by Ian | Sep 25, 2009 |
Thanks to WMUR for coming out and broadcasting this story (click for the video, I have no idea how to embed it) live from today’s 4:20 celebration in Keene’s Central Square:
KEENE, N.H. — About 80 people rallied in Keene on Friday, as they had earlier in the week, to advocate for decriminalizing marijuana.
The rallies this week began at 4:20 p.m., a time popularly associated with using marijuana. Police kept their distance, deciding to let the protests play out without arrests or confrontations.
Many of the demonstrators in the town’s central square were smoking cigarettes, cloves and, in some cases, what appeared to be marijuana. (more…)
by Ian | Sep 25, 2009 |
Thanks to the Keene Sentinel’s Casey Farrar for this story:
What began earlier this week with two friends smoking marijuana in Keene’s Central Square has become a steadily growing group that drew a crowd of more than 70 people Thursday afternoon.
Some of those gathered called themselves protestors for the legalization of marijuana, others said they just showed up to join in and smoke marijuana. Several said they plan to be back on the square this afternoon — at 4:20 p.m.
The number 420 is used in the drug subculture to represent marijuana smoking.
The crowd Thursday began trickling in shortly after 4 p.m. Several people carried handmade signs in favor of legalizing marijuana with phrases such as “My body my choice: Legalize drugs,” and “Leaf Us Alone.”
At 4:20 p.m., (more…)
by Sam Dodson | Sep 25, 2009 |
MoCo Arts is a non profit, community-based, family-centered organization sharing the gift of dance primarily with children in the community. Their building was overdue for an exterior remodel, and they settled on this mural: 
The City of Keene decided to lend a hand by threatening fines and tax liens initially. Ordinances are the ordinances, and the city acted quickly to ensure compliance. All work was halted until MoCo could hire an attorney and spend weeks working through the government courts.
Why would the city bureaucrats be so generous? The mural, for the dance studio, has dancers on it. While many of you may be underwhelmed by such an egregious violation on MoCo’s behalf, the city council has an ordinance regulating signs, and ordinances are ordinances. They claim the mural became a sign when they decided to paint a dancer. Wouldn’t it be earlier if property owners were free to paint their buildings the way they thought best?
Needless to say, after weeks in court they are doing their best to finish before winter. Can you help out?
Details on volunteering can be found here, and I’m inviting Free Keene readers out tomorrow, Saturday the 26th of Setptember, from 12pm-5pm. This is a total volunteer effort, so wear your panting clothes and bring supplies if you have them. Hope to see you there!
by JJ Epic | Sep 24, 2009 |
The announced cannabis smoking event went as planned with no intervention from the state. As many as a hundred people showed up at Central Square in Keene to live as free men and women. Many cameras and cigarettes were seen in hands of an upbeat crowd of people. The smell of marijuana wafted in the air for a few moments here and there as I passed through the throng.
In between fits of laughter and cheering, people were heard pointing out the Keene Police cruisers circling the center. Officers did not step upon the center but instead stayed on the street and were seen talking with activists and locals; no arrests were made or summons handed out. Reporters were on hand from both the Union Leader and the Keene Sentinel as well as a video crew from the Obscured Truth Network.
This event is scheduled to take place everyday at 4:20pm.
by Ian | Sep 24, 2009 |
Apparently my information was a little incorrect yesterday. It was the Union Leader, not the Sentinel that sent a reporter to cover the mass smoke out happening at Central Sq. Though the Sentinel is now aware and reporter Anika Clark called this morning to comment on a story she’s writing for today’s Sentinel. Thanks to the Union Leader’s Melanie Plenda for this story:
KEENE – As city councilors debate a resolution to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, a small group has quietly taken matters into their own hands — lighting up on Central Square.
“Every day at 4:20 p.m., we get together to smoke pot in the square,” Noah Wood, 19, of Keene said yesterday. “Everyone smokes it. Well maybe not everyone, I’m sure, but a lot of people smoke it and so why keep it a secret? Why keep it illegal? It should be out in the open.” (more…)
by Ian | Sep 23, 2009 |
Word came over Porc411 today that liberty activists have been smoking cannabis in Keene’s Central Sq., completely unannounced, for several days. Apparently, regular Keeniacs have decided to join the fun and get active and in just a few days, the numbers of tokers has swelled to nearly thirty!
Apparently the Union Leader sent out a reporter to cover the mass smoke out and that story will be appearing in Thursday’s paper. We’ll repost it here as it becomes available. Here’s today’s Keene Sentinel story about how the city council is backpedaling on their vote in favor of marijuana decriminalization.
Keeniacs aren’t going to wait around for politicians to stop the violence enacted on peaceful drug users – they’re going to get high again today (Thu 9/24) at 4:20pm in Central Sq. Big numbers are again expected. Will the Keene police take a page from Manchester police and ignore the event, or will there be mass arrests?
Hopefully those who are new to civil disobedience have considered the step of noncooperation. If 30 people show up and all get arrested, no one should pay the fines that inevitably will be imposed. If the city people want to continue to hurt peaceful people, it should hurt their budget to do so. Paying fines helps them continue their violence. Refusing to pay will cost them tremendously for every day they put activists in jail.
We’ll keep you in the loop. If you can’t be there in person, keep an eye on our Live Streaming Video page during the event and stay tuned to this site for the latest. Plus, you can get involved in the forum discussion here.
