As many readers of FreeKeene.com are aware, Ademo Freeman’s physical body is now caged. His crime? Well, there is none, as ‘crime’ implies a violation of the law. Ademo did not do that — he did not cause harm to another person. He is, however, guilty of violating legalese — the arbitrary, convoluted dictates penned by some busy bodies and enforced by an unthinking chain of their colleagues.
Cop Block founder and Free Keene blogger Ademo Freeman has been arrested while driving in Lebanon, Ohio by Ohio State Police. Despite Ademo not consenting to a search, trooper Jeffrey Martin claimed that because he allegedly smelled the odor of cannabis, that he had probable cause to search.
After that road pirate interaction, in which over 20 pounds of cannabis were discovered in the vehicle Ademo was driving, he was threatened with the prospect of spending decades caged. After weighing his options, on April 10th of this year, Ademo took a plea deal. The ‘distribution’ charge hanging over his head was tossed and he pled guilty to possessing cannabis. He’s due to be free(r) on November 27th of this year.
Last week I had the opportunity to share a bit of my journey with folks at Anarchapulco. I subsumed my stories — from a racist phase, to a nationalist phase, to one more aligned with complete liberty — within the integral nature that ideas have in shaping our perception of the world and thus, our actions. And I underscored the role that language plays in communication, and the fact that individuals can change.
The following post was written by Ademo Freeman, from Valley Street Jail in Manchester, NH.
I wrote, prior to my wiretapping trial, a thank-you and semi-prediction of the outcome. Since then, I haven’t addressed the outcome publicly because I was tired of the trial talk and focused on doing my time. I’m not going to say much more than I did in my previous letter/blog post. The outcome of the trial is what it is and I knew the risk of my actions long before the verdict. I’m proud of myself for refusing the plea deal, speaking the truth, and avoiding the majority of the courtroom shenanigans. I hope others will follow my lead by taking the direct approach in courtrooms, even though I wasn’t “successful.” At some point, logic will prevail if everyone is speaking openly and honestly, especially when charges with victimless crimes and ones exposing government abuse – like mine. The conclusion of my wiretapping saga now lies in the hands of Brandon Ross who has decided to try the legal route in freeing me from the State’s grasp.
I’d like to again thank everyone who has helped share my story, support CopBlock.org‘s mission and contributed to my jail fund, commissary and/or appeal. Thank-you very much, I couldn’t do it without the support y’all have provided.
I guess the remaining question many, including myself, have is, “What’s next?” That answer depends on many things. Of the course the outcome of my appeal or other attempts of Brandon’s to free me from the 5 years of “good behavior” play a factor in what I’ll do after my release. Regardless, I know I’ll never go back to being an obedient servant of the state’s. Although jail as been an emotional roller coaster for me, as always, and may lead to a short vacation from public or high profiled activism like I’ve done in the past; I’ve recently started working on some video scripts and other ideas for Copblock/activism once freed, hopefully on or by October 11th.
Until then, I’ll continue my jail routine of reading, writing and working out, with the occasional outreach opportunity in between. And though many questions are still unanswered, know that we shall meet again, either doing activism or “in the place where there is no darkness.” (Reference to 1984)
This blog was originally posted at CopBlock.org, and was written by Ademo Freeman from Valley Street Jail.
Before coming to jail, I used a song and some clips my friend Clyde Voluntaryist put together called, “None of us are free, one of us is caged.” More recently, I received a letter from a person I’ve never met who credited the “Free Ademo” movement for bringing him and his friends to the concept of Voluntaryism. Jay, the man who sent me such letter, stated, “We are no more free than you, except that our cage has a larger roaming ground and aims to be more subtle.”
Before I elaborate more on that statement, I’d like to thank everyone who made this interaction possible. The “Free Ademo” movement is something I can not take credit for. It’s something y’all have done, and done extremely well. Be proud of yourselves as I’m sure ‘Jay and his friends’ are not the only one’s you’ve touched.
Back to the issue at hand – freedom. As I sit in my jail cell, writing this on the lamest excuse for a desk combined with some of the most ridiculous rules you’d ever hear, it’s obvious I am not free. That I am in fact caged and basically the slave of my captors. But what about you?
Are you free? If society was as clearly controlled at the setting I currently live in, would you tolerate it with the same compliance as you do current day-to-day life?
Let me expand a little more on what I’m trying to say. In my jail cell, all movements are controlled. When I was taken to court for my trial, in order to leave my unit I had to have my jail ID. To leave the jail, I had to have the proper paperwork. Some may say that’s understandable because I’m an inmate, but how is that any different from those who are not incarcerated? In order to leave your house, you need a government driver’s license – which is the exact same size as my jail ID. Of course, you can walk without it, unless you’re stopped and questioned by the police. Then, like me when I roam the jail as their worked, you must produce such identification in order to end the involuntary interaction. Even if you have the ID, states require you to have some sort of registration. Sounds very similar to the paperwork required to transport me.
Look at it from another angle and you get the same effect. Everything in my possession (ie, in my jail cell) must be jail issued. I’m told how many razors, toothbrushes and even how much food I can have in my possession. There is a whole chapter in the handbook dedicated to what I can possess while caged here. Again, many will say, “What do you expect?” or, the common line on the inside is, “Welcome to jail.” Is this really all that different from those outside of jail, though?
In some states you’re told how many guns or ammunition for those guns you can possess. Even possession of a medication can land you in the cell next to mine without proper paperwork – as in, some state licensed doctor’s permission slip. For me, if a cellmate gives me an extra soup or shirt and I don’t possess the proper proof, I can be written up or taken to the hole. Some governments – state or local – go as far as to tell you how many cars, trees, or animals you can have on “your” property. There have even been stories of people being charged or harassed for painting their house a certain color, or for refusing to move a piece of property (Ian’s couch, for example) from their own property.
I could go on and on about the control, oppression, and restrictions put on people every day. The point Jay reminded me of is simple: Your jail might be bigger, your chains invisible, but they’re restraining you just the same as mine. Yes, we’re all oppressed and it’s not getting any better. When will we break these chains?
