by Ian | May 6, 2009 |
Longtime readers of this blog may recall that springtime of last year my car was ticketed for an expired parking meter. I wrote a letter to the Keene PD expressing my willingness to pay the fine if they could show me the proof of the obligation they were alleging I have to follow their statutes and ordinances. Weeks later, Captain Kenneth Meola wrote me back this letter, claiming the ticket had been paid and citing a bunch of their laws, then claiming I have an obligation to obey without providing evidence as I requested. I let that letter go unanswered, as he claimed the matter had been paid, which I certainly did not do, and I’m not sure who did. Perhaps they just marked it paid, or perhaps some anonymous observer of this blog went and paid it for me. I did post the ticket number last time, so that’s a possibility.
Flash forward to April 14th when my lady Julia parked the car in the road out front of my house because our tenants were blocking her side of the garage. She forgot to move the car and left it overnight. In the morning she found a $15 parking citation had been left on the car for “NIGHT TIME PARKING”. Here in Keene, there is some ordinance that says no street parking after 1am between November 1st and May 1st. The reason for the ordinance is so plows can get down a street during snow nights. The dates are arbitrary, of course, and so even though there was no way accumulating snow was going to happen in the middle of April, the cops were out ticketing people. (more…)
by Sam Dodson | May 6, 2009 |
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
by Dale Everett | May 5, 2009 |
A question that’s been asked several times is what have acts of civil disobedience accomplished in Keene, New Hampshire. I know of a couple of incidents where people refused to pay traffic fines on moral grounds and they got out of paying those fines. Those are small victories. I also have my larger expectations. For instance, I expect local law enforcement and the local justice system to exercise more restraint when they realize that their usual railroading and intimidation tactics don’t work on some of their victims. Instead, we make their jobs harder when they attempt to violate our rights. We don’t want to be in jail, of course, but we don’t necessarily let that threat deter us. Instead we bring attention to it. We stand up to them, defiant yet peaceful, and use it to point out the violence of the system. In turn, I expect that to affect a culture shift whereby many others become more aware of their rights and they’ll become emboldened to stand up for those rights. These are noble goals. But I can’t really point at anything significant and concrete that we’ve accomplished as of yet.
I don’t fault the victim of a street burglar who hands over his wallet rather than risk his life. For the same reason, I don’t fault the person who concedes to the demands of violent governments. We all have to decide for ourselves where our boundaries lie. Having said that, I’ve gotten a better sense of the risks and sacrifices of civil disobedience and what responses to expect from local agents of the State in my own role as a supporter of other activists. What I’ve experienced is my own safety boundaries being gradually pushed further and further out.
(Read On…)
by Sam Dodson | May 4, 2009 |
Thursday, April 30:
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.
In peace,
SamIAm
by Sam Dodson | May 4, 2009 |
Wednesday, April 29:
Yesterday was a great day. Nothing all that eventful happened, but I was given a pair of reading glasses from one of the other prisoners. I could read before, but it was slow going. In the proces I’ve rediscovered the joy of learning by reading books.
I’ve been listening to audio books over the last few years with very little reading. Over the last couple of days I read Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. He led a very interesting life, and I see a lot of parallels to my own.
I was also able to browse the titles in the library at the last clothing change. I picked out a book on Chinese cooking (I’ve decided to learn how to cook), the basics of book editing, a book on script writing, and a couple more biographies.
Nothing much happens on the typical day, and that’s perhaps the saddest part of all this. The routine? Lights out/lockdown at 11pm. Breakfast is either at 6, in which case they re-lock the cages until 7am, or breakfast is served after 7 some days. Lunch is around noon, dinner is around 5pm. Druggie buggie is two times a day. Clothing changes, where everyone is issued clothes worn by who knows who, are changed 3 times a week. Razors for shaving are offered every other day. A few days a week we go outside into a caged area for 45 minutes. A few times a week there’s bible study for those that want to go. Visitation Wednesday and Saturday; commissary orders on Monday are delivered Thursday or Friday (what do you expect from a government run store?). That’s it, week after week.
Most of the prisoners skip breakfast or return to sleep afterwards. They start getting up around 10-11am, with everyone up for lunch. To fill the gaps they watch TV, play cards, write letters or sleep.
To suggest that “corrections” or rehabilitation in any way shape or form is happening here, I can only label a bold faced lie. The prisoners here blame their circumstances, many lack basic communication skills, and their dispute resolution skills are centered on violence. There have been two fist fights in the showers (out of camera view) since I’ve been here.
If you think about it, the state is teaching them to be slackers! Sleep till noon, sit around watching TV (or playing video games), no job and expect someone else to supply your room and board.
What’s worse, propbation terms are set up so that even contact with a government police officer is a violation. That’s right, get pulled over as a passenger in a friend’s car, and they will throw you back in jail.
This system is set up with one primary purpose, to extract money from taxpayers, “criminals,” their friends and families, to feed the state. It’s no surprise some states are now charging the prisoners $40-60/day they incarcerate. Wouldn’t it be easier to restitute the victim and make them whole again? Of course not! That wouldn’t feed the ever growing monster that is the state, and its fascist corporate prison monopoly n so called “justice.”
There is a better way…
SamIAm
by Ian | May 3, 2009 |
The fourth in three weeks. The second in two days. Some activists claim that Keene isn’t the epicenter of liberty activism in NH, and I know there are other activists across the state doing great work, but I challenge them to show another area that has generated this much front page coverage in mainstream newsprint. Just off the top of my head, I can think of at least eight front page articles about liberty activists that have been published in the Sentinel in less than two years’ time.
Here’s the one from today’s paper, thanks to the Keene Sentinel’s Phil Bantz:
Orders outside the court
Dave Ridley, a Manchester videographer with ties to the Free State Project, was at Keene District Court Friday. Ridley was arrested in the court in March because he refused to turn off his camera in the lobby.
*
Battle over video forces a re-think
By PHILLIP BANTZ
Sentinel Staff
Published: Sunday, May 03, 2009
A legal fog pervades the corridors and lobbies of New Hampshire’s courts.
The rules for recording public hearings in courtrooms are relatively clear: The Supreme Court says it’s allowed unless “there is a substantial likelihood of harm to any person or other harmful consequence.”
But those foggy gray areas beyond the courtrooms remain untouched by state law.
Snapping a photo or recording video in these places is permitted in some district courts and prohibited in others, (more…)
