The morning show host of News Talk AM 1440 KMED in Medford, OR, Bill Meyer, had Free Keene’s Ian on to discuss Sam being in jail. Thanks to Bill for the attention! Unfortunately the bad news is that Bill was the only one to respond out of an email list of over 500 media contacts. Please visit FreeSamDodson.com to get a list of ways you can help Sam get more media attention.
Here’s the “ORDER ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS” regarding Sam.
Basically, superior court judge Brian T. Tucker says since there has not yet been a trial (that they refuse to hold unless Sam gives them his legal name, which they already have), the writs are “dismissed”.
Translation:
“Sam, you naughty slave. Just bow down and give us your name so we can provide you with your “remedy”, otherwise you’ll just have to sit there in that cell forever. Sure, you have the right to remain silent, and we have the right to hold you in captivity until you die if you continue exercising it. Not only that, but the rest of you suckers reading this will have to continue paying $80 a day to keep Sam in his cell, because if you stop paying my friends calling themselves the Sheriffs will come to throw you and your family from your home.”
So Sam sits, now in his fourth week of a hunger strike. If you refuse the government’s “services”, they put you in a jail cell. Can you imagine the outrage if Walmart or Pizza Hut would behave in this way? Yet the government people get away with it every day, and people cheer them on.
It may be wise to call the jail before your visit to confirm the hours. They are saying it’s 7-9p Thu and 10-11a Sun, whereas Sam told me it was 8-9a Sun. Also, Sam is now listed as “Sam A. Miller” instead of “John Sam Doe”. Those sending mail should take note of the change.
Sam is now available for visitation Thursdays 7-9pm and Sundays 10a-11a (new time, see update below). He is being held in the gym now (where 26 other prisoners are living on cots and sharing one bathroom), which means he can walk outside into the fenced in yard at virtually anytime, though they will probably try to prevent that by locking the outer door if activists show up at the jail.
He asks people to contact state reps and senators to ask how they feel about him being locked up indefinitely as well as the NH supreme court justices and ask them what reason they have to delay a writ of habeas corpus? Do they not care about basic civil rights? He also requests that people around the country write letters to the editor about what is happening. One easy way to accomplish this might be to write a letter up and post in on the Free Keene Forum so others can copy it and put their names on them, then send them to their local papers.
Speaking of papers, I just got off the phone with a nice reporter from the Boston Globe. If they manage to not go out of business this week, this could be the story that breaks Sam’s situation into the mainstream media! Thanks to everyone who is contacting their favorite media and blogs about this outrageous story!
UPDATE: The jailers claim his hours are 10-11a on Sun, not 8-9a as Sam had told me today. Make of this what you will.
Sunday, May 3:
I skipped a day or two. I’ve been sleeping more. Yesterday I had visitors, and Ivy has been allowed access to me. The write of Habeas Corpus was very well put together. I’m looking forward to seeing he Supreme Court’s response. I don’t see how they could deny it and retain any sense of legitimacy.
I have everything I need in here now, and I’m reading lots of books. COmmissary came in Friday so I no longer need to trade meals for anything. The question of what to do with them has been on my mind. I’ve decided to offer them in return for random acts of kindness.
Laramie, a guy who called in a bomb threat to divert police from a planned bank robbery, came by asking for breakfast. I told him I would trade it for a random act of kindness. Laramie looked perplexed and couldn’t think of anything saying, “THis is like a pay it forward thing right?” I said yes, something like that. BReakfast came and went, my tray went back in the stack uneaten.
Nobody asked for lunch so I eventually gave it to a new guy who came in speaking very negatively, but has since toned it down. I thanked him for sweeping and mopping the day room (which he did to turn on the TV). He seemed surprised and grateful, it was a fulfilling experience for me.
Allan came by earlier asking for dinner, inquiring about my unusual trade. I asked him what do you have to offer? He replied, “I don’t know. I’ve given away everything I had left (from commissary).” I smiled and asked, “What can you give of yourself?” He had no idea, and after struggling with this for a while I suggested he find 3 people to acknowledge. He’s been here 4 months and could only think of 1 person out over over 20 to say something nice to. I asked him to think about that, and his interactions with others. After exploring this a while he acknowledged me for standing up for marijuana and speaking out about it and everything the free staters are doing. Now he’s getting it! I told him that’s one, two to go.
Allan walked down the hall to Scott’s cage and told him how much he appreciated his help and friendliness. It was very heartfelt and wonderful to hear them talk.
The third one was tough. He came back to my cage several times saying there was nobody else he could think of anything good to say about them. I only asked him questions that had him reflect on his statements to me. Eventually he came back complete. He thanked one of the prisoners for beating up one of the other prisoners!
I asked him if he thought that was a positive attribute – resorting to violence – given that’s what government does, and that’s the reasons we’re here. He agreed, but asked if it was good enough. I told Allan we would decide when it was complete.
I asked him if he felt the spirit and intention of the exercise had been fulfilled. I reminded him the way he does this exercise is the same way he takes on challenges in life. He could cheat, but he’s only cheating himself. Allan struggled with this a while longer and agreed he was not complete.
After another 10 minutes, he acknowledged another prisoner Chris for controlling his anger over the last month. (I’ve been talking to Chris too) It wasn’t taken very well, but I could see the sense of accomplishment in Allan, who has been homeless and addicted to crack.
I asked Allan what he learned, the final requirement. He said it was hard for him to find good things to say about people. I asked him how many people he pushes out of his life because he focuses on the negative aspects or the things he doesn’t like about them instead of finding something to appreciate about them. It gave Allan something to think about, I felt great, and it was the bet trade I’ve made for a meal yet!
Want to experience some personal growth of your own today? Try this at home! 🙂 Want to really stretch? Find three people you don’t like very much to acknowledge. Look for the gifts they have to offer the world, we all have them, and you might just be surprised at what you learn about yourself in the process.
I’m feeling okay, sleeping more, pulled a muscle in my back and couldn’t get out of bed for a couple of hours. I’m drinking more miulk, it’s still sore, but I’ll be alright.
SamIAm
This is the only known footage of any of Sam’s arrest (his removal from the city building and loading into a cop car), just now being released due to technical difficulties:
Thankfully this movement contains many activists with video cameras. This means we can be in multiple places and recording them all if necessary. Some of us are now coordinating and stationing camera-toting activists at various entrances to government buildings so as to be best prepared for events like this. What innovations can you bring to this movement? How will your talents help us achieve a voluntary society? Thanks to Free Keene blogger AnarchoJesse for capturing this raw footage.
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