It’s been brought to my attention that the FBI has been snooping around the Keene area for several months. First they called in a fellow Free Keene blogger (who asked not to be identified) and asked him if violence was advocated amongst those who frequent the Keene Activity Center. The Free Keene blogger clearly told them they had the wrong people and that if violence was ever advocated, it would be rejected as a means to the end by any real “Free Stater” (a term I use only as a way to identify a group, it should be understood that ‘free staters’, like everyone else, are individuals responsible for their own actions and thoughts).
Top this off with a few sketchy visits from new movers, who I now believe to be FBI agents or informants, and it’s almost comical – if not so scary – how pathetic the FBI’s attempts are at infiltrating the Keene Activity Center (KAC). One guy, ‘Michael’, came to the KAC for a visit (which is typical of new movers) and after a long conversation – where I asked him directly if he was an agent of the state (he said he was not) – it was decided that “Michael’s” views are not acceptable to those who frequent the KAC and he was asked to leave. He has never attempted a return but it should be noted that this man may still be trying to infiltrate liberty groups.
Fast forward a couple a months and the FBI – Phil Christiana – decides to interview another liberty minded person, Rich Paul. Known for his self ownership activism, relating to the war on drugs – particularly marijuana – Rich was targeted for allegedly making voluntary exchanges of substances the government deems illegal. Funny thing is, Phil and the state agent that was assisting him didn’t even care about the drugs. What did Phil and the FBI want? They wanted Rich to wear a wire into the Keene Activity Center. (more…)
Today Emberlea, Chris Cantwell, Darryl Perry and I held signs for peace in front of the military recruiting center, then walked to Central Square until the memorial day parade began, which we entered at the end. The parade route was up Washington St. to a gathering at the war memorial at the Rec Center. Many people were stationed along the route, and many of them were very happy to see pro-peace people – we got lots of waves and peace signs.
Of course, we got the inevitable angry war-mongers with their snide comments calling us “chicken” and making the ridiculous suggestion that it’s thanks to decades of killing people is why we are free to hold our signs. Others told us we were wrong for coming to a pro-war parade and that it was “inappropriate”. Here’s what I have to say to them:
Being as liberty activists in Keene already made news by crashing Romney, Santorum, and Huntsman campaign speeches, it was time to give the Democrats their “equal time”. (By the way, Gingerich mysteriously canceled his visit to Keene, likely after his staff heard what happened to his counterparts.) Earlier this week, Kelly Voluntaryist and Graham Freeman made it into an allegedly invite-only Obama campaign event with Joe Biden and attempt to ask questions to bring attention to the new total-police-state policy of “indefinite detention”. In response, some in the surrounding crowd attempt to shout them down by chanting, “Yes we can!”, whenever Kelly or Graham speak:
News has broken today that fully informed jury activist Julian Heicklen has fled the country to avoid a pending warrant out of Santa Ana, California, where he is wanted yet again for distributing educational fliers on the rights of jurors. On May 22, Julian is said to have been granted Israeli citizenship at customs. It is unclear whether the eighty year old pamphleteering pioneer plans on returning to the United States. Freedoms Phoenix has the story.
On May 20th, 2012 I attended Social Sundays put on by the Free Keene folks and that was followed by a protest outside of the Cheshire County Jail in Keene, NH. Myself, Ian Freeman, Paul Hassler, Chris Cantwell, David Crawford and Julia all took up signs and took to opposite sides of Highway 101 to protest the prison system. We currently have two friends and civ dis fellows in the Cheshire Co Jail, sarcastically called the Keene Spiritual Retreat Center! Derrick J. Freeman is facing up to 105 days in jail for victimless crimes and Beau Davis is in for 31 days for possession of an illegal substance (another victim of the War on Drugs). We received a generally good response from folks driving by. Only one car yelled at us negatively. He called us “Fucking Commies”. That made me laugh! This person obviously knows nothing about what we or the communists stand for. His ignorance is not only contemptible but incredibly sad. I have had heated discussions with people over the War On Drugs because I find it to be a waste of money and it destroys the economy, the family and society as a whole. Decriminalize all drugs now! I also advocate for the nullification & peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience of bad laws. Every day each one of us breaks at least three laws with zero knowledge. How can a society live this way?