NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129077277
AP:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/7144804.html
The Toronto Sun (theirs is the best story outside of NH, as they actually bothered to look at FreeKeene.com for our perspective on things):
http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/08/08/14962111.html
It is no surprise to those of us who write here at FreeKeene.com that we have many readers from the Keene community and beyond that firmly disagree with various things that we advocate. If you happen to be one of the aforementioned, chances are that you’re a supporter of the state and the constitutions that define how it can behave. Hopefully, I can appeal to you through this brief article.
Two nights ago two of Free Keene’s contributors had their constitutional rights violated by government employees that they both are forced to fund. The argument of whether Ian Freeman and Sam Dodson were looking for a confrontation is irrelevant and no excuse for the behavior of government officials that was initiated by government officials. In this state and country the government is prohibited from interfering with peaceful free speech and protest. The onus is on government employees to comply with the entirety of the state and federal constitutions, at all times… even when confronted by people peacefully expressing their displeasure at the continued enforcement of a government policy.
Especially when confronted by people peacefully expressing their displeasure at the continued enforcement of a government policy.
Not a Beer
Where: 2nd Floor Keene City Hall
When: Thursday August 5th: 6:45 P.M.
Who: Open Container Activists, Onlookers, Press/media
Rules:
All participants drink when:
1. There’s a call to order
2. A bureaucrat claims to do something as “The City of Keene”
3. Everyone stands up
4. The City Council votes for Violence
5. A vote is unanimous
6. A council member says the phrase “master plan.”
7. They plan to do something “for the children.”
9. Raise your glasses (drinking not needed) if someone suggests rolling back the size, scope or enforcement power of the government IE supports more liberty/freedom
Feel free to join us with the beverage and container of your choice. If you have feedback or input on the event, please join us in the discussion thread.
Anyone who wishes to come out in support of this event is invited, drinking or not, with or without cameras.
See you tomorrow night!
Heika‘s letter to the editor was published in the Union Leader yesterday, but they apparently don’t put those on their website, so Heika kindly sent Free Keene a copy:
First things first: Baring one’s breasts in public is not a crime, nor is it illegal. That said, I also want to make clear that, contrary to what your article of July 19 implied, there were not several of us parading around downtown, taking off our clothes. A very talented local artist and I decided it would be beautiful to have my breasts painted. He was very respectful of not touching my body in any way except on a professional level. We were sitting on a park bench, covering what was not being painted.
I was officially—and wrongfully—arrested for holding an open container of alcohol in a public place. For the record, I was not intoxicated. Part of the reason people gather daily on the common in downtown Keene is to peacefully protest this ludicrous law. Some drink, while others socialize. Many people feel we are not properly going about achieving our goal to see changes in personal freedoms (such as drinking a beer on a property that we are required to pay for), but at least we are trying. Writing the government to ask them to change the law simply doesn’t work.
We are very peaceful in our gatherings. We leave the park cleaner than the way we found it, we don’t scream belligerently at cars or people passing through, and we do not threaten or harm anyone in any way. That sort of behavior is frequently seen on the patios of downtown restaurants and bars, yet the police do nothing about that. Why are we the ones being singled out and crucified? (more…)
First, thanks for all your support while I was in jail! If you want to help Rich Paul, please chip-in at the Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund. Here’s 26+ minutes from my arrival on the scene to when the cops took my stuff at the police station.
The Keene Sentinel is reporting today on yesterday’s mass arrests in Keene. It’s nice to see an article from them that doesn’t mention “Free Staters” or “Free State Project”. Only Free Keene is mentioned here, and that’s far more accurate as liberty activists are not all “Free Staters”. Heika, for instance, is an awesome activist and Keene native who was activated by Pete and Adam of Liberty on Tour. She started coming out to the Nightcaps and then yesterday courageously defied the aggressive Keene PD, which led to her kidnapping and the subsequent arrests. Here’s the article:
Several people affiliated with the libertarian Free Keene movement were arrested in Keene’s Central Square after police responded to a report of a group of people drinking and disrobing Sunday evening, police say.
Police were called to Central Square about 6 p.m. by a passer-by who reported seeing people drinking and taking off their clothes.
When they arrived, they found Heika Courser, 26, of Richmond drinking a beer, partially undressed, while someone painted on her breasts, according to Keene police Lt. Darryl W. Madden.
Courser was charged with having an open alcohol container and resisting arrest. Jonathan E. Ray, 33, of Keene was also issued a summons for an open container.
As Courser was being put into a police cruiser, other people from the group stood in the way of the cruiser trying to pull away, Madden said. (more…)
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