Sidewalk Chalk is not a Crime

August 12, 2010 by Meg McLain
Filed under: Outreach

innocent people

Last night a group of peace-loving activists decided to spread their message using sidewalk chalk, a medium constantly used on the sidewalks of downtown Keene, and which can be removed by a light rainfall or lawn sprinkler. However, according to the always factual Keene Sentinel, when used to apply pro-peace messages to pro-violence monuments, this once harmless and not even semi permanent art form takes on the properties of vandalism.

Central Square defaced

By Kyle Jarvis
Sentinel Staff

Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Civil War Monument in Central Square was defaced with political messages.

The monument, which features a statue of a soldier, was discovered this morning to have been drawn on with sidewalk chalk.

“Obama lied,” and “stop paying taxes” were written in chalk, along with “taxes>theft” and peace symbols.

A peace symbol was also drawn on one of the cannons in the park, and a fuse box had the words “stop paying taxes.”

Several other statements were also written in chalk on the sidewalks in the park, including “innocent people don’t belong in cages,” and “no victim, no crime.”

It’s unclear whether the messages written in the area of the monument are related to those written on the sidewalk, or whether the same people were involved.

The chalk was washed off the monument this morning.

See the article here.

Here are some photos of the beautiful activist artwork that brightened up Keene Central Square. More can be found at the Keene Central Square’s Nightcap Facebook Page. Here’s a direct link to all the photos.

bil

So someone would actually own the gazebo and park,and if you drew on it,you would get punched. Then you would have something to protest. No matter what type of society there is , someone is unhappy. —bil
keenenative, jr.

1/2 way through this looo–oong post, SOMEBODY shoulda' walked it over to the Forum…..Glad to see you recognize the Royalties that are owed to my Dad, bil!…That's why it's called a "PROMISE-ory Note"!…Ever heard of the "Shadow Project"???…every year, "they" would go around and make chalk outlines of peoples' bodies lying in various "poses" on the sidewalk…("they" usually didn't use actual people, just drew chalk outline shapes…same thing…).So, next morning, folks saw the impression of bodies scattered around…It was always around August 6-10~or so…It was a memorial-type protest against nuclear weapons, around the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Anniversary…Several years, it DID get significant Sentinel coverage, when it happened…Just like now, some knee-jerk bureaucraps&do-gooders/goody-2-shoes/stick-up-their-butts type folks came out and howled in protest…&Most of the rest of us just sat back & enjoyed the brief show…this is just more of the same ole' same ole'.same ole'…knjr…..
Vandalism vs. Art

The "free expression" that your group did in Central Square was vandalism. It doesn't matter if it was done with sidewalk chalk, spray paint, or blood. Some people defaced a statue dedicated to Veterans and deceased local soldiers that served in the Civil War. To even think that the desecration of the memory of someone who fought for their country is harmless is insane.

Personally I don't like the kids that chalk up the sidewalk downtown, I feel it makes the downtown area look cheap and dirty. To chalk up Central Square also makes it look cheap and dirty.

And just in case you didn't know, the money for the statue, the fountain and the gazebo came from donations from people, rich and poor. I personally donated $50 to build the fountain and $100 for the gazebo. I am hardly rich, but I managed to find a way to make my donations because I care about Keene. If I could form a "protective agency" to make sure that Central Square and downtown Keene would remain free of senseless vandals and immature partiers trashing the Square and Main Street, I would. However I will leave this duty to the (rather inneffective) Keene Police Department and save my money making my home safe and free from misguided antisocial protest groups.
Zeus

"Some people defaced a statue dedicated to those who chose to kill or die in one brutal conflict or another, but especially the Civil War. To even think of desecrating the memory of someone who fought for the various nationalist agendas of their era's politicians under the guise of patriotism is insane."

Fixed that for you, no charge.
bil

KN,Jr.-several years ago in Brattleboro,there was a 'die-in',where people lay down in the streets and sidewalks,and the chalk outlines were made. I didn't care about that,but it did bugger up the traffic.So I went into Bakers Bookstore and bought some chalk,then drew happy faces,belly buttons,and clothes on the outlines. Somehow that was not right,and several of the protesters got mad,and asked a cop to make me stop. However,I had as much right to draw as they did.

Drawing or writing on the sidewalk doesn't bother me,it is on the statue and gazebo.Even little kids draw on the sidewalk and no one cares. —bil
bil

Keene Native JR- where is KN Sr.?? I have his royalties check,in the form of a ten dollar gift certificate from Fritz fries. He mentioned once that he like the place-me too! How do I get it to him?? If he/you go on the forum side,there is a message place, nothing here in the blog spot. —bil MMMM -fries!
Vandalism vs. Art

@ Zeus:

You are an idiot. The Civil War was fought for many reasons, but the primary reason was for Freedom for slaves. If you and your little band of pretend Freedom Fighters can't understand that people died so others could gain Freedom, then maybe all of you should think twice about your little movement and about what you really stand for. Being Free People means that you are willing to stand up for Freedom, and die for that same Freedon. It does not mean you can sit in central Square in the nude drinking beer and smoking bong hits while other, braver people do the dirty work for you.

If this Zeus person is a representative sample of your group, then all of you are idiots and can go to hell!
Paul

I don't agree with chalking anything but the sidewalk, and while I do support wisely chosen civil disobedience to bad laws, I don't support being inconsiderate to others.

I do think there were better ways to end slavery than a massive war. Many countries were able to do so. While the motives of many northern soldiers were no doubt to defend slaves, the motivations of Lincoln were not — he stated as much — and while the motives of southern soldiers may have been for independence, the purpose of that independence was largely to abuse innocents.

There was no pure good cause in the civil war, and while I do consider the civil war tragic — over 500,000 dead, I'm obviously very glad slavery was ended.

And I do agree with bravely standing up for the rights of others — although bravery does not always take the form of war. Consider the bravery of Gandhi, MLK, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, or others. This is the kind of bravery I think is appropriate for our time.
Zeus

You are an idiot. The Civil War was fought for many reasons, but the primary reason was for Freedom for slaves.

Nationalist malarky and rewritten history spoonfed by cartoons and public schools.

The primary reason the Civil War was fought was because the South wanted to secede from the North and Abe Lincoln was willing to sacrifice 600,000 of his fellow Americans to stop them from going their own way. Only 2 years into the war did he free the slaves and he did it as a tactic to hurt the South, not because he cared so much about ending slavery. Get the facts and stop listening to the Bubblegum versions provided by the state indoctrination centers.

If you and your little band of pretend Freedom Fighters can’t understand that people died so others could gain Freedom, then maybe all of you should think twice about your little movement and about what you really stand for.

People died because politicians wanted something from someone who wasn't willing to give it up. Every time that happens, they send young men and women to their deaths to get whatever it is the politicians want and then they lie to your face and tell you you're fighting for freedom. Tell that to the poor third-world bastige caught in the middle who's house got blown up, has had half his family killed by "friendly fire", and has to eat the dog to survive.

Being Free People means that you are willing to stand up for Freedom, and die for that same Freedon. It does not mean you can sit in central Square in the nude drinking beer and smoking bong hits while other, braver people do the dirty work for you.

Saying no to the state is real bravery. Saying no when they come for your wallet, or your home or your children, that is standing up for freedom. Going to foreign lands to kill brown people because a bunch of idiot politicians told you to and because you're getting paid to do so is not bravery. It is giving in. It is becoming the ultimate tool of the state. Obedient, Zealous and Willing To Kill for their agenda.

If this Zeus person is a representative sample of your group, then all of you are idiots and can go to hell!

Thank you for your participation in an honest, openminded dialogue… and taking a big fat dump in the middle of it.
bil

Zeus-have you read General Smedley Butlers book 'War is a Racket"? I would recomend it. Though it seems you may get the idea already,this is from one who was there. And was a real patriot. —bil
Zeus

Good idea, bil. I know about Smedley Butler but I've never read his book. I just bought it on Audible.com.