Keene Activists Invited to ACLU of NH’s 2015 Bill of Rights Awards!

What an honor to be invited by the ACLU of NH (aka the NHCLU) to this year’s Bill of Rights awards dinner! Free Keene bloggers Darryl W. Perry, James Cleaveland, and I had the pleasure of attending with some of New Hampshire’s most active from both the legal and activist worlds. Arnie Alpert of the American Friends Service Committee gave an entertaining speech in receipt of the 2015 Bill of Rights award and NHCLU partner attorney Bill Chapman also received an award. With speeches from NHCLU Executive Director Devon Chaffee, head NHCLU attorney Gilles Bissonnette, and longtime civil rights activist Lewis Feldstein as well as a record 240 tickets sold – the room was packed.

It was a great event, and I’m grateful that we were invited. James earned it for his amazing organizing of Robin Hood of Keene activism and Darryl heading up the lawsuit against the state of NH for their unfair treatment of third parties.

Free speech attorney Jon Meyer was in attendance, as were hundreds of other attorneys and activists from inside the system and out. There were far more people than I knew, but some noteworthy attendees that have previously been reported on by this blog included Keene Spiritual Retreat superintendent Rick Van Wickler (who is also now on the NHCLU board and is back on the board of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), Will Hopkins of NH Peace Action, appeals lawyer Joshua Gordon, and in a pleasant surprise – Cheshire County Sheriff Eli Rivera was in attendance.

I’m so appreciative to be here in New Hampshire, where people who care about freedom can have a large impact and change things for the better. There’s no doubt we’re in the right place, surrounded by people who truly care for the future of freedom. Thanks to the NHCLU for continuing to stand for so many who can’t defend themselves against the predatory state. It’s truly an honor to play a small role in all this.