I am going to refuse to proceed with my court case (May 1, at 1:30 pm) until cameras are allowed in. Freedom of the press is too invaluable to the protection of liberty to let its blatant violation go unchallenged. I demand the officers and magistrates of the court show proper respect for the rights of individuals. Someone needs to watch the watchers.
I will show up on May 1 and attend my trial as scheduled; but I will refuse to proceed with the trial without cameras there. They are too essential to a fair trial – or, more accurately, too essential to holding judges accountable for creating unfair trials – to proceed without them. (more…)
So far, Sam’s arrest and imprisonment indefinitely without trial have barely scratched the surface of the internet, let alone the mainstream media. This is similar to the lack of coverage my case received when I was locked up for “contempt of court” and my tenants’ couch in their yard. Arguably, Sam has gotten more coverage as the Keene Sentinel did publish two front page articles as a result of his arrest, but those articles never broke into other papers in NH and the AP did not pick them up. Thank you to the few bloggers on the internet who have picked up the story. To everyone who has contacted their favorite blog or news service and suggested they cover Sam’s story, thank you. If you haven’t please take a moment and do so.
Also, here’s an easy task to complete on Sam’s behalf. You can help get him on and his story covered by “Freedom Watch”, the popular online-only FOX News show. Just visit this list of potential guests, scroll to Sam Dodson and click Vote and select 3 you may then spend up to seven more votes on other guests (I recommend also voting for Free State Project founder Jason Sorens.). Then you can do the same on this list of topics. Vote 3 for “Right to Record, Reporters Getting Arrested Everywhere” (and you also may want to vote for “Discuss the Free State Project”).
I spoke with Sam this morning. He’s wondering if he should stay in jail as the writ of habeas corpus is taken to the NH supreme court. (The superior court judge denied it, saying he couldn’t let Sam out without having his “legal” name.) Sam also didn’t get mail yesterday, which he seemed bummed about. I suggested the guards have been holding his mail. I also suggested he start eating. The hunger strike hasn’t done anything to gain publicity for his case, and will only serve to weaken his composition and distract his mind. Two weeks is enough, especially for someone with Sam’s body type. So, to get out of jail, he can either wait there and see what happens, pay $10,000 cash bail (which you can bet will have whatever fines he’s ordered to pay taken out of it after a trial, so this is the worst option), or give up his “legal name”, which may lead to a bail hearing and release on recognizance.
What should Sam do? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments and I’ll print them out and send them to Sam via mail-to-jail.
Just got off the phone with Sam. He’ll call tonight’s Free Talk Live with details, but yesterday Ivy filed a writ of Habeas Corpus with the superior court and now today all-of-a-sudden Sam is brought down to the Keene Police Department and fingerprinted and photographed as John Doe. Prior to this the judge had said nothing would happen until Sam gave his “legal” name. Did an order come down from the higher court?
Ivy has been a huge help in all of this. She has dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort toward helping Sam, (and by proxy, all of us) and has done it for peanuts. Please consider showing your appreciation for her efforts by paypaling her at Ivy at ivysspiceoflife.com
Also, Mike Barskey has done amazing work with Mail-to-Jail.com, the website that allows you to easily send mail to imprisoned activists like Sam. Sam told me that nearly every piece of mail he has received has come through Mail-to-Jail! Please visit the site and consider sending Mike a contribution to help him pay for stamps and envelopes. (Look for the links in the right column.) (more…)
Political prisoner Sam recorded a special message for last night’s candlelight vigil. Nearly fifty people came out at 9pm on a Sunday night in Keene to participate. In case you couldn’t be there in person, here it is in .mp3 form.
Also, here is Lauren Canario’s video of yesterday’s protest at the jail (with a turnout of at least 19 people!) and last night’s candlelight vigil:
I happened to notice the source of a comment on the most recent Sam update was a City of Keene IP address. Here’s what the commenter had to say in response to a potential new mover to Keene:
Harris and all other prospective “Free Keene” movers:
Why don’t you wait until the new jail is done. Free room and board in a shiny new building. Can’t beat that offer.
The commenter later claims to be someone who was using the public library computers, and denies being a city bureaucrat. Either way, here is a perfect example of some of the people who call themselves “public servants”. Doesn’t sound like a service-oriented individual at all. Sounds to me like a sociopath. If it is a bureaucrat, it’s someone who serves themselves with your stolen tax dollars, and apparently spends some of their working day reading and commenting on this website. I sure would love to stop paying this “servant” for his or her services I don’t want, like locking peaceful people behind bars, but then this “servant” will send their buddies with guns (the Sheriffs) to throw me and my family from the home I thought I owned! Of course, if the “servants” are to be believed, if it weren’t for them stealing from and threatening us, then we would surely live in a chaotic world of aggression! Oh, whatever would we do without them?
Did the anonymous person’s threats scare you? They surely are hoping so. Why else would this person spend time threatening potential movers to Keene unless they themselves were scared? Scared of real, peaceful change. Afraid of the liberty movement and what it could mean for their lust for power over others.
Show them you aren’t intimidated by their threats and post comments as to why you are moving to Keene, and what you’d like to do when you get here.
In response to the recent arrests (including one indefinite jailing) of videographers in the Keene District Court lobby, Andrew Carroll, who will be tried for his civil disobedience of publicly possessing marijuana on May 1st at 1:30pm, has stated the following on the Free Keene Forum:
So far, Sam’s arrest and imprisonment indefinitely without trial have barely scratched the surface of the internet, let alone the mainstream media. This is similar to the lack of coverage my case received when I was locked up for “contempt of court” and my tenants’ couch in their yard. Arguably, Sam has gotten more coverage as the Keene Sentinel did publish two front page articles as a result of his arrest, but those articles never broke into other papers in NH and the AP did not pick them up. Thank you to the few bloggers on the internet who have picked up the story. To everyone who has contacted their favorite blog or news service and suggested they cover Sam’s story, thank you. If you haven’t please take a moment and do so.
