The Spring 2009 Free Keene Fest is coming soon! It will be held Saturday, May 23 – Memorial Day weekend – from Noon until 3:00p at Railroad Square in Keene (82 Main Street), and this year will be followed by a picnic/BBQ in a nearby park. Join us for an afternoon of liberty outreach and live music, and an evening of food and fun.
I realize this is not very much notice, but we wanted to have the festival before it got too hot, yet we wanted to wait until Keene’s trial for “assembly without a permit” was finished. (FYI: In February of this year, Keene cops charged me with “assembly without a permit” for organizing the Fall 2008 Keene Freedom Fest. As I showed up for their trial on May 1, the cop/prosecutor Eli Rivera told me they dropped their charges because the government says you need their permit if you claim exclusive use of Railroad Square but Eli said he could not prove we were using it exclusively. Because we weren’t! So that means that they likely won’t attack us for “assembly without a permit” again, but keep on your toes – they may attack us for other made-up reasons. 😉 )
We already have at least one band and a food vendor signed up. Here is a list of organizations that participated in the Fall 2008 festival: (more…)
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.
I finished an excellent book on storytelling and the steps involved in scriptwriting. I’ve already put my mind to work crafting a story with the intention of educating and enlightening the masses to the idea of liberty. Imagine if a movie, inside of an hour, could let people see the chains of government that enslave them, with the purpose of harvesting their labor. I’m really excited about the possibilities.
Another great development in my case today…the state sent an order saying they believe they have figured out who I am. Burke is agin misrepresenting the facts saying the booking process at KPD was “aborted” because I continued letting them identify me as John Doe, when in fact, that was the understanding beforehand. It continued by saying the address I provided “turned out to be a United Parcel Service mailbox in Keene.” Again, that was made perfectly clear to them when I provided the address.
The police prosecutor and arresting officer, Eliezer Rivera, has apparently asked the court to let me come back and process as who they think I am, so I may be released. it’s interesting, they seem to be wanting me out of jail. It seems like the growing press attention is having an effect.
Burke’s order continues:
“Should the defendant decide he is willing to provide true and accurate identifying information about himself — the kind of information any other defendant is expected to provide — and is willing to accept the conditions of bail, the court will schedule a video arraignment as soon as possible thereafter.”
What’s interesting is his use of the term “expected to provide” instead of say…lawfully required to provide. Apparently Burke believes me to be his slave, subject to the “expectations” of the “state” and its agents. Can there be a better example of the hypocrisy of these same people who claim, “It’s the law!”? It appears that’s just what they tell themselves to justify their actions. Make no mistake,
this is about control.
Burke’s order continues:
“Until then the court is unwilling to schedule a trial date. While the prospect of the defendant’s indefinite confinement is distasteful, the court reiterates, however, that the defendant holds the key to his release.”
Distasteful, Mr. Burke? How about illegal and unconstitutional even by “enemy combatant” standards? If you’re not outraged by a judge with the gall to enter an order like this into the record, I ask you what will it take?
What you may not know, is that a write of Habeas Corpus was filed with their N.H. Supreme Court yesterday presenting exactly these issues. Their Supreme Court has 3 days to respond.
The state now has a big problem that Mr. Burke hopes he can make go away by releasing me before the 3 days are up; in which case, their Supreme Court could dismiss the writ, and make this all go away.
However, come Monday, their Supreme Court will have to do one of two things: Deny the writ, and show the world that not even a shred of honor, dignity, respect for human rights or the rule of law remains in their system; or approve the write, uphold their laws, and release me from jail. Setting a precedent in the process, that allows liberty activists to refuse providing a name, social security number, home address, physical characteristics and countless other things they ask, but defendants have no lawful requirement to provide. (not to mention exposing Burke and his courthouse cronies for the out of control tyrants they have become)
The state has already lost, and now they are beginning to realize it. This is the true power of civil disobedience. This is why I sit contently in their cages sacrificing all that I have. I am but one man standing in the face of a seemingly insurmountable system, standing for change. It’s clear to me now how quickly they grow out of control, given what it takes to reign them back in. I am but one man taking a stand. What happens when I am joined by 5? 15? 50? nd one day 5,000?
Soon they will understand we are best left alone, for what you resist, only persists, and what they resist is an idea. An idea which cannot be extinguished. Their attempts have only served to spread the idea far and wide. Keene is taking the next few baby steps in mankind’s evolutions towards a voluntary society.
Meanwhile my hunger strike continues. I’m down to 160, and the doctors now check me twice a week. Tonight they game 1/2 of us haricuts. It’s amazing how things seem to get fixed after I talk about them on the radio. Thank you all for the support, and please keep telling others what’s happening here.
[Sam wrote me a letter and asked that I transcribe it and share it with everyone who wrote him a letter in jail. The words in square-brackets below are my input, not Sam’s. – Mike Barskey]
Mike,
I can’t thank you enough for running Mail-to-Jail. The letters and postcards mean so much. You should have seen the look on the guards’ face the second day I got the bulk of the letters. I’m letting the other prisoners read some of them. They are amazed that letters are coming from everywhere. Around New Hampshire, Florida, California, Israel, the UK, and even Tasmania, Australia. The post cards that come in with the inspirational saying give me hope. (more…)
The last Sunday of the month is quickly approaching us and you know what that means, it’s time for the Free State Food Drive.
Last month we managed to collect just slightly over 100 cans & assorted food for the community kitchen in Keene.
Let’s see if we can break the 150 can barrier.
Join us this Sunday, at Vendetta 43 Central Square in Keene to help feed the hungry.
Join Jason and Pete, former crashers-in-chief at Bureaucrash, for the Motorhome Diaries! Starting from their new home in Keene this weekend they will be traveling across North America and interacting with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints at college campuses, homes, businesses and organizations that are united by one thing: increasing individual freedom and responsibility and decreasing the scope of government.
They’ll also be promoting the idea that liberty activists should move to NH as part of the Free State Project, and specifically Keene!
Good luck, guys and thanks for everything you do! Be sure to follow their progress on MotorhomeDiaries.com!
