Mother Jones’ War on Chalk Article, With Map

A recent Mother Jones’ article, Chalk a Sidewalk, Go to Jail by Josh Harkinson features a review of major incidents across the country of chalking arrests. The comprehensive article features references to stories previously covered on Free Concord, such as the chalking cases out of Orlando, Richmond, and LA. There’s even a reference early in the article to the Chalking 8. Midway through, there’s an interactive United States map with a brief description of events in each case. An incident not included in the map, but not forgotten nonetheless, are the original two War on Chalk arrests at the federal building in Concord, November 13, 2010.

http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/08/war-chalk-arrests

Chalking by the Fresh Juice Party, Oakland, CA

The System Exonerates Jonathan Evans

Originally published at freeconcord.org:

It is not often that an active duty law enforcement officer faces trial for a criminal complaint. But there is little that is typical of the recent case of Jonathan Evans, a Hill, New Hampshire police sergeant who faced misdemeanor charges for his role in the theft of a leather vest from a Concord storefront. There is no known video of the encounter between store owner Brian Blackden and five members of the motorcycle club, the ‘road dawgs’, but from the picture painted in court by witnesses and police, their actions blurred the line between a club and a gang, and exemplified that there are classes of men in modern society.

Prosecutor John Webb

The minutiae brought to surface surrounding an underground police organization remained intriguing throughout the nearly three hour ordeal. The Concord courtroom was host to a range of characters from around NH. Stemming from an incident involving police officers from everywhere in the state but Concord, CPD officers were the primary investigators and the first three witnesses called at trial. The single, B-misdemeanor charge of theft was prosecuted by Cheshire county assistant attorney John Webb, and heard by Concord district court judge Gerald Boyle. Witnesses to speak were three Concord police officers, the storefront neighbor of the victim, the store owner (victim), and the defendant, Jonathan Evans. Evans was represented by Eric Wilson of wbdklaw.com. (more…)

UL and Monitor Publish Scathing Critiques of State v Evans

Today the Union Leader’s editorial board published an anonymous review of the recent case of State v Jonathan Evans. Evans stood accused of acting in concert with other members of the “road dawgs” motorcycle club to steal a vest from a Concord store on May 21, 2011. The harsh critique of the not guilty finding in the case comes just over a week after the UL published an objective article overviewing the case. Coverage of the trial is also available from the Concord Monitor.

I videographed the trial last week and have made the full video available at the FreeConcordTV youtube channel. Below is the editorial published in today’s Sunday News. Check back tomorrow for an original article on the trial from Free Concord. (more…)

What Happens When A Prosecutor Declares Legal War on the Press Telerecording Police?

From freeconcord.org:

On Monday, Ademo Freeman was convicted of three counts of felony wiretapping after a three hour trial in Hillsborough county superior court, Manchester.

Full trial video from Free Keene
Extensive writeup by Pete Eyre at Cop Block

Preparing for his trial from the Valley Street jail, and spending his lunch break in a cell at the courthouse, Ademo did an excellent job explaining his actions and opening himself to responsibility for them. Unfortunately, he did not present the defense necessary to win over the twelve (likely television-watching) everypersons to understand why his was such a case as jury nullification was intended for. Press and supporters filled the gallery. The judge presented a very relaxed demeanor, a respect for the audience and (some) of their rights, which Cheshire county magistrates have caged individuals over in the past. There were limitations on the press, as only two individuals were permitted to video or audio record despite several requests. Judge Kenneth Brown (more…)