by Ian | Oct 25, 2015 |
Alfredo Valentin, Hero
In a six page decision issued this week, NH Hillsborough superior court judge Gillian L. Abramson dismissed the misdemeanor wiretapping charge against Alfredo Valentin – affirming the right to record police in public includes secret recordings. The judge cites both the Glik and Gericke cases which were important federal cases affirming the right to record police in public. The state argued in this case, that since the recording was secret, the right to record doesn’t apply in NH, where the wiretapping statute is ridiculously oppressive. The judge smacked that claim down:
the Court finds that the First Amendment protects secretly filming police in public, for the same reasons that the First Amendment generally protects filming police. The public has the right to gather and disseminate information about the police.
Free State Project early mover and attorney Brandon Ross is Valentin’s lawyer (Ross has previously beaten wiretapping charges at the NH supreme court.) and had this to say, in an exclusive interview for Free Keene, about the judge’s decision: “By charging him with a felony, the state destroyed my client’s career–and made things much worse with this wild goose chase prosecution. I’m glad the court wasn’t fooled by the state’s manifestly incorrect representations about the law. I look forward to him getting his day in federal court.”
Attorney Brandon Ross
Ross also excoriated the NH legislature for their inaction on fixing the horrible wiretapping statutes, saying, “This never needed to happen. Numerous bills have been brought to the legislature to fix this. Each time, the legislature has failed to act to bring simple, necessary clarity to a law which police are continually abusing. But the NH chiefs of police scare them each time, and nothing happens. The resulting litigation from that spineless failure to act, does nothing but inconvenience citizens and cost taxpayers.”
The decision is excellent and will certainly help Valentin in his million+ dollar lawsuit against Manchester Police for violating his rights.
You can read the full six-page order here. Will the state attorney general’s office appeal to the NH supreme court and risk making this decision apply to the entire state? Stay tuned here to Free Keene for the latest.
by Ian | Oct 25, 2015 |
Liberty in North Korea Presents at the KAC
Thanks to all the members and guests we’ve had over the years and especially the dedicated activists who took on the sometimes thankless role of KAC manager to truly serve the liberty community. Without you, it would never have worked.
However, in the activist world projects come and go in cycles. This project, like so many, has come to the end of it’s life. It’s been valuable in many ways and much has been learned about running an organization like this through many trials and errors – hopefully we’re all better people because of it.
As is typical of activism, it was never expected to do more than meet its costs. At that, it succeeded, thanks to the various managers. It also provided a landing and launching pad for new activists arriving here in Keene, and it succeeded wildly at that. Many of the most noteworthy activists cut their teeth at the KAC including Derrick J Freeman, Ademo Freeman, Pete Eyre, Darryl W. Perry, Beau Davis, Garret Ean, Meg McLain, and JJ Epic.
The KAC may be over, but the Shire Free Church will continue to use the property to benefit the liberty activist community to further the church’s mission of fostering peace. Stay tuned here to Free Keene for future announcements.
by Ian | Oct 24, 2015 |
Keenevention is only $60 or BTC for the whole weekend!
Stay tuned \to the Keenevention blog for more announcements (you can sign up for emails when the blog has new posts using the signup box in the right column). You can also follow the new Keenevention Twitter, Keenevention’s facebook page and join the official facebook event here.
by Ian | Oct 23, 2015 |
Canterbury Police Chief John Laroche
Now, in the case of Canterbury police chief John Laroche, he’s accused of multiple cases of sexual assault (rape) against a teenage girl. To be clear, the girl was of the age of consent, however Laroche was in a position of authority over her, as he was in charge of the Police Explorers program, where teenagers explore whether they would like a career in law enforcement. Apparently, it’s also not uncommon for them to explore their sexuality with the officers.
Laroche was arrested in August, according to this press release from the NH attorney general. He’s now been indicted on multiple counts, according to NH1.
by Ian | Oct 20, 2015 |
The Updated Bitcoin Panel for 2015
Keenevention 2015 kicks off in less than two weeks! Join us Hallowkeene weekend, October 30th through November 1st. Tickets for the third-annual Keenevention are just $60 or BTC for the whole weekend, including the Hallowkeene costume dance party! Pre-event ticketing is limited to 100, so lock yours in now.
Stay tuned to the Keenevention blog for more announcements. You can also follow the new Keenevention Twitter, Keenevention’s facebook page and join the official facebook event here.
