Thanks to Andrew Reynolds at the Keene Equinox for this piece:
A year after six protestors were arrested for allegedly smoking pot, the scene at this year’s Pumpkin Fest remained relatively joyous and peaceful.
Last year, state and local police officers encircled a group of 15 to 25 pro-marijuana demonstrators in front of City Hall and interrupted their gathering after three of the protestors supposedly lit up a marijuana cigarette. Later, three more protestors were arrested and charged with misdemeanors.
Both the protestors and the wafting tang of marijuana smoke were absent this year. Yet police officers still poured out of the City Hall entrance. Within the half hour between 3:30 and 4:00, more than 10 officers unhurriedly emerged from the building. This time there were no signs, no megaphones, and no pot parties.
According to a Free Keene member who witnessed the demonstration at City Hall, at least a dozen police officers surrounded last year’s group of about 20 protestors. Some of the officers were wearing heavy gear meant to assist in quelling riots, according to the participant, who wished to be referred to as Mike. Although most of the officers who surrounded the demonstrators were from the Keene Police Department, Mike estimated that six or seven were from the NH State Police.
“The Keene police were pretty much silently ignoring the daily gatherings we had before Pumpkin Fest, and then it turned into a bigger thing. I think with all of the tourism—they probably just didn’t want to look bad in front of the State Police officers,” he said.
It appeared this year’s police presence was upped, so as to avoid a repeat of last year’s protest. A part of a movement started in September 2009 by Keene activist Richard Paul, in which demonstrators gathered every day at 4:20 p.m. to smoke marijuana in Central Square to promote decriminalization.
To this day, a small assembly of Free Keene members and other pro-decriminalization activists can be found at their normal meeting place.
“It’s a freedom thing,” said Jim Johnson, a Free Keene member from Winchester. “A lot of us are against the war on drugs.”
Videos of the protest are now available on YouTube, where Richard Paul shouts to the crowd: “I want to ask you as usual to be civil to any person who might join us. I’m out here knowing I’m taking a risk of getting arrested. if it happens you can yell at them, but just don’t get in their way.” The video is posted on the Free Keene’s website, FreeKeene.com.
As he was being arrested and taken away in handcuffs, he encouraged the nearby crowd to chant: “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” Evan Pierce, one of two other protestors arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, intentionally went limp after officers handcuffed him, forcing them to drag and carry him into the City Hall building.
According to another Free Keene member, who wished to be referred to as Vinnie Schedel, this wasn’t the first time that the activists have confronted police officers.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be the last time. You know? All I know is that as long as there are innocent and peaceful people being hauled into cages, we’ll be out here,” he said.
