Jason Talley, managing director of the Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund, reports on another arrest in the government’s war on hats – this time the heroic Evan Pierce, a.k.a. the Emperor of Free Grafton:
I’m told that Evan Pierce will be heading to Cheshire County soon, if not now. He was caged for criminal “contempt of court” today in Grafton Superior Court by Judge Bornstein during the trial of the State vs Robert Constantine. Evan was wearing a paper hat after the judge told Ademo Freeman to take his knit cap off. When Bornstein said something like “you with the hat, come up here” Ademo remained seated while Evan stood before the judge. Evan had earlier created the paper hat as an act of solidarity with Ademo who was exercising his right to keep clothes on his body.
The next time we saw him was after Bob Constantine’s trial concluded for the day at approx 3:30PM. Employees of Grafton County decided to accessorize Evan’s look with shiny silver chains around his feet and arms that connect, slowing Evan’s roll. Always looking on the bring side, Evan noticed that with a live microphone he’d be able to share some of Weeda Claus’s Chronic Christmas Carols leading a courtroom full of Shire Activists in “Hands off Weeda Claus.” (more…)
The video footage was FINALLY retrieved from Greenfield PD today, well, 50% of it due to a technical difficulty with Ademo’s camera. Here’s the raw footage from Pete’s camera including their interaction with the bureaucrats in the jail and their arrest outside. For full detail on this incident, visit Copblock.org/Greenfield.
Part 1/2: Inside the jail, threatened by the guards over recording video:
Capuzzo still sits in a MA jail and writes us the following letters. You can send him mail online via mail-to-jail. Here are past Capuzzo posts.
Letter #7 from late February:
The eight month mark is closing in. In some ways, the time has flown by. At the same time, time has seemed to stand at a still. In either case, NH still seems a long ways away. I know the cases here in MA will be done soon, but after eight months of being dicked around by the court system, it just feels endless.
I often wonder if they realize that they are toying with a man’s life. I don’t think they understand just how this kind of shit affects a person mentally, especially after long periods of time. It’s not easy, for me at least, to integrate back into a functioning society after a time. I’ve even been at the point where I didn’t want to go home because it has become natural feeling to be inside the walls.
I won’t let that happen this time, though. I refuse to let them win this time. This is not my nature anymore. I bring this up because I’ve noticed that lately, every time I’m on the edge of giving up, someone pounds it into my head that I can’t give up. Whether it’s a letter from a friend, my mom, or the one person I’ve met here that I call a friend, they always seem to catch me at the right time and not even know it. (more…)
I’m hoping to write an more exhaustive ‘about’ me post but I’m rather busy, like everyone else, so it will have to wait. For now, here is a post I published at CopBlock.org. It’s fitting considering Free Keene activists did most of the leg work which resulted in me being freed from jail. Thanks again.
Three weeks ago yesterday Pete Eyre was assaulted, hand cuffed and dragged from a public building then put in a cage because he wore a hat inside ‘the’ courtroom. The following day, at Pete’s arraignment, I spoke out against Edward Burke’s (the judge) decision to keep him locked up. The judge ordered Pete to remain in jail because he refused to ID himself and shortly after sentenced me to 60 days in jail for my outburst.
So how did I get released early? Well, with so many great activists doing so many different things to free me, it’s impossible to say exactly what it was and a mix of everything is likely the answer. People were calling the jail, writing letters to Burke, protesting, making videos, filing motions, contacting media and much much more. A big thanks is in order for JJ, Andrew “280”, Aubern, Tayna, Carolyn, George, Smeg, Ian, my family and of course my boy – Pete. These guys are one kick ass team (not to undermine those who helped them – everyone did a great job and I’m so grateful to have support from so many) and I really value the support we show one another. (more…)
After apologizing to the man in the robe, Ademo was released from his cage today. Pete Eyre and Rich Angell’s trials are scheduled for 6/27. Video to come.
Jason Talley, managing director of the Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund, reports on another arrest in the government’s war on hats – this time the heroic Evan Pierce, a.k.a. the Emperor of Free Grafton:
Capuzzo still sits in a MA jail and writes us the following letters. You can send him mail online via 
