Satirical supporters of republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich were prevented from attending a speaking event at the Radisson, where Gingrich accepted the endorsement of NH House Speaker William O’Brien. I arrived at the event just as the supporters were being ejected, and found that they made for a much more interesting story than what would be occurring formally. See my footage below of the Pro-Gingrich rally outside of the Radisson on December 21.
Yesterday I received mail addressed to Ean Garret from “9th Circuit – District Division – Manchester” court. The title of the piece read, The State of New Hampshire and Ean Garret. I took note of the fact that the State had deescalated its language in addressing me — their paperwork no longer read State of New Hampshire versus Myself. A two page letter, signed on a third page as So Ordered, Judge William H. Lyons, affirmed the State’s inability to prove that I had violated either of two charges under NH RSA 644:2 on June 4th, when I was swept up in Manchester PD’s Chalking 8 incident. I was taken into custody, according to arresting officer John Patti, for refusing to move from a public area of the sidewalk when ordered. The judge determined that there was no basis for the officer to make this arrest under RSA 644:2. A violation for impeding potential pedestrian traffic is not authorized under the already broad disorderly conduct statute. While specific city ordinance violations allow police to ticket those who impede pedestrians, the New Hampshire criminal code does not. The State made no attempt to prove that I was even in the crime scene which one of the charges alleges I had interfered with, as John Patti barely remembered any of his multiple interactions with me.
Despite my victory, one of the two people arrested simultaneously with myself, Pete Eyre, was found guilty at the non-criminal violation level of one of the two charges. Interestingly enough, the charge he was convicted on was not the reason for his arrest, but was attached later. John Patti, who ordered Pete’s arrest but was my arresting officer, arrested us for allegedly refusing an order regarding a city ordinance violation. Neither the order nor the basis of the order were substantiated in court, yet Pete was, retroactively, in a sense, found guilty of having been in the “crime scene” and having been ordered out of it. The disorderly conduct statute is so over broad that you are automatically guilty at the violation level if you have been given what is considered a “lawful order”. By refusing the order, you are then guilty at the criminal level. (more…)
Today at Concord District Court, I had attempted to audio and video record a hearing at the defendant’s request. I was given last minute notice, and ended up missing the brief hearing by the time I had arrived. When I entered the courthouse, I did not appreciate that security had disarmed me of my harmless accountability mechanism, the camera. They also took my tripod, and would give me back none of my equipment until a judge gave me permission to act as the press.
To protest the violation of my first amendment right, I exercised different first amendment rights outside. Utilizing my speech, I chalked out against the press restrictions practiced by the monopolist court officers. I was almost finished when the head of court security exited the building and asked me to stop chalking and leave. He implied that I was doing something illegal, but never spelled out exactly what. He even identified himself as a police officer. Due to some NH court’s crackdowns on press freedom, in the more restrictive venues it is rare to see a court security officer in action, especially outside of his normal domain inside the building.
An article by Michael E. Ross entitled The Epidemic of Police Brutality published at The Root yesterday. It comes alongside news from Tampa of police misconduct resulting in homicide. On December 23, Reason’s Hit and Run blog published the story of Nick Christie, who was tied to a chair and repeatedly pepper sprayed by Lee County, FL deputies (photo included in link). His death was likely caused by asphyxiation, though there could have been a number of factors at work as Nick Christie had a medical condition. According to a witness, who at the time was a corrections officer, “He had a spit mask on and was naked.” The witness testified that the restrained man had pleaded with officers to remove the spit mask because he could not breathe.
Today the news has circulated around the world that Kim Jong-Il, ruler of what is considered the most closed nation in the world, North Korea, has died from a reported heart attack. Through social media, many who haven’t seen headlines of the flamboyant dictator’s demise receive the news via the many friends discussing it on their facebook news feed.
Outside of Kim Jong-Il’s inner circle, the first people to hear word of his death were the millions of subjects of North Korea, who saw this report from a distraught anchor on the State’s official news network.
Several NH activists attend a NH Supreme Court public hearing on cameras In NH courthouses. The recording took place in the court lobby prior to the hearing. There was a Bailiff who’s actions were a little bizarre to say the least. So bizarre that it necessitated an entire video of just his actions. Two activists describe an incident where this man intentionally nudged past them. The man then has stare downs with four different activists and a scream of rage directed at Kate Ager.
Satirical supporters of republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich were prevented from attending a speaking event at the Radisson, where Gingrich accepted the endorsement of NH House Speaker William O’Brien. I arrived at the event just as the supporters were being ejected, and found that they made for a much more interesting story than what would be occurring formally. See my footage below of the Pro-Gingrich rally outside of the Radisson on December 21.
