Despite admitting traveling 50 mph in an area where the signs say 35, Keene District Judge Burke found Nick Ryder not guilty of his speeding ticket. Either the trooper was deemed not a sufficient witness, or it was the twelve people willing to stand with Ryder as he told the court he would not pay the fine.
Once we free ourselves, we can begin to free the people around us. Thank you everyone for this, and many more to come.
Links to related images:
If you’ve been reading this blog for the last month or so, you know that the “City of Keene” has been threatening me over my tenants’ couch in their lawn. First, they sent one of their “enforcers” to threaten me with a $100 ticket. Then, one of the commenters here on Free Keene dug up a little dirt on their “enforcer” Carl Patten Jr. Early last week, my tenants snapped a photo of Mr. Patten snooping around and photographing the couch.
Here is the latest on the situation. The day after Mr. Patten was caught snooping, a letter arrived in my mailbox (more…)
What: Attempted “Illegal camera panning”
Where: Keene District Court, 3 Washington Street, Keene, New Hampshire
When: Friday, Sept. 26, 2008. 7:45 a.m.
How: Videographer will attempt to man, and pan, his video camera during trial of Keene freedom activist. Camera movement is forbidden under
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/rules/dmcr/dmcr-1_4.htm
Judge Edward Burke has said he’ll begin enforcing the ban.
Why: There are two objectives…
1) Document Nick Ryder’s controversial refusal to pay traffic fine (something that can’t be done well without panning the camera)
2) Protest – and draw attention to – an unacceptable, actively enforced court rule that unnecessarily limits freedom of press
Who: Dave Ridley, 42, Manchester videographer
Open letter for Judge Edward Burke
Presiding Justice, Keene District Court:
Dear Judge Burke:
Your restraint and politeness in the handling of David Krouse’s civil disobedience case this spring…turned me into an unlikely fan. It was a reminder to liberty lovers that judges in New Hampshire tend to be less violent than those in other places.
However I’m concerned regarding your stated intent to begin enforcing a bizarre rule against video camera panning. In my fifteen years of service as a TV news videographer, I’ve never seen anything like it. To tell a videographer he can’t pan or tilt his camera…that’s like telling a writer she can’t hold a pen. It violates the spirit of a “speedy and *public* trial.” That’s dangerous.
Apparently this is a district court regulation, but it’s not acceptable and must be openly challenged. (more…)
AnarchoJesse is a self-described “hardcore civil disobedient”, preferring outright subversion and disobedience over political action. Arrogant, honest, and assertive, he’s been described before as both “afraid of nothing” and “Market Anarchy incarnate”. As a principle, he believes that the only way to reveal the inadequacies and immoralities of the State is through open demonstration to force the State’s hand as well as education, under the guiding idea that all violence can only beget more violence. This, he feels, is what separates civil and moral people who act consensually from barbaric and immoral people that act with violence to achieve their goals.
Now that Free Keene’s activists successfully handed out hundreds of these yellow WARNING! fliers at the Keene Music Festival, I have printed up hundreds more. Feel free to print your own (we print on cardstock), or contribute to Free Keene, to fund future fliers!
Discuss here on the Forum.
As you know if you read this recent fundraising post, as of this week, we’re now running :15 TV spots during city council meetings on Cheshire TV! Though we only raised $15 per month to cover these costs, I’m personally kicking in the rest. However, will you help us out? If you appreciate the activism we’re doing here at Free Keene, please join for as little as $3 per month at http://contribute.freekeene.com. If you can’t afford it, please keep visiting the blog and forum. Also, consider moving to Keene – that would be a big help.
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