But how can someone claim to be “caring” or “compassionate” if they advocate the end of social programs that people depend on for survival?  Here is why: because I DO care.  I AM compassionate.  There are millions out there who care.  Does anyone honestly believe that if the government funded “charities” were no longer available, we would all accept standing by and watching people suffer?  I wouldn’t.  But in thinking about why people believe this, I realized the amazing loss in simple acts of care and compassion between individuals.  Because the government has taken over the “charity” system, most people have lost the ability to be kind or charitable on their own.  Just as traffic lights have removed people’s responsibility of defensive driving (aka paying attention to others on the road).

We need kindness and compassion to be given back to the people.  While it’s illogical to think we can just end government social programs tomorrow, and take back the task of charity; there is hope.  We need to start by reeducating ourselves to care about others.  To strive towards positivity and community.  When you nurture those elements of human nature, you can begin to see a world without government.  It wouldn’t be a scary world of chaos and violence; but rather, a world where people feel a responsibility to their fellow man.  Not to provide for him/her from cradle to grave, but to see that all people are successful… because then there will be others to help you in your time of need.

To start encouraging others to take part in this shift towards a more compassionate society, I made this simple poster that can be printed and posted anywhere.  There are some simple “random acts of kindess” tabs for people to tear off and perform the task later.  While these things may seem small or simple, no act of kindess is ever a waste.  And over time, these small acts can shift an entire community to a more positive and charitable point of view… without the need of a government threat.

*also posted @ MegMcLain.com

To download, simply right-click on the image and choose “save as”.

Color Version

Black & White Version

]]> http://freekeene.com/2012/02/06/compassion-liberty/feed/ 12 http://freekeene.com/2011/10/25/lemonade-liberation-victory/ http://freekeene.com/2011/10/25/lemonade-liberation-victory/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:21:54 +0000 Meg McLain http://freekeene.com/?p=12305 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.  And I sure am glad they went with the first choice!

We managed to generate some media coverage right away from CJ at the DC Caller, who has been covering our story from the beginning.  We were also featured for a second time in the “Freedom Files” segment of “Freedom Watch with Judge Andrew Napolitano”.  We were even mentioned on Judge Napolitano’s facebook page:

Viva la Lemonista’s! Their thirst quenching crimes earned them jailtime and FreedomWatch tonight is covering those who would defy The State! 8PM ET on Fox Business

Once again, I’d like to thank all those who supported us.  For those who donated to our defense fund, we wanted you to know where the money was going now that our “defense” was no longer needed.  Because our lawyer didn’t really need to do much beyond the small prep-work for the case, we had some funds remaining after paying him.  With the money that remained, we covered a few of our costs that came about because of this ordeal [travel and parking at the courthouse].  And we agreed the best thing to do with the remaining funds would be to donate them to the Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund.  They have been very supportive towards me for a long time, and they were quick the embrase the lemonade liberation.  While we may have had a victory today, there are still many more to be won.  We all feel CDEvolution will play an important role in helping more people change the world

I could never say it enough: THANK YOU to everyone for their love and support!

On August 20th, 2011 at 12:31pm on the Capitol lawn in Washington DC, Kathryn Dill, William Duffield, and I were arrested for selling 10cent cups of lemonade.  The events leading up to our arrest, along with our capture and kidnapping were beautifully documented by several activists who came armed with cameras (see high quality video below); therefore, I feel no need to cover those details.  However, once we were taken away, there were no more cameras to share our experience.

First, we were placed in a cage in the back of a van and taken to the police station.  Upon arriving, police took Will inside, leaving Kathryn and I in the sweltering cage.  The men in blue guarding our cage continually taunted us; making jokes and expressing their enjoyment of “locking us away for the weekend”, and how our arrests were “marvelous”.  When it was my turn to enter booking, I was taken to a room where I was photographed, forced to remove my jewelry and shoes, then cuffed to a bar while an officer rubbed every part of my body, including my breasts and vagina.  I was then led down the hall to a small room where I would spend the next 4 hours chained to the wall.

Officer Weatherbee was assigned to my room.  He began a standard line of questioning, failing to read me my rights in advance.  I was continually told I would be caged if I failed to give them every detail they requested, which included the names, phone numbers, addresses, ages, etc… of my friends and family.  I constantly asked “Who was the victim of my supposed crime?”, to which they continually answered, “society”.  When I pointed out that the majority of the crowd had been supportive of our cause, and that ‘society’ was not a person whom I could confront in a court (therefore eliminating my right to face my accuser); I was laughed at and taunted.  I was also told that my friends would be arrested should they attempt to protest our capture at the police station.  One officer smirked, “I can do this [booking prisoners] all day.  Arrest as many as you want.”

After a couple of hours, a man in jeans and a blue shirt came into my room with a notepad and paper.  While I don’t remember the name of his job title (Capitol Criminal Investigator or something like that), he basically explained that he investigated organizations that the government believed to be potential terrorist, and the “Lemonade Liberation” had become their newest big threat.  Although friendly and very light hearted, he seemed aggravated with the lack of information I was giving him.  He wanted to know who the leaders of the organization were [none]; where we held our meetings [we never had any]; where we are based out of [everywhere]; what other plans we had [none]; and a whole line of ridiculous questions that were geared towards finding dangerous, violent, angry people.  Thats not us.  After several hours of friendly, yet inappropriate questioning, I finally asked, “Where is your line in the sand?  At what point do you say, ‘No. That goes too far, and I’m not willing to do that to peaceful people’?  Because if you don’t know where that line is, you’re gonna blindly cross it one day, and regret it for the rest of your life.”  It was at that point he fell silent, then left without saying another word.

Eventually I was able to call my mom from one of the officer’s cell phones (because their landlines were all busy), and she was able to contact Nathan Cox, who was able to bring my ID and the names, addresses, and phone numbers the police were demanding they get before releasing me.  I was taken to a room where all my tattoos were photographed, and multiple versions of my fingerprints were scanned; after which, I was promptly returned to my room and re-chained to the wall.  Finally I was taken down a hallway, forced to put an ink thumb print on a stack of paper work, handed my copy, then given back my property, and told I was free to go.

It wasn’t until after we were out that we heard about all the support that had poured in for us immediately after our arrest.  We discovered there had been a massive call flood to the police station, which we realized had been the direct reason our captors became more and more friendly as our detention progressed.  I also discovered that the police had attempted to discourage Kathryn and Will with lies like, “Those people with the cameras were just using you for their own agenda” or “they didn’t give you a Lemonade Liberation tshirt (some shirts a few of us had made for the event), because they are not your friends.”  Luckily these tactics failed; however, I found it encouraging that they didn’t even attempt this with me.  I knew better, and the cops were aware of that.

Our charges were:

• Vending without a permit
• Unlawful conduct
• Failure to obey

We have all been scheduled to appear in court on October 4th, and we are hoping that people will come out and show their support; be it for us, our cause, or the children who wish to create their own lemonade stand without being harassed or threatened by men with guns.  Details about this event can be found here.

While being arrested is not something I enjoy, I am honored I had the opportunity to participate in such a beautiful demonstration of innocence and peace; and shine light on how it is under attack by the very people sworn to protect it.  But the real heros of the day were those who ignored the threats of arrest and made their way around the police to purchase a cup of lemonade.  To see a child shrug at a cops threat, then defiantly disobey it… it was inspirational, and gave me hope for the inevitable positive change that will come from all this.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can watch my live feed of the event from noon to 3pm: Meg McLain’s LIVE Coverage

Or you can follow Eddie Free’s live video broadcast:  Eddie Free’s LIVE Coverage

We stand together to protect the freedom of all peaceful people, who face threats of violence for the simple act of selling lemonade.  There have been hundreds of accounts from across the nation of police shutting down children’s lemonade stands due to lack of government permits.

These permits are “required” by local governments, using excuses of ‘health and safety’; and can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars.  But, should the permitted vendor cause health or safety issues, the government that issued the permit is not liable for permitting a dangerous business.  Bureaucrats face no consequences.  So what is the purpose of these expensive permits?  To gain more money for local governments; to force compliance and subservience to government “authorities”; and for larger businesses to cut out their competition… even if that competition is a couple of kids with a lemonade stand.

So join us in Washington DC at noon, or watch LIVE and join in an online conversation about the event!

SELLING LEMONADE IS NOT A CRIME!

For more information about Lemonade Freedom, head over to LemonadeFreedom.com

Facebook Update from Pete Voluntaryist Eyre:

“Today “judge” Arnold ordered Ian caged for 90 days for sitting in front of the vehicle that over a year ago held Heika Courser (who was cuffed for a victimless action). Ian’s request to remain free until his appeal was heard was denied. He also has 270days suspended for 2yrs.”

More information coming from witnesses of today’s events.

Part 1

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo from the Sunday Washington Post!

It’s starting to seem like whenever I go on vacation from the Shire, I am presented with the most amusing activism opportunities.  Saturday was an great example of this.  Staying just a few hours away from DC, I couldn’t resist hopping a bus and attending the Dance Party at the Thomas Jefferson Monument in Washington, DC.

The event was a response to the abusive treatment a few peaceful people had received from the police a week earlier; when silent peaceful dancers were arrested, and in one case, body slammed and choked by the thugs in blue.  After video of the incident went viral, support for the ‘dance’ revolution exploded.

I arrived around 11:20am.  It was a bit difficult to get to the monument, as there were fences and barricades set up everywhere.  I had noticed several police and park security around, but nothing too extreme at that point.  As I waited for the “festivities” to start in the monument at noon, I talked to several people; some I knew, some I had never met, and lots of “Good to meet you Facebook friend!”.  The crowd eventually made it’s way into the dome, where I joined, after handing my bag to Hannah Hoffman, who graciously agreed to watch my stuff in case anything were to happen to me.

After a inspirational speech out front by one of last week’s arrestees, Adam Kokesh, the crowd of civil disobedients  gathered in the center of the monument and began the illegal dancing.  We all circled around the statue of Jefferson while a wall of cameras shot video and pictures from one side, and the police and SWAT teams conferred on the other.  Around 15 minutes into the dancing, the crowd began to cheer various cries of victory.

It was at that point I saw police began gesturing people towards the exit, pushing members of the crowd, and setting up a boarder of barricades around all the entrances.  At the same time, two 5-man rows of SWAT team thugs, in full black garb and loaded weapons, formed near the back of the monument (from outside to center) cutting the crowd in two.  I was standing near the innermost SWAT member, so I remained dancing in that spot, so as to not allow him to easily close off more ground.  As the two lines moved outward (one clockwise, the other counter-clockwise), the SWAT next to me began pushing on my back.  I had become so elated from the fun of the event, without fear I pulled away from his hand, turned around and said, “please, look but don’t touch.  Just like a strip club, same rules apply.”  I turned around and began dancing in the same spot again.  The SWAT did not push me, or even move forward again while I was in there.

I continued dancing as the crowd thinned.  After about 30 minutes, and with only 15 or so of us remaining, I decided I was exhausted, I had to pee, and it didn’t seem like there was any threat of anyone being arrested.  (*Point of fact: everyone who remained eventually left of their own free will over the next 20 minutes or so.)  I made my way to the minuscule opening in the barricade, where two dozen or so various law enforcement had created a gap between the dome’s entrance and the steps.

I made my way to an officer standing in the middle of the gap to inquire where the restroom was, noticing the ridiculous amount of equipment the various officers had with them (riot gear, 4 horses, 8 motorcycles, and one even had a high powered assault rifle).  After instructing me where the bathroom was, the officer I had approached gently grabbed my arm and began pulling me towards the dense crowd at the top of the steps.  I brushed at his hand saying, “Please don’t touch me, I can walk without assistance.”

Officer Marino

Once he got me near the crowd the short, angry Officer Marino violently grabbed my arm, then shoved me into the crowd.  Not the safest move in the world, as I tripped off the top step, and nearly took the crowd down the entire stairwell.  Still having to pee, unable to get through the crowd, and upset with the way this man had just treated me, I turned around and tried to talk with Marino.  As he ignored my questions and continued to push me, I noticed that the crowd was thinner on the other side of the pillar I was next to, so I attempted to go around it; only to have Marino violently shove me back and yell at me.  I began shouting back that I had to pee, I couldn’t get through the crowd, and he had no right to touch me.  As our shouting match became more heated, the officer who had originally told me where the restroom was intervened, instructing Marino to allow me to go around the column so I could get to the restroom.  Marino grabbed my arm and pulled me strait into a woman in a wheelchair.  I pulled away and said, “Don’t touch me, I can get there on my own.”  Unhappy with my lack of appreciation for his “service”, he gripped down hard on my arm and began dragging me as I yelped in pain and the crowd screamed for him to stop.  With a violent shove, he threw me at the steps again, and stomped back to his position.  After returning from the bathroom, I handed my camera to someone in the crowd and asked for them to pass it up and have someone snap a picture of “the short angry lookin’ cop on the right”. [I have been told there is video of this incident.  I am waiting to get a copy.]

I found Hannah to retrieve my bag; then joined her, Jason Talley, Adam Kokesh, members of Code Pink, and many others in singing a few rounds of ‘The State Free Dance‘.  Eventually we made our way down the steps, being sure to avoid the giant mounds of horse crap the law enforcement’s calvary had left behind (and they say dancing at the monument is disrespectful).  I was sure to report some illegally parked police trucks/horse trailers to an officer walking by, who said he would ticket them; but I doubt that happened.

All in all it was an amazing experience.  Despite the false reports that we were “kicked out”, most of the ‘law break-dancers’ stayed till they felt their point was proven; not because they were forced out.  Nobody was arrested, nobody was seriously injured, and hundreds of people from all over the US gathered to show that nobody would allow such things to happen for the simple act of dancing.  It really was one of the most perfect civil disobedience events I could have ever had the pleasure to be a part of.  Because there is no act more happy, pure, and peaceful than dancing.  When put to a backdrop of tyrannical, heavy-handed force, there is no way to deny the current police state, other than by lying to yourself.  But this weekend instilled hope; that when enough people peacefully stop obeying the tyrants, they lose their power.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are my ‘required court appearances’, for those interested in checking it out:

Final PreTrial: Tues. April 26, 2011 – 11am – Keene Superior Court Room 1

Jury Selection: Mon. May 2, 2011 – 9am – Keene Superior Court Room 1

Trial: Weeks of May 2 – 6 and May 9 – 13 (I will update these dates and times when I have more information)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dear Meg,

Thank you for your recent letter regarding the courtroom experiences of Pete Eyre and Adam Mueller.  I have read about the incidents in the Keene Sentinel and someone sent me on-line videos of them.  From what I saw both Pete and Adam were being rude and disrespectful, and they were achieving the goals they were aiming for.

I’m assuming you contacted me as a City Councilor.  I have no control whatsoever over court proceedings.  I have about as much influence over what may or may not happen to Pete and Adam as I do over the snow falling outside my window.

I understand you’re upset about your friends and the calculated and anticipated results their rudeness and disrespect brought upon them.  If you honestly believe they didn’t know what the outcome would be, perhaps you should talk with them and point out the error of their ways.

Sincerely,

Cynthia