Published today at CopBlock.org is an article by William N. Grigg on the Orwellian irony in the slogan of police in the United States, “To protect and serve”. He overviews lawsuits in New Hampshire and other states which suggest that some police believe civilians to have an active duty to protect and to serve them.
Since the news broke earlier this week that Beverly Mutrie was being sued by officers wounded in the raid on Cullen Mutrie’s residence in Greenland, I have wondered what made the plaintiffs believe that this lawsuit could be considered legitimate. Commentary in the Union Leader acknowledged that Beverly Mutrie is not currently facing any criminal charges connected to her son’s alleged oxycodone distribution. Unless police care to provide evidence that she had direct knowledge of ongoing criminal activity, this case seems like quite a reach. Cullen Mutrie and Brittany Tibbetts were accused of selling opiate pharmaceuticals out of their house, which was owned by Ms. Mutrie. Does evidence exist that Ms. Mutrie had knowledge of a drug ring, or is the emotional weight of a murdered police officer and wounded SWAT units being used to extort a mother grieving the loss of her child? It is an awful shame that anyone had to experience violence on the April evening of the botched raid. It is unfortunate that so many, especially in law enforcement, fail to recognize how the system manufactures opportunities for crime profiteering, which the state then powers a war to desist.
Your “Duty” To Protect and Serve the Police
by William N. Grigg
Ademo Freeman continues to attract more eyes to his case. Yesterday a letter from him transcribed at nevertakeaplea.org was published. He affirmed that he would not be accepting a plea deal to safely avoid jail or prison time, and that he will trust a jury of his peers not to convict him for his victimless attempt to create transparency.
…by the time this is published to CopBlock.org and other blogs, I’ll have refused Michael’s offer and here’s why. First, I can’t go against my principles and sign a deal that says I acknowledge my actions as wrong or illegal. Second, I’m not a hypocrite. How can I advocate refusing plea deals and sign one myself? I don’t judge anyone who has taken pleas because each case/charge is different. Third, I am confident I can show a jury, with facts and logic, that I shouldn’t be caged for my actions.
Appearing today on CNN’s iReport blog is an entry about Ademo’s upcoming trial, which is scheduled to take place in Manchester in just over a week. (more…)
WeAreChange released on their youtube channel yesterday a video update of events around the nation which begins with an overview of the military police occupation in Anaheim, California. After a series of shootings of unarmed suspects, protests have swelled in the streets of the Los Angeles suburb whose local government is dominated by Disney’s commercial interests.
This unidentified man was surrounded and arrested seconds after this photograph was taken. July 29, 2012. Anaheim, CA
The video then highlights happenings here in New Hampshire, featuring video from Ademo’s wiretapping pretrial hearing, and footage from the recently releasedDerrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree, a documentary composed of content created by many Shire activists. See the well-produced three minute video “Disney Wiretapping Crime Spree” attached below.
At midnight tonight, the feature length documentary Derrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree premieres on Free Keene’s youtube channel. Derrick J is an activist who moved to New Hampshire for the Free State Project. He wasted no time here, quickly getting involved with projects around the state, and choosing to live free despite the tyranny around him. His boldness caught up with him, as he began racking up charges in Keene for all sorts of civilly disobedient behavior. Derrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree tells the story of Derrick’s time here in the Shire, leading up to his sixty day jail stint and eventual exile tour. With a two year suspended jail sentence hanging over his head, it is safer to spend the next twenty four months outside of NH. Embedded below is video that I recorded with Derrick on July 20, his final day in Keene before departing the Shire. You can see different trailers for the film here and here, or check out the official site at victimlesscrimespree.com.
At midnight tonight, the feature length documentary Derrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree premieres on Free Keene’s 
