Welcome to our newest blogger, Derrick J.!

October 29, 2011 by Ian · 37 Comments
Filed under: Announcement

Free Keene welcomes Derrick J. Horton as our newest blogger. Here’s his bio from the bloggers page:

Derrick J is a handsome young peace activist dedicated to living free by helping others to live free. Now a regular co-host on Free Talk Live, he left his gayborhood in Philadelphia in 2011 after Molyneaux, Rand, and Mises flipped on his AnCap lightswitch. He loves to meet new people and report on stories of agorism in action or participation in civil disobedience. The activism that Derrick J enjoys most are public 420 celebrations, “Robin-Hooding,” and traveling without proof of government permission. His work centers around exercising self-ownership and is highlighted here at FreeKeene.com as well as LiveFreeOrDance.com, FreeSpeechFriday.tv, Fr33Agents.com.

Uncle Sam Visits Occupy Wall St

October 28, 2011 by Ademo · 56 Comments
Filed under: Copblock, Thuggery, Video

In late 2010 Pete and I were in the mist of our second tour around the country doing LibertyOnTour.com. It was during that time we started shooting Uncle Sam videos. The idea for these videos is, if “Uncle Sam” – the government – was a real person what would he be like? Would he have any friends? Would people voluntarily hand over their hard earned money to this asshole?

He’s been hiding out for most of this year but Uncle Sam was recently spotted in New York City at Occupy Wall Street. He was attempting to strengthen his relationship with ‘the few’ upset protestors. As you’ll see in the video below Uncle Sam doesn’t do very well with the public. Uncle Sam doesn’t understand that you can’t use money and/or force to solve problems. Yet, alot of protestors were willing to give Uncle Sam more of their freedom and money in exchange for just that.

We can’t turn to Uncle Sam to fix our economy, end the war or anything for that matter. He’s the man who wrote the checks for the bailouts, signed the papers sending the troops into other countries. All while demanding more taxes, on all kinds of things, and becoming more and more aggressive to those that speak out against his ideas. He’s the one that steals from one to give to another. After all, government doesn’t have anything it doesn’t take (I mean steal – because that’s what taxation is if you don’t want to pay them) from the productive people of the world.

So would you be friends with Uncle Sam? Would you voluntarily give Uncle Sam your money (ie – taxes)? If yes, would you give Uncle Sam more money to go after those who wanted to spend their own hard earned dollars?

Same sex marriage under fire in the NH House

October 28, 2011 by Skeptikos · 19 Comments
Filed under: New Hampshire, News, Politics

Last Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee voted that a bill that would repeal gay marriage, which is immensely popular in New Hampshire, “Ought To Pass”.

Some of the language of the bill is downright silly:

Children can only be conceived naturally through copulation by heterosexual couples. Because of this biological reality, New Hampshire has a unique, distinct, and compelling interest in promoting stable and committed marital unions between opposite-sex couples so as to increase the likelihood that children will be born to and raised by both of their natural parents. No other domestic relationship presents the same level of state interest.

(Because we all know the purpose of government is to make babies.)

Unfortunately, due to overwhelming Republican majorities in both the NH House and Senate, this has a serious chance of passing. But, as Boston.com reports, the repeal effort is provoking dedicated opposition: Read more

How to be effective at a meeting

October 26, 2011 by Skeptikos · 31 Comments
Filed under: How to, Politics

I was frustrated by some behavior at the last city meeting about Central Square, so I want to suggest a few strategies for wielding more influence at tonight’s meeting, and other meetings in the future. These suggestions are based on both my own experience talking to people and my understanding of the relevant social science research.

1-
Some people at the meeting will be prejudiced against libertarian activists and Juggalos. Why help them exercise that prejudice by advertising your background with your clothing? If you dress more discreetly, these people will be forced to listen to you without prejudice (at least for a little bit).

Dressing nicely and professionally helps, too– it automatically improves your social standing, and encourages people to give more weight to your argument.

2-
Decorum is important. If you break the rules of the meeting– say, for example, by speaking out of turn– that is perceived as rude. When people see that you are being rude and disruptive, they conclude (correctly) that you don’t care about what they have to say, and that you don’t intend to contribute to a productive meeting. Then they stop listening to what you have to say.

If you want your views to be dismissed out of hand, the most effective way to do that is to disrupt the meeting by breaking decorum. (So don’t do it!) See the rest

City Meeting about Central Square: 6:30p TONIGHT.

October 26, 2011 by Ian · 2 Comments
Filed under: Announcement, Issues, Living Free, News, Outreach, Personal Freedom, ToDo, Update

Central Sq. Tonight is the big meeting at city hall about Central Square. The public will be allowed to speak and it begins at 6:30pm. The Keene Sentinel has details on the many proposals that will likely be on the table.

You can expect the local authoritarians to be in attendance. Will the ideas of liberty be present and well-communicated? Will roots be struck and paradigms challenged? Be there and advocate peaceful, consensual solutions to social problems.

Hopefully, Juggalos will be there to show that they are not a group and are individuals who differ, just like liberty activists.

Here’s a facebook event for the meeting.

Media Device Ban Extended to ALL NH Circuit (District) Courts

October 25, 2011 by Ian · 4 Comments
Filed under: Corruption, Court, National, News, Personal Freedom, Update

First, they came for Keene. It was this summer when “administrative judge” Edwin Kelly wrote an “ORDER” banning all cameras and audio recording devices from the district court in Keene. After that ban, Derrick and Jason Talley were arrested for using video cameras in court lobbies.

Talley was arrested in “superior” court, where the same Keene-only ban was enacted. (In reaction to the large activists-with-cameras presence we have had here for a long time.) Thus far, the superior court ban has not been expanded to all superior courts in NH, but as of 10/24 it has been expanded to all of NH’s circuit courts, according to a new “ORDER” from Edwin Kelly. Click for a PDF.

In a big “fuck you” to the freedom of press, Kelly writes:

No cameras or audio equipment may be used in the lobby or other public, noncourtroom,
area of any courthouse;

You can’t even talk to this Kelly guy. His office is closed to the public and they try to keep it secret. Plus, he just refuses to comment. Why should he? You’ll keep paying his salary either way, and he knows it. Read more

Beau Davis Arrested, Faces 7 Years for Distributing Plants

October 25, 2011 by talleytv · 27 Comments
Filed under: Jailed Activist

KEENE – That plant is known as cannabis and in the “Live Free or Die” State of New Hampshire a young man could be caged for up to 7 years if he dares compete with the very profitable Liquor Cartel. Beau’s official charges of “distribution of controlled substances” were announced at Keene District Court this morning at 9:30 am. At the same time all over the State, employees of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission exchanged money for alcohol. These employees will go home to their families while Beau is separated from everything and everyone he knows.

Beau Davis moved to the Shire as a crew member of Liberty on Tour during their Free State Friendship Tour. He hopes to travel more in the future, perhaps on the Oceans. Beau is known for his kindness and peaceful actions.

According to eyewitness accounts, Beau was arrested before 3:30 while standing near a group of people in Keene Central Square. A Keene Police Department Cruiser parked on the cross walk in front of the church. A uniformed officer asked Beau if “Davis” was his last name. Beau replied with “huh” as two male law enforcers, one in uniform and one out of uniform, put their hands on Beau before taking him away. The Keene Police Department or the Drug Task Force are not releasing information on the subject.

When asked what the charges against Beau are, the law enforcers replied “none of your business.” These law enforcers enforce prohibition which makes victims of peaceful people and the taxpayers who fund their aggression.

Beau still refuses to process and is likely being denied food, warmth and contact with people who care about him. There may be a video arraignment later today. The courtroom was full and 10 people from the Keene community were there to see Beau. One woman was wearing a “I Support Beau” t-shirt.

If you have more information on the kidnapping of Beau Davis by the Keene Police Department or the government’s informant against him, please contact me at talleytv@gmail.com or (678) – TALLEYTV.

Free Keene TV – Episode 16 – October 24th, 2011

October 25, 2011 by James Schlessinger Jr · 2 Comments
Filed under: Free Keene TV

In this weeks episode:
1. Pumpkin Fest and Free Keene Fest
2. Occupy Bank of America in Keene

We had some technical difficulties on the set during the live shoot.

NH Civil Liberties Union fights to allow Bigfoot on Mt. Monadnock

October 25, 2011 by Skeptikos · 1 Comment
Filed under: Court, Personal Freedom

From Boston.com:

On a whim two years ago, performance artist Jonathan Doyle paraded around the bustling peak of New Hampshire’s Mount Monadnock in a $40 Bigfoot costume from iParty.

He thought his deadpan video interviews with hikers describing their Bigfoot sightings would be worth a few chuckles on YouTube, and might boost the profile of his other artwork.
Bigfoot, courtesy of Jonathan Doyle (click to enlarge)

But the staff at Monadnock State Park found the Yeti act abominable. When Doyle returned with friends to shoot a sequel, the park manager quashed the production and ordered Doyle off the mountain, insisting he needed a state permit to film a movie in the park.

Bigfoot stepped up with a lawsuit, alleging that the park’s permit regulations are unconstitutional. Read more

Lemonade Liberation Victory!

October 25, 2011 by Meg McLain · 14 Comments
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Court, Update

Today all charges against the Lemonade Liberating 3 were dropped!

Upon arriving for our 2nd appearance in the Washington DC Superior Court, my fellow ‘lemonistas’ and I had no idea what to expect. We very well could have been taking our last steps as free people, facing up to a year in jail… for selling lemonade. However, we were overjoyed when the judge called us to the front, and with a big grin said, “your case has been dismissed, you are all free to go!” I think he was as happy as we were.

Immediately after exiting the courtroom, we made our way over to the capitol building (where we had previously been banned from) and snapped some pictures from the scene of our NON-crime. It was a great day for all of us; but more importantly, for liberty. We were able to show another example of how the government will try to crush peaceful people into submission with orders and threats, until they reach a point where they are forced to choose between backing down or creating a martyr. Either way, they lose. Read more