Matthew “Yankee” Oldershaw
Matthew “Yankee” Oldershaw, hospitalized last week after being shoved into the Central Square fountain (allegedly by James Michael Phillips), has spoken out to give his side of the story. In an interview with the Keene Sentinel, Yankee says he did NOT grab local businesswoman Dorrie O’Meara’s arm. His claim is backed up by multiple witnesses.
Interestingly, he admits that he was the one who chalked the war monument and says that when police asked him to remove it, he did.
Finally, he clarifies that he’s not with Free Keene, but instead part of the Occupy movement.
The Sentinel interview was conducted from Yankee’s hospital bed, where he has been diagnosed with a broken shoulder blade, fractured collarbone, several other hairline fractures and a concussion. He has since checked himself out of the hospital, rejecting their recommendation of surgery. He can barely walk.
This week on Wednesday at 6pm a city committee will hear a proposal for a new graffiti ordinance with “teeth”, because chalking must be stopped! Looks like the War on Chalk continues to escalate as the peaceful chalkers continue to occupy the square with happy, positive artwork. Indeed, a new community group has been formed, the Hopscotch Preservation Society.
The Union Leader has also published a story about the War on Chalk, though author Megan Pierce unfortunately did not appear to contact anyone from Free Keene for comment.
Plus, local activist David Crawford submitted this Letter to the Editor of the Sentinel:
I have called the Keene Sentinel and complained about its article about the assault in Central Square.
I talked to Matthew Oldershaw, nickname Yankee, from his hospital bed today; they are still assessing the damage; he has a broken shoulder, broken neck vertebra — they said he was lucky to have lived. He was assaulted bye a man who was accompanying Dorrie O’Meara. If you go the WKBK’s Facebook page, you will see a picture of Matthew Oldershaw chalking a peace sign on the monument in Central Square; he is now in Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
City Councilor Randy Filiault was down in Central Square recently; he is going to be doing a ordinance about chalking.
Maybe you read the article and are hardly aware that a man, Matthew Oldershaw, was assaulted and was in the hospital with a broken neck and vertebra.
Matthew (Yankee) wasn’t contacted at all about the article. And though Dorrie was a very close associate with the man who hospitalized
Matthew, reporters went to HER for information.
There is a man in the hospital who is lucky to have lived, with a broken neck, and people and the news are talking about CHALK.
As of the writing of this, and though there are multiple eyewitnesses and Dorrie O’Meara knows him well and there is much video of the perpetrator, and though the cops were on the scene while the perpetrator WAS THERE, there is no news of bad guy being caught.
But legislation on chalking will be heard tonight at the City Council meeting.
David Crawford
