, and the time, money, and effort needed to win back just one measly right is so extreme and so costly, that activists often burn out before one victory.

The system is broken when it proves is has unlimited purview in controlling the private lives of citizens. The system is broken because it has no restrictions. The system is broken because 1000 people stealing from or enslaving 100 is not moral, even if they voted.

The system is broken, Shane. Stop following immoral orders.

Comments

12 Comments on 2nd Arrest Made at 420 Protest – No Charges

elee3 on Sun, 27th Sep 2009 8:35 pm

What is up with all this chanting? I think the protest is a good idea but the way some of these people conduct themselves is kinda lame. Yelling about eating doughnuts, calling them fucking pigs and pussies, I guess I expected more.

steve on Sun, 27th Sep 2009 9:13 pm

“Yelling about eating doughnuts, calling them fucking pigs and pussies, I guess I expected more.”

Don’t let a couple fools get to you. This moment/movement is too great.

YOU ARE ALL ICONS FOR FREEDOM!

I have lived in NH for 19 years and have never been more proud to call it home!

Evan on Sun, 27th Sep 2009 9:25 pm

That video has a factual error. I was actually smoking a joint of chocolate mint, not tobacco.

Keith on Sun, 27th Sep 2009 9:26 pm

There are many, many people working within the system in NH, MA and dozens of other states. Maybe even millions of people. Trust me, people are trying. Some changes are coming but they are very slow.

My understanding is that Maxfield doesn’t usually work within the system for the things he stands for, though.

Patriot Henry on Sun, 27th Sep 2009 11:27 pm

” I was taught in school that democracy was defined as “Majority rule with minority rights.” When the rights of minorities are stripped by the majority, democracy falls apart, ”

Democracy is the direct rule of the people. It hasn’t really been a common form of government since certain ancient Greek city-states ceased to be.

What we have is can be described as a number of different system, there’s some fascism, some communism/socialism, some capitalism that keeps feeding the other systems, or you could call it a kleptocracy or empire etc, but with relations to the voting, it’s an ochlocracy – the rule of the mob. The mob is becoming ever more fond of marijuana though – so at some point it’ll become “legal”, although the tide is swinging against tobacco so that might be out in the same time period.

And for the record, what we are supposed to have is a libertarian constitutional republic. If you read the NH State Constitution right off the bat it clearly states that people have the right to property. Marijuana is property thus it’s legal. The only exception would be if the legislature prohibited it for the general welfare, but the evidence clearly shows that prohibition causes far more harm than it prevents so that is not a valid legal argument.

Laissez on Mon, 28th Sep 2009 12:05 am

I too am a little put off by the… what? college kids?… who are being very derogatory towards the police. Maybe they give a false impression of the rest of those attending, but according to Nagler’s Law (listen to Michael Nagler’s podcasts from his UC Berkeley courses on the history of nonviolence) even a small amount of vitriol can poison the efforts of peaceful activists.

It’s hard to expose the police as behaving like unruly thugs if even a minority on the other side are being unruly themselves. Perhaps it’s too idealistic, but no audience should be given a reason to dismiss the human worth of the activists. I can only hope Sam and Ian’s messages of compassion and forgiveness gain more practitioners, especially for such moments as these. It’s what worked for Gandhi.

On the other hand, I was impressed by the two or three activists who clearly were toying with the idea of pulling a Tian’anmen Square tank guy on the squad car. I am both excited and nervous about the point at which the peaceful obstruction of an arrest will become feasible, though I think that’s probably still years away.

EdanMilner on Mon, 28th Sep 2009 1:44 am

I can’t help but feel that we’re living through an important period that will turn out to be historic. If this kind of movement can be replicated in city after city, the time will come when the archaic marijuana laws will be repealed. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Russell Kanning on Mon, 28th Sep 2009 5:06 am

i am afraid i must insist that shane work within the system i work for … the free market … not the coercive one he works for

charley hardman on Mon, 28th Sep 2009 9:38 am

maxfield’s nuremberg defense dreck translated:

“For heaven’s sake, catch me before I kill more. I cannot control myself.”

BTW, morons, they are pigs and pussies, worried over by the still brainwashed “Laissez”.

Slim on Mon, 28th Sep 2009 9:46 am

If I did what the revenue agents did in the video I would be charged with multiple charges including kidnapping, false imprisonment, and probably 10 more crimes.

What repercussions do the arresting revenue agents face? Nothing they just stole that mans freedom, time, and caused him emotional disturbance.

Dr. Q on Mon, 28th Sep 2009 1:54 pm

Lt. Maxfield should let Officer Bowers know that if he wants to arrest people for things that aren’t illegal, he can’t just take matters into his own hands and do it. He has to go through the “proper channels” to get the laws changed first.

At least that’s what he told those of us who protested outside the police station the day Rich Paul was arrested.

theKINGofKEENE on Tue, 29th Sep 2009 6:33 pm

A couple quick points: As a Native/local, let me assure you that the largest group at the 420 rallies have been the *Middle School/High School/Skate Park* crowd. Very few, if any Keene State students, plus a smattering of 20 & 30+ something locals….& a few uncategorizable over-fed, long-haired, leaping gnomes….Like ME!…WOO-HOO!…///…As for Lt. Shane Maxfield, he’s a freakin’ jarhead. A *MARINE*! You know, U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), or as they refer to themselves, “USMC” = Uncle Sam’s Marijauna Club! (jk, Shane, jk…)…He served with distinction and valor in combat during Gulf War 1, (1991), and was recalled to active duty and deployed overseas in the early 2000′s to serve in the “Global War on Terror”. Shane is very well trained to follow orders, complete the mission, and remain SEMPER FIDELIS! So his mindset/worldview reflects those values. He’s “only” a “gunny”, or “gunnery Sgt.”, I believe, although I’d be more surprised if he *HASN’T* had a promotion or 2 since we’ve had a chance to chew fat…Hope this helps you understand Shane a bit better. (Shane, if you get a chance, stop in at Toy City & check out the LAV w/TOW(LAV-AT) in the Corgi case…You like???…you want???…*BIG GRIN*…*SEMPER FI*/HOO AH!…

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