Crass comedian Christopher Cantwell has made the move back to New Hampshire, though this time not as part of the Free State Project. Chris is one of a handful of people to be kicked out of the FSP in over a decade. However, he is still a believer in the idea of moving liberty-oriented people to the same place so we can be more free together, and he knows that NH is the place to be to be around others who care about freedom. So, he’s back, having left New York, ostensibly for good this time.
I wrote this editorial when he left originally, explaining what went wrong with his first stay in NH.
Many of the personal issues that Chris has, including anger, are still present. However, he has gotten his drinking under control, which I am happy to see. Many within the liberty movement are very understandably upset with Chris over various things he’s said over the years. Many wonder why I’m so friendly to him.
The reason I’m friendly to Chris, despite the bridges he’s burned in the liberty community, is the same reason I’m friendly to the police. I want to communicate the ideas of peace and liberty to others, even with those I disagree, and yelling or being mean doesn’t build bridges. I want to be forgiving and model peaceful evolution. (more…)
The New York Times article that so many thought was “bad” continues to spawn new coverage! This past Monday the Keene Sentinel ran a front page feature piece on the flurry of news stories focusing on Keene liberty activism and Free Keene. Thanks to reporter Ella Nilsen for the story:
It’s been more than a year since the city of Keene and a local group of activists first fought over downtown parking meters, yet the story lives on.
The saga of the activists, dubbed “Robin Hooders,” has played out in the national media on “Good Morning America,” the Huffington Post, and, most recently, the front page of The New York Times. In a few weeks, Robin Hooding and a more recent dispute over chalking will be highlighted on the Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report.” (more…)
[The video previously featured in this article has been removed from YouTube. Please follow the link to view the video at LiveLeak.]
At around 6:00pm last evening near the Staples store in Keene, police attempted to arrest a currently unidentified man. Rather than submitting to the arrest, the person fled the area and displayed a firearm, which he is witnessed to have turned on himself. Early reports identified the situation as a hostage crisis, however witnesses on the scene stated that the only hostage in harm’s way throughout the duration of the standoff was the man training the gun on himself. Shortly before 10:30pm, a single, small caliber gun shot was heard, followed shortly after by an audible scream. The man was visible laying on his back for several seconds before SWAT officers rolled the man onto his face and appeared to handcuff him. Within ninety seconds of the shot being heard, paramedics began to prepare the man for loading onto a stretcher and wheeling him into an ambulance. WMUR has reported that the man had passed away while being treated at Cheshire Medical Center. The story has also received coverage from the Keene Sentinel, whom report two shots having been fired, but do not identify the source of any discharge.
The following photos were captured by Keene Peaceful Streets correspondents on the scene moments before and after the unfortunate conclusion which led to the loss of life.
Details are scarce at the moment, but it appears that Robin Hood himself, aka James Cleaveland has been arrested, purportedly as he attempted to gather news about a standoff between an allegedly suicidal man and Keene police.
The Keene Sentinel has a developing story regarding the standoff, which has apparently ended after shots have been fired. Some activists returning from the scene believe that the allegedly suicidal man shot himself. Regarding James’ arrest, no other activists were apparently there to witness it and details are unclear as to if James was recording at the time or not.
UPDATE 12am Eastern: James is out and was interviewed on Peace News Now with Derrick J on LRN.FM.
According to his interview with Derrick J, James has been charged with “Disorderly Conduct” and “Resisting Arrest”. He says he was trying to comply and had agreed to move backwards. He says the police have confiscated his camera. James will be arraigned at Keene district court on 9/2 at 8:30am.
Crass comedian Christopher Cantwell has made the move back to New Hampshire, though this time not as part of the Free State Project. Chris is one of a handful of people to be kicked out of the FSP in over a decade. However, he is still a believer in the idea of moving liberty-oriented people to the same place so we can be more free together, and he knows that NH is the place to be to be around others who care about freedom. So, he’s back, having left New York, ostensibly for good this time.
