Details on Saturday’s Arrests

January 18, 2010 by Ian Freeman
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Personal Freedom, Police, Thuggery, Update

More from the Keene-inspired activists in Manchester, who have experienced their first civil disobedience arrest in recent memory. More video may be coming, but for now here’s the scene as described by liberty activist Joe Skinner:

Two Activists Arrested in Manchester for a 420 Celebration.

Saturday January 16th 2010 was an unseasonably warm day in the New Hampshire region. Because of this my roommate Mike and I figured it would be a perfect day to go, live free and hold an impromptu 420 celebration at Veteran’s Park in down town Manchester. Celebrations like the one we were planning that morning were held throughout the late summer and fall in both Keene and Manchester, NH. These celebrations, in which the participants partake in the public and open consumption of cannabis, were left completely unmolested in every instance of them occurring in the Manchester area. That is until that Saturday in January.

Around 4:00 PM Mike and I arrive on scene, close to the corner of Elm and Central in down town Manchester. We did not expect a large turnout because of the short notice, so we sat down smoked a cigarette and figured we’d just wait around until the hour arrived to do the public consumption and leave. We had done this dozens of times a few months earlier and it all seemed almost routine that afternoon. By the time it reached 4:20PM there were a total of six of us that had gathered, three of which were actually participating in celebration.

As we were passing around a marijuana cigarette (and may I mention, not hurting, nor bothering any passersby) two gentlemen who were wearing jeans, fleece jackets and baseball caps, entered the circle and asked if we were smoking. As we were not there to hide anything we acknowledged what we were doing without even giving it a second thought. At that moment the two men identified themselves as police and stated that we were observed to be smoking marijuana in public and that we were being detained by the officers. At this point the marijuana cigarette was already consumed and the roach was disposed of.

The officers then told the whole group to sit on the benches against the stone wall bordering the park while we were “dealt with appropriately”. They immediately asked for everyone’s ID, and out of the six of us, Mike, Brian and I all refused to give over any form of identification. It was at this point where we became the focal point of their questioning and “investigation”. Mike had already taken his phone out and was immediately accosted by one of the plains clothes cops for daring to try to record the interaction. Mike stood his ground, did not give up his camera, and refused to cooperate in any fashion. Mike then stood up and began talking to the cop who tried to take his phone, all the while recording what was going on with Brian and me.

At this point things start to get a little jumbled around as so many things were going on at once. I will do my best to relay things in chronological order in attempts to make things as clear as possible.

By the time Mike had stood up and was talking to the officer, at least three more cop cars, one police van, and about five or six regular uniformed officers had shown up to the “scene of the crime”. The literally had formed a semi-circle around us and were trying to look as intimidating as possible. They told Brian he going to be searched. Brian stated he had no interest in being searched but this did little to dissuade the armed goon, and Brian was stood upright by two officers and patted down. While this pat down was going on, Brian was on the phone with another activist telling him directions to get to the park, and to call for help as we were in the thick of things. When the search of Brian’s person led to the discovery of some contraband, Brian’s phone was taken from him, and he was placed in handcuffs and put to the side.

After dealing with Brian their attention was then focused on me. I was forced to my feet after I refused to be searched, and my wallet was taken out of my pocket. As I carry no government ID, and all my wallet contained was a photo ID from my place of employment. This did not please the officer at all and he demanded to know my birth date. He also demanded to know if I held a license in any other state. As this was my first serious interaction with a police officer, my adrenalin was pumping and my nerves were high. I began spitting out my DOB when Mike looked at me and asked why I was answering their questions. I replied to him that I had no idea why I was answering their questions, and then asked the officer if I was legally required to tell him this information. The cop threatened me with arrest because I was impeding an investigation, and he NEEDED to know who he was dealing with for his safety.

While I was being questioned, Brian was led into a police van and taken away, and another activist (the one who was on the phone with Brian earlier) had walked over and began filming and snapping pictures of the scene. It was at this point where I was able to take out my phone and begin recording. (You can view my video here) After I tell the cop that I will not give up my DOB, he then states I am wasting his time and tells me to leave. He then begins to search another activist who arrived on a bike, and had a backpack with him. I sit and record to make sure that nobody else gets hurt. After that search results in no arrest-able offence, the remaining activists that are seated on the benches are told to leave and get out.

As Mike gets up to leave, he steps between 2 or 3 of the officers, and gently brushes one of their jackets. The officer then lunges his arm out, grabs Mike and then asks if he thinks he can “shove me like that”. Two or three officers then surround Mike, and place him under arrest. Mike then drops to his knees and goes limp. The officers ask if they told him to sit down, and demand he gets up. Mike passively resists and responds in no verbal or physical way. At this point my phone locks up and I begin getting phone calls from all over the state.

Three officers stand Mike up straight; search him one more time (I don’t recall if he had been searched initially) then place him down again. They keep threatening him with abuse if he does not get up. They tell him to “get up and walk like a man” and other similar comments. The police then form a circle around him, trying to prevent us from recording what’s going on. Everyone then waits until the police van returns from dropping Brian off. At this point three officers pick Mike up and drag him about 20 feet across the sidewalk, and toss him head first into the back of the police van. It was one of the most disgusting displays of humanity I have ever seen. The activists that were left to view this display, heckled and berated the participants in their lack of conscience and morals, for what it was worth.

And just like that, all the cops were gone, and we were left on the sidewalk alone again, not hurting or bothering anyone. There were four of us left after the cops had departed, so we decided to hoof it to the police station and wait to see if we could get our friends out of jail. Within thirty minutes of us arriving to the station, four had turned to eight. An hour after that eight had turned into eleven, and by the time we made our way to the Valley Street Jail to bail out Brian, eleven had turned into fifteen. The last three and a half hours of this story are rather dull, as is basically involves waiting for bureaucrats, sitting in uncomfortable waiting rooms, and being told half truths by every government employee we encountered. The real success I wish to point out is that we had three times as many people show up to lend their support after the arrests, then who showed up for the celebration in the first place. There was standing room only in the jail waiting room where we exchanged $500 for our friend’s (relative) freedom.

But there is still a victim being held by the armed Manchester thugs. Big Mike is still refusing to identify himself to the state. Chances are that much like Sam last summer, the state more than likely knows Mike’s identity, and is just going to hold him until he voluntarily gives up his information. I met Mike in the middle of August, and we have been roommates ever since. I know for a fact he WILL NOT budge one bit. He is not afraid of the thugs, and is not afraid to spend months in jail to prove that he is not owned by anyone. But because of this, the state refuses to put a bail out for his release, state the charges against him, or even let the public know when is arraignment is. Brian, who was the last person to speak with Mike, stated that he had some serious bruising over his body because of the dragging and manhandling.

I want this story to have a pleasant ending for Big Mike. I want my friend home from jail and to be safe from abuse. I want the state to stop kidnapping my friends over a plant, or chemical. I want the police thugs who think its appropriate behavior to arrest a person because they bruised their ego to see the evil in their actions and beliefs. I want the world to be free and people who occupy it to have their hearts filled with love and peace. That is the only way change will ever come to the world.

Comments

14 Comments on Details on Saturday’s Arrests

Renniks on Mon, 18th Jan 2010 4:00 pm

Thanks for posting this Ian!

Seth on Mon, 18th Jan 2010 6:11 pm

Looks like Keene is getting a little competition. I love the fact that so many individuals are nullifying the laws. I can’t wait to get to NH later this year and engage in my own civil disobedience. But if I get busted I hope nobody bails me out! The last thing we need to do is give the state any money. Better to cost the state money with time spent in jail.

thinkliberty on Mon, 18th Jan 2010 6:28 pm

Seth, They won’t let anyone bail you out, if you refuse to tell your kidnappers who you are.

Kayleen on Mon, 18th Jan 2010 7:58 pm

Thanks, Joe. I was there along with the rest of our friends, awaiting Brian’s release and hoping for Mike’s. This power-mongering abuse has to STOP! I hope this incident helps spread the word about the ridiculous victimless-crime “laws” and the abuse that makes these thugs think they can (and often DO) get away with, because they have a STINKING BADGE!

Paul on Mon, 18th Jan 2010 11:45 pm

We need press on this situation. We also need pressure on the judicial system. Is there an Ivy type who could file motions on Mike’s behalf? What would it take to get mail delivered to him?

Criminal8 on Tue, 19th Jan 2010 1:06 am

“It was one of the most disgusting displays of humanity I have ever seen”

Classic. You need to get out more if this is the most disgusting display you’ve ever seen.

Kat Kanning on Tue, 19th Jan 2010 4:26 am

Reposted on NH Free Press.

clay barham on Tue, 19th Jan 2010 1:17 pm

Let’s simplify this. Obama said community interests are more important than are individual interests. It is which side you are on is right or left in the current way those terms are used. On the left, communalism reigns supreme, and the few elite rule the many, which is the oldest and dominate system in the world. They do not tolerate opposition! On the right side, you believe in individual freedom to be a creative pebble dropper or nail sticking up on the boardwalk, where the many rule themselves, which is America and greater prosperity. No matter how many ways you describe each, there are only two sides. In America, it was the Jefferson and Madison side first, and now, under the rule of the Democrats, it is Rousseau and Marx. See Save Pebble Droppers & Prosperity on claysamerica.com.

Lpviper on Tue, 19th Jan 2010 6:00 pm

Comment by Criminal8

January 19, 2010 @ 1:06 am

“It was one of the most disgusting displays of humanity I have ever seen”

Classic. You need to get out more if this is the most disgusting display you’ve ever seen.
—————————————————–
Sir or Madam, your callousness in the face of one of your fellow men being brutalized by thugs is disturbing. Do you enjoy the suffering of innocents? It is well for you that you have the anonymity of the internet to hide behind, because the voluntary society that is being organized right under your nose will shun you and those like you.

Get it all out here on the net, criminal8. Because out there in the real world, your views are losing their clout.

Thanks

Andy

bil on Wed, 20th Jan 2010 1:12 am

I have been working with a problem in Pakistan this week.The man I am working with had his colleague newsman severely wounded,and the cameraman and his son were killed in a bombing Dec.28 They were covering a religious festival.This stuff happens every day.We are also seeing what can happen when a lawless nation is struck by a natural disaster.Those are things that I would expect to be on the average persons list of ‘most disgusting displays of humanity’.I see how well the voluntary society is working in Haiti.There I see the suffering of innocents.To compare this to someone being arrested in Manchester,for whatever reason,and for cause or not,I find discusting.If this is how the new society will work,I will work against both the old and new.
The anonymity of the net is part of its power and weakness.LPVIPER surely isn’t what your parents called you,and Andy could be anyone.
It is easy to have a sense of power through the anonymous word,you never have to back up your opinions on the street.I will always stand behind my opinions and convictions,and will admit it when I am wrong.Wm.Staats,Brattleboro,Vt. —bil

Paul on Wed, 20th Jan 2010 1:56 am

There is no “voluntary society” in Haiti. To suppose that Haiti is an example of a voluntary society because it has no strong central government makes about as much sense as me supposing North Korea is an example of a constitutional republic, because it has a central government.

There has been no widespread, principled move among the Haitian populace towards non-violent interaction. The only reason the government is weak is because of the natural disaster — not because it has been supplanted by voluntary societal organizations — and of course, in a society where the state is more or less the sole provider of security, such a weakness leads to chaos.

bil on Wed, 20th Jan 2010 1:58 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFv4gey1Dzs
Try this one-free speach is actually a right,except in San Diego ,etc.I am against abuse by the police in any circumstance,but have a hard time feeling bad when arrest is the goal of the arrestee.Not the case here.Wanna bet the guy in the end of the clip gets arrested,too? I am near,and will check out the local papers for a reaction. —bil

Y. Therlow on Fri, 22nd Jan 2010 3:00 pm

great work! evil reigns for now but their end will come and the freedom seeker will survive, the slaves of government ‘all’ are already dead,their mindless deeds breed mental death.

Sam A. Robrin on Sun, 24th Jan 2010 11:33 am

A mnemonic tribute:

46733–BIG MIKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBHJqtgo8RA

John Doe, John Doe, they pretend that’s you.
You do a duty no one much wants to.
On trumped-up charges behind prison bars,
All for confronting Manchester hussars.

John Doe, I have your number.
I’ll send some gifts you’ll like.
John Doe, more than a number.
46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike!

John Doe, John Doe, hero for freedom!
One of too few, and Oh! how we need ‘em!
Your mind can’t be confined in a cage like some bird,
Or pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or num-bered . . .

John Doe, I have your number.
I’ll send some gifts you’ll like.
John Doe, more than a number.
46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike!

I’ll write you I’ll write you At Mail (hyphen) To (hyphen) Jail.
I’ll write you I’ll write you The least I can do is send you mail.

John Doe, I have your number.
I’ll send some gifts you’ll like.
John Doe, more than a number.
46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike! 46733–Big Mike!

John Doe, John Doe, this we guarantee you: (46733–Big Mike!)
Those on the outside will be working to free you.

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