Chalkupy Success

March 26, 2012 by Meg McLain · 50 Comments
Filed under: National, Outreach, Video

This Friday a group of 25-30 activists (including 6 children) gathered across the street from the Richmond Police Department armed with several boxes on non-toxic chalk. We were there to protest the $325 ticket issued to a mother, along with a ban from all city parks, for her child’s use of chalk on some rocks at Belle Isle. After hearing this story on the news, I started a Facebook event to “chalk the police” in Richmond, VA. The response was amazing, and we were able to gather a wonderful group of peaceful activists, along with every major news network in Richmond! The event was a huge success, with no arrests, no tickets, and lots of pretty pictures.

Here is video from the event:

Why Should YOU Oppose The Drug War?

March 23, 2012 by Bradley Jardis · 84 Comments
Filed under: National, News, Outreach, Police, Politics, Rant

This is why.

GRAYLNG — The fatal shooting of William Reddie, 32, by a Crawford County Sheriff’s Department deputy during the “emergency removal” of his 2-year-old son from an apartment they shared has many of his friends crying foul.

A Michigan State Police probe has concluded the shooting was justified because Reddie had a pocketknife and lunged at police.

“I can’t believe they (police) could not subdue Will without killing him, and over what, marijuana,” said Joanne Michal, who knew Reddie for half of his life. “Why didn’t police just arrest him or cite him for marijuana instead of removing his child?”

Marijuana itself is scientifically far safer than its prohibition ever will be.

This violence is totally unnecessary.

On Civil Disobedience: A Conversation from Liberty Forum 2012

March 13, 2012 by Pete Eyre · 1 Comment
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Copblock, Court, Free State Project, Free Talk Live, Issues, Living Free, National, New Hampshire, Noncooperation, Outreach, Personal Freedom, Police, Question, Video, Your Evolution

The edited video of the civil disobedience panel held at the 2012 Liberty Forum, in which me, Ian Freeman & Jason Talley converse with those present about ideas, strategy and impact. It was recorded on Friday, Feb. 24th, 2012 at the Nashua, NH Crown Plaza.

Do you have thoughts on the content discussed? Points where you agree or disagree? Things that need clarification? How would you have answered some of those questions?

From AltExpo X: The Vote for Nobody Campaign

March 12, 2012 by Skeptikos · 1 Comment
Filed under: How to, New Hampshire, Outreach, Video

Keene activists can always use new marketing ideas. Here’s a good one, presented by former Keeniac Rocco Fama at AltExpo X (with an interlude about the occupy movement): See the videos

RAW Video of CivDis Panel at Liberty Forum 2012

March 10, 2012 by Pete Eyre · 16 Comments
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Copblock, Free State Project, Free Talk Live, Introduction, Living Free, Noncooperation, Outreach, Personal Freedom, Police, Politics, Rant, Video, Your Evolution

The raw video of the Civil Disobedience Panel – a session held at the 2012 Liberty Forum, in which Jason Talley, Ian Freeman and I converse with those present about ideas, strategy and impact.

Detained for Handing Out Literature

February 29, 2012 by DerrickJ · 36 Comments
Filed under: Govt. Schools, New Hampshire, Outreach, Police, Shire Society, Video

On Friday, February 17, 2012, I was detained at Monadnock Regional High School for allegedly “trespassing” on the “public” school’s property. The reason given for my being detained by two law enforcers was “to give me paperwork.” Is that a legitimate use of force?

I was handing out literature about the BearCat to the students at Monadnock HS, but unlike the law enforcers, I wasn’t threatening them with arrest if they refused my paperwork.

City Councilors “On the Fence” Regarding BEARCAT – Please Call ASAP

February 29, 2012 by Ian · 7 Comments
Filed under: Announcement, National, Outreach, Police, Update

NO BEARCAT I just got off the phone with a local business owner. I was told that while at least a few city councilors have committed to voting against the BEARCAT, others have said they are on the fence. The vote is tomorrow night, March 1st. Please take the time to call as many of the city councilors as possible and tell them how you feel about the BEARCAT. Reports are that the pro-BEARCAT people are calling too and are trying to make this out to be a Free Keene-only issue. We know that the BEARCAT is opposed by the supermajority of Keene and FK is merely but one aspect of the opposition to this, but the councilors may not realize this, especially with the misinformation campaign being waged by the FK haters.

Here are the city councilors’ numbers. Please don’t delay. If we turn around this vote, we can make history by being the only place to ever refuse a BEARCAT, and perhaps we could start a trend of more refusals around the country.

Janis Manwaring 352-7185
Dave Richards 352-1084
Phil Jones 358-5016
James Duffy 357-8761
June Donegan 357-3827
Dave Meader 357-1340
Thom Powers 357-3738
Chris Roberts 352-1105
Dale Pregent 352-6736
Ruth Venezia 352-4822
Carl Jacobs 352-0421
Bettina Chadbourne 852-6173
Terry Clark~ AGAINST IT

If a councilor expresses support for the BEARCAT, you may want to inform them that you will campaign against them if they run for re-election.

P.S. You can buy “Thanks but No Tanks” T-shirts now at Corner News! Please attend Thursday night’s meeting at 7pm in city hall, but show up early to get a seat. Last time they stopped allowing people inside due to the large numbers of attendees. Bring a sign or wear a TBNT shirt, because you won’t be allowed to speak at this meeting. See you there.

Another Anti-BEARCAT Letter to the Sentinel

February 28, 2012 by Ian · 4 Comments
Filed under: Outreach, Police, Response, Update

NO BEARCAT The Sentinel publishes a letter from David Crawford about speaking out to city councilors regarding the BEARCAT:

BearCat: Call your city councilor!

Hundreds of Keene residents and businesses signed a petition against the BearCat. More than 30 letters to the editor since mid December, when it started.

An online poll done by The Sentinel with 87 percent opposed or wanting it to be reconsidered.

All this presented to the councilors by an overflow crowd; people had to be turned away for fire regulations! Read more

Anti-BearCat / Pro-Peace Outreach at KSC

February 17, 2012 by Kelly · 4 Comments
Filed under: Govt. Schools, Issues, Outreach

Considering that the front page of the school newspaper displays a graphic which actually appears as though a BearCat is driving right on through, I was a bit surprised that more students weren’t familiar with this issue already. However, despite the cloudy grey afternoon, Ian, Derrick J., and I managed to distribute over 300 “Thanks, but no tanks” flyers to students throughout the KSC campus.

Most were extremely receptive and happy to take the flyer. I continued the discussion past that point with quite a few students and received some pretty colorful feedback, ranging from surprise to dismay to anger. Strong language was used in several instances, and one student pondered using the BearCat as a public restroom. Read more

WMUR Reports on “Thanks but no Tanks”!

February 15, 2012 by Ian · 12 Comments
Filed under: Living Free, Outreach, Shire Choir, Video

WMUR reports on the “Thanks but no Tanks” anti-BEARCAT movement here in Keene. Unfortunately, they get the information wrong that it’s “free staters” who are the opposition to this monstrosity. In their video you can see local, longtime NH inhabitant David Crawford singing with us “flatlanders”. I never once used the terms “free state” or “free stater” with the reporter, and told her I was a blogger at Free Keene, yet FK did not get a mention and they titled me “Free State Blogger”. Here is the report as aired on tonight’s newscast: