Six individuals were arrested by police this afternoon at Pumpkin Fest. The daily 420 event was moved to the area directly in front of City Hall due to the massive pumpkin display at Central Square. Rich Paul of Keene took to the megaphone in front a large crowd and at the proper time lit a pipe presumably containing marijuana, a plant. Police quickly surrounded Mr. Paul and placed him under arrest. Noah Wood and Evan Pierce were also seen lighting up and were arrested as well.
Three other individuals were also arrested at city hall, when asked about the charge officers indicated that they did not know why they were arresting the three. A witness reportedly saw one of the individuals attempt to enter the city hall building prompting police to arrest him. It is unknown at this time exactly what happened. Ryan Maddox, Dan Steward and Yadra, all from the Keene area.
Latest update: Rich Paul, Noah Wood and Dan Steward have been released; Ryan Maddox, Evan Pierce and Yadra are reported to be at the Cheshire County Correctional Facility.
With glass pipes and odd-smelling cigarettes, protesters have taken to Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Manchester, lighting up at 4:20 p.m. daily, the same time as do protesters in downtown Keene.
Participants yesterday said they started the effort Sept. 28, a week after the daily smoke-ins began in Keene. They say they light up to protest marijuana laws.
“There’s laws, and they shouldn’t be here. So many have tried to work within the system to change the laws, begging bureaucrats. But it never works,” said Travis Eden, a 24-year-old who lives in Manchester and works in information technology.
Eden said a video of him selling marijuana is posted on the FreeKeene Web site. (more…)
The daily 4:20 cannabis celebrations have stepped up again and now some nice smoking implements are being brought out! I’ve seen all kinds of things being toked – someone even brought out a hookah recently here in Keene! The celebrations have continued with no police hassles for over a week now – hopefully KPD will keep doing the right thing and spend their time investigating real crimes that have victims. Here’s some more footage from Manchester’s 4:20 cannabis celebrations:
Words on paper are not stopping activists and locals from living like free people in Keene, New Hampshire. Whether it is marijuana consumption on the Commons or a young woman going topless on Main Street, Keene has become the place to challenge unjust, immoral, and simply foolish laws. This has naturally rankled many state and local civil servants. The Keene City Council voted against sending a resolution to the state house begging for marijuana decriminalization legislation–instead individuals on the council were encouraged to send a personal message. The Keene Police Department has shown both professionalism in its dealings with the 420 events and violence though Police Prosecutor Sergeant Eliezer Rivera.
April 13, 2009, was the day that David Ridley, of Grafton, was to be arraigned for videotaping in the second-floor lobby of the Keene City Hall. Sam Dodson was arrested on that date, while videotaping there; his charges changed several times over the following months.
