This weekend a couple dozen free-faced activists gathered from across New Hampshire at the Monadnock Co-Op in Downtown Keene for a “mask-free flash mob” event. Approximately a dozen of those gathered entered the store and attempted to shop. Why the Co-Op? Organizer Frank “Footloose” Staples said that it was due to the large number of reports of store staff and customers being very unfriendly to people with medical exemptions from wearing masks. One woman even wrote a letter to the editor of the Keene Sentinel about her difficult experience at the Co-Op.
True to form, some customers were downright hostile, including a younger man – wearing two masks – who told a young woman with a baby to “get the hell out of here”, then yelled something similar at me outside the store, despite the fact that I had not gone inside, as I am not a shopper of the Co-Op. I do understand the perspective of those who participated in the shopping: Since the store is open to the public, it should to serve people with medical exemptions. It’s certainly their right to refuse service to people for whatever reasons they want, but if a medical condition is a reason to refuse service, then they should take down their “Everyone Welcome” marquee and become a private club, open only to members.
Another noteworthy character who makes multiple appearances in the video is the self-described “Blue Collar Brawler”. The elderly, double-masked man has words with everyone he comes across, wishing them death and calling the free-faced people “asshole”, and “stupid”. He even loads up his hand with a roll of quarters to white knight for a masked woman who herself is shouting at an unmasked older man in one of the store aisles. It’s a wild video:
YouTubers Breaking the Flaw and Savage Truth 603 were both among the free-faced shoppers. I cut their videos into my footage and uploaded an overview of the entire event to the Free Keene LBRY. Due to the Free Keene YouTube account being frozen, the video is not available at this time on YouTube. Please watch and share the LBRY video and follow our channel there.
To the Co-Op’s credit, the DID allow all the unmasked shoppers to make their purchases, though there were a large number of them. Individuals who attempted to shop at this store prior to this event had reported being made to feel very uncomfortable and even being refused service. I recommend taking your business elsewhere and shopping at places who respect the freedom to choose.
Update 2021-12-15 – the “Blue Collar Brawler” is Tim Congdon of 28 Lee St. in Keene
Isn’t the coop a private company? Isn’t it there right to enforce a mask? Truly confused about this.
Hey, guess what “freekeene”? You apparently don’t know this, but the coop is member owned. We, the members, make the rules. We can close the store to public access if we choose to. Think about that the next time you’re feeling edgelordy and want to bully someone.
Whether you “can” require shoppers to wear masks is not the question, it’s whether you “should”.
this sounds loopy to me … nothing personal
i think coop people vs … libertarians or.. would be a good war
I think the next step is everyone needs to cover there license plate with duct tape. Cover over “Live Free or Die” statement because it is truly false at this point.. should be ” Do as I say not as I do”
So apparently you think it’s okay to Force your will upon everyone else. other people will get sick that have weakened immune systems or that are in a higher risk category. And other than being arrogant and refusing to understand the needs of other people you risk the health of people in the community that are your neighbors. Real nice considerate thinking their bud. if you want to be selfish go do it somewhere where you’re not going to hurt people. The people that actually have a reason for not wearing a mask that is medical is so minimal and… Read more »
Immature, inconsiderate, selfish, and ignorant. I am sure any shopper with a medical exemption would be well served if only he or she took the time to speak to the Co-op staff. Those who think their rights are violated by the mask mandate are in fact trampling on the rights of others. Anger and indignation at reading this comment confirms your immaturity, inconsideration, selfishness, and ignorance.
im the only one in this… group who writes good.. y’all suck
Me/Kevin/Ron/etc the main objection you’re raising was already answered. So unless you’re just here to troll, I encourage you to reread Ian’s article to see what you missed. This part especially: “It’s certainly their right to refuse service to people for whatever reasons they want, but if a medical condition is a reason to refuse service, then they should take down their “Everyone Welcome” marquee and become a private club, open only to members.” Oh and not wearing masks in public is not inflicting harm on others. That has been the case for just about all of human history and… Read more »
I am confused by comments here. So if I privately own a business can I refuse service, for example, to people in wheelchairs because I don’t want them damaging my floors? And as for impossing one’s will on others, isn’t that what mask mandates are doing? Before calling anyone ignorant, are you a mask expert? Or are you just regurgitating what people who want to dominate you are saying? Have you read every mask study out there? Do you know that the CDC has admitted that the only difference between masked and not masked places is a reduction in 1.5%… Read more »
The Co-op should be able to refuse service to anyone the owners want to refuse service to. Private property. Any other place of business selling food should be able to be open to whomever they want to serve and those owners, not a Governor , should decide whether masks are required or not. Private property. Also any prospective grocery sellers should be able to open a business and sell food to willing consumers without having to gain permission, licensure or any other attendant state restrictive horse shit from “the state”. Private property. Voluntary and consensual trade. Under the present scheme,… Read more »
Government forced compliance on private business is not valid.
Ian,
You used to respect private property.
Now you write articles where you poke fun at people telling you to get off their private property.
What the hell happened?
You guys just looooooooooooooooove the free market until, well, the free market tries to enforce something you disagree with. Go cry in the corner you pissbabies.
Just because it’s a coop, does not mean you own it. By the way, to have medical clearance for not wearing a mask can only be make by a doctor not self diagnosed. You guys are just stupid. You show up at a store that requires you to have a mask. You don’t comply because you are a bunch of self entitled idiots. Not only do you put yourself in danger but you put everyone around you in danger. Every “storm the enemy” has less and less people attending. How many activists and freekeeners have been diagnosed having the coronavirus.… Read more »
Now Jacks,
Ranting, raving, and spreading uneducated falsehoods doesn’t strengthen your argument at all, now does it?
Maybe reread article and some of the proceeding comments and try again? You will find many of your concerns have already been answered.
By the way, the current national debt just passed $28 trillion dollars. Protect your assets and diversify by adding some bitcoin and/or precious metals to your portfolio for safety. Remember we’re all in this together.
The FBI seems to have addressed a lot of these problems yesterday.
Jumping Jacks, the whole idea of masking or not masking is easily solvable. A doctor isn’t necessary to make a determination, that’s a free individuals decision to make and no others. Anything falling short of that, is to accept subjugation. Democide is the leading cause of death and subjugation is the first symptom of democide isn’t it ? Let the actual owner of the property decide how they will run their business / property. That would mean you would be free to don a dozen masks and shop at Fear City Grocery. I would be free to shop at Covid… Read more »
Bob C – If you can get a Dr. to sign off that you cannot wear a mask, It can save you a whole lot of trouble should you get ticketed or arrested for not wearing a mask in public. freekeeners just need to grow up. I find it hard to believe that wearing a mask in public is so detrimental to one’s own life that they need a counselor over it. You don’t wear your mask that much. It’s hardly worth the effort.to bitch and whine about it. You don’t wear a mask in your car. You don’t wear… Read more »
You’re right, Jacks. There are in fact way more pressing things. And that’s precisely why we think the masks and the lockdowns are so stupid and need to go, munchkin.
Anyway, I see you’re back with all this “you freekeeners are all hypocrites because reasons” gibberish again. What’s the deal with that, by the way? I mean you were definitely a lot smarter yesterday when we were chatting in the other thread. Now you’re back to acting like a complete tool again. I guess that brain thing comes with good days and bad days, huh big guy?
What if Rosa Parks thought that way, Jumping Jacks? “Hey what’s the big deal if I have to ride in the back of the bus? Its only a 20 minute ride each day…”
I know, I know. That was in the 50s. History has no relevance to today, right Jumping Jacks?
Enjoy jail/prison! Fake Church, Money laundering, and fraud oh my. It is always terrible when those preaching civil liberties are robbing the public blind! I can tell you Keene wont miss you. Ian Freeman’s dumbass is the reason you cant drive anywhere in Keene without police everywhere! You all caused the drugs and increased police presence in Keene. The citizens are grateful for your arrest! Hopefully now Keene can cut back on their alarming police presence! This town was perfectly normal until you arrived. Go back to whatever town you came from!
What makes you clowns think your rights supersede those who are not wanting to catch your illness? Everything about this is exactly against what Ian Freeman brainwashed his morons to believe. Lastly, you have no right going in the co-op and violating their business policies. Hopefully they hit you with a no trespass! Freedom doesn’t mean do whatever the fuck you please.
Comparing Rosa Parks to wearing masks is two very different things. You people bitch and complain about wearing masks yet, all you whining and complaining has gotten you nowhere. This is like all the stupid gatherings you freekeeners do. You used to chalk up the gazebo in Keene. That got you nowhere, Pestering metermaids got you nowhere and the rest of your your childish antics have got you nowhere. Your real name should be the freekeene failures. Why are you hassling those who want to wear masks and are able to handle it maturly? Get a job Don’t say you… Read more »
I forgot to add what a bunch of crooks you are: Five were indicted on wire fraud and participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They include Ian Freeman (formerly Ian Bernard), 40, of Keene; Colleen Fordham, 60, of Alstead; Renee Spinella, 23, of Derry; Andrew Spinella, 35, of Derry; and Nobody (formerly Richard Paul), 52, of Keene. Freeman was also indicted on money laundering and operating a continuing financial crimes enterprise. Aria DiMezzo (formerly James Baker), 34, of Keene, along with Freeman were also charged with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business Wow, you guys have been pretty… Read more »
I forgot to add one more.
https://www.wmur.com/article/fbi-keene-new-hampshire-march-16-2021/35850750
Uh huh. Bitching and complaining. Whining and complaining some more. Then getting nowhere. Then of course the pestering, the childish antics, and the getting nowhere again. Oh, and then we should all finally just get jobs. Geez, Jacks. That’s a very thorough list of libtard talking points. Really. I mean that. You’ve outdone yourself. Anyway, I’m a little confused as to why you think these guys are crooks. I mean, crooks actually hurt people, don’t they? And yet these guys have hurt absolutely no one. In fact, all they did was sell crypto to customers who wanted to buy them.… Read more »
“What makes you clowns think your rights supersede those who are not wanting to catch your illness?” Well that’s an easy question to answer, Rizzo. You see, we don’t. Because as it turns out, if I’m not sick, then you’re not going to catch anything. Mask or no. By this chain of reasoning, that means no one’s rights have been violated. This really isn’t complicated, libtard. “Everything about this is exactly against what Ian Freeman brainwashed his morons to believe.” Nope. Not even close, libtard. If I’m not sick, then there’s no reason to wear a mask, now is there?… Read more »
I can’t believe how dense you are. These heroes of yours were scamming everyone including other freekeeners out of money. They were laundering your money if you bought into their scheme. They are crooks and have hurt people. They charged high fees for transactions. They opened fake name accounts with financial institutions. They violated a number of federal laws and try to con financial institutions into believing the money they made was going into non profit accounts. They didn’t have the proper licenses to do any of this. I wonder if that Derrick Horton is going to be charged with… Read more »
obviously they shouldn’t have done this because now the FBI came
i know!!! That’s because the co-op isn’t so co-operative: they were will call the FBI on u… probably if things dont change… and ian and stays in jail.. free keene.. Will be ending
Geez. Daydreaming about prison rape scenarios again, huh Jacks? Hey, any idea why you libtards are always so fixated with that nonsense? I mean is this a Karl Marx thing or are you all just natural-born sexual deviants? Anyway munchkin, it turns out that the real story here is that the FBI arrested five people who (gasp) sold crypto to anyone who wanted to buy them. No one was scamming anybody. No customers were charged “high fees.” And no one in the public was “robbed blind.” It also turns out that the “financial crimes” these people are being charged with… Read more »
I think everyone that was arrested will see freedom again. After they do time. Except for Ian with him being charged as running a criminal enterprise. Which is a rico charge . Along with the other charges. He could be in jail till the day he dies .
it will be sad and very wrong indeed, if Ian is in jail long.. what was done were mutually agreed upon transactions between one person and another..
that’s it the charges stick. The FBI had been known to screw things up in their zelousness, also it’s seems like the state is slow in keeping up with technology
Pig Bottom proves to be bottom of the barrel. ““What makes you clowns think your rights supersede those who are not wanting to catch your illness?” Well that’s an easy question to answer, Rizzo. You see, we don’t. Because as it turns out, if I’m not sick, then you’re not going to catch anything. Mask or no. By this chain of reasoning, that means no one’s rights have been violated. This really isn’t complicated, libtard.”” This is the typical braindead response I was expecting. You delivered! So your intelligence leaves you with if I dont have it you wont get… Read more »
Frank Rizzo, selfish people are the ones who insist on running others lives for them. Those kinds of people somehow “reason” if there’s something they as an individual have no right to do, that somehow they can acquire that right by using force in a group against otherwise peaceful people. You sound like one of those people. I feel sorry for you, since you clearly have no grasp of the impossibility of a group having more rights than any of the individuals within it. As far as masks go, most of the people that wear them are either afraid to… Read more »
Some great points, Mr. Rizzo. The conviction rate on federal prosecutions is over 98 percent. Mr. Freeman may seek a trial, but all smart federal defendants plead out. Look at the 41 months that Chris Cantwell got for threatening another White Supremacist. But, Mr. Freeman is looking at a RICO charge. If he goes down for that, there is a 10 year federal minimum and you have to serve 85 percent of federal sentences.
Its a simple yes or no question.: The real story is there were multiple agencies that were involved. Ian and the chain gang knew what the laws were but they chose to rip off anyone who played their little game. 10 million dollars in transaction fees is a huge number to face prison time for. They were only in it to make money and it didn’t matter who they ripped off. Now they are going to have to answer for it. This just proves freekeene is a bunch of criminals Freekeene is a joke. Eventually all this would catch them… Read more »
“What about 20% of Asymptomatic People With COVID-19 Develop no Symptoms at all? Asymptomatic spread driving Covid-19? Here’s what the evidence says. Nearly 60% of all new coronavirus cases may come from people who carry the virus but who exhibit no symptoms of Covid-19, according to CDC findings.” What about them, Rizzo? I guess you didn’t notice the word “may” in your statement, huh? By your own wording, it should be pretty obvious to you that the CDC is just making things up as they go along. Weird how basing public health policy on what bureaucrats think MIGHT happen, rather… Read more »
Uh huh. That’s nice, Jacks. Anyway, that $10M you read about was the amount in transactions, not fees. But you’re right. They were only in it to make money. Just like everyone else who charges customers for a service, right? Say, you don’t think that should be a crime now too, now do you munchkin? Just asking for a friend. Oh, and Jacks? The facts remain that no one was harmed in any way. The current crop of charges are all statutory offenses. There were no violent crimes committed. And no property crimes either. Everything was completely consensual. Weird how… Read more »
Sorry idiot, their crimes are brought forth by the feds. That is playing with the big boys of law enforcement. Yes, people were hurt. Money was taken for high unregulated fees. Ian and his chain gang are complete idiots. I know, they are your masturbation heroes but they are looking at some very serious time behind bars.
Uh huh. That’s nice, Jacks. Anyway, it turns out that no one actually was hurt at all. That’s a fact, munchkin. You know it. I know it. And the feds know it. What really happened was that five peaceful people sold crypto to paying customers. Then for some reason a gaggle of government assholes came in and arrested them all because… reasons. I know, big guy. I know. You’re saying to yourself “Yargle. Blargle. Ian. Bad! FBI. Good! Prison. Rape. Yum!” The thing is though, a lot of us aren’t degenerate lunatics like you are. Normal people actually want to… Read more »
Uh huh. Bitching and complaining. Whining and complaining some more. Then getting nowhere. Then of course the pestering, the childish antics, and the getting nowhere again. Oh, and then we should all finally just get jobs. Geez, Jacks. That’s a very thorough list of libtard talking points. Really. I mean that. You’ve outdone yourself. Anyway, I’m a little confused as to why you think these guys are crooks. I mean, crooks actually hurt people, don’t they? And yet these guys have hurt absolutely no one. In fact, all they did was sell crypto to customers who wanted to buy them.… Read more »
PROPERTY RIGHTS MOTHERFUCKERS! That’s you whole fucking gig, bros!
What a bunch of fucking clowns. So the “private property is more important than humans” crowd is pissed because a property owner asserts their rights after being rude and insulting several of their customers and scaring the shit of young girls. And your flippant attitude that she’s “unstable” in these of all times when you dumbfucks are invading capitals and state house armed to the teeth. What a shock she’s scared.