Here’s an editorial published in Sunday’s Sentinel about the upcoming superior court decision on the Robin Hood of Keene case. Right out of the gate, the Sentinel poorly describes Robin Hooding, saying:
“the Robin Hooders are libertarian-minded activists involved with, or following, the Free Keene podcasts that emerged as an offshoot of the Free State Project.”
Robin Hooding was started in 2009 by Lauren Canario. While she is a Free State Project early mover, she moved here before Free Keene started in 2006. Further, Free Keene is not related to the FSP except for the fact that some of the bloggers (not all) are FSP early movers. The Free State Project exists to convince liberty lovers to move to New Hampshire and get active. After that, it has no influence over what those activists do here in NH. I created Free Keene to report on activism in the area and news of interest to potential movers. There are no Free Keene podcasts, though some bloggers at Free Keene do have shows – they were not created at my behest – Free Keene is just one way for them to get more visibility for their show(s).
They also walk along with the officers, calling them names, advising them to quit and filming them for the Free Keene website.
Who is they? If one person has called the parking enforcers names years ago, does that mean all Robin Hooders behaved the same way then or now? Certainly not. I’ve never seen any Robin Hooder call them names. There’s an allegation that Graham Colson called one a name, but he is no longer Robin Hooding. There’s video of Chris Cantwell doing it from years ago, but he also has never been an official Robin Hooder. If this libelous accusation were true, there’d be plenty of video evidence. None of which was ever shown (besides Cantwell) at any court hearing. Just because the government agents say something is true, doesn’t mean it’s true. What a shame the Sentinel never bothered to investigate the city’s lies before regurgitating them publicly.
At the same time, it seems wildly unfair to subject hardworking city employees to frequent abuse. One officer has already quit and others say they’ve needed counseling to deal with the frequent bullying.
Again, what frequent abuse and bullying? Where’s the evidence for these claims? This is just plain false. Besides, what about the frequent bullying of Keene’s motorists by the parking enforcers? Why is that okay? They are threatening and hurting people every day, but they get a pass because it’s their job? Also the counseling only came AFTER the city filed their lawsuit, which was the same time the parking enforcers stopped being friendly. It’s all a lie and the Sentinel has bought it hook, line, and sinker.
This week’s AKPF #1 installment features no content of particular offense to the audiences of You Tube, enabling it to be viewed by a much wider demographic. Enjoy special episode Trielium, featuring footage captured in Keene on October 02, 2015.
What an honor to be invited by the ACLU of NH (aka the NHCLU) to this year’s Bill of Rights awards dinner! Free Keene bloggers Darryl W. Perry, James Cleaveland, and I had the pleasure of attending with some of New Hampshire’s most active from both the legal and activist worlds. Arnie Alpert of the American Friends Service Committee gave an entertaining speech in receipt of the 2015 Bill of Rights award and NHCLU partner attorney Bill Chapman also received an award. With speeches from NHCLU Executive Director Devon Chaffee, head NHCLU attorney Gilles Bissonnette, and longtime civil rights activist Lewis Feldstein as well as a record 240 tickets sold – the room was packed.
It was a great event, and I’m grateful that we were invited. James earned it for his amazing organizing of Robin Hood of Keene activism and Darryl heading up the lawsuit against the state of NH for their unfair treatment of third parties.
Record Attendance of 240!
Free speech attorney Jon Meyer was in attendance, as were hundreds of other attorneys and activists from inside the system and out. There were far more people than I knew, but some noteworthy attendees that have previously been reported on by this blog included Keene Spiritual Retreat superintendent Rick Van Wickler (who is also now on the NHCLU board and is back on the board of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), Will Hopkins of NH Peace Action, appeals lawyer Joshua Gordon, and in a pleasant surprise – Cheshire County Sheriff Eli Rivera was in attendance.
Free Keene Bloggers Darryl W. Perry, James Cleaveland, and Ian Freeman
I’m so appreciative to be here in New Hampshire, where people who care about freedom can have a large impact and change things for the better. There’s no doubt we’re in the right place, surrounded by people who truly care for the future of freedom. Thanks to the NHCLU for continuing to stand for so many who can’t defend themselves against the predatory state. It’s truly an honor to play a small role in all this.
Considerable time has passed since the city of Keene first filed a lawsuit against the meddlesome youths known as Robin Hooders. Following three days of testimonial hearings in October of 2013, a reunion party was hosted by the court for all initially involved, with three of six activists returning. Fine-tuning their excess to scale down the event significantly, the city would only present two witnesses, countered by two representing the defense, enabling what originally cost three days to wrap up within one.
The complications keeping the Robin Hood of Keene legal saga alive are as convoluted as the civil court system itself, which would have otherwise been unnavigable by the activists on defense if it were not for the appreciated representation by civil rights advocate attorney Jon Meyer. As the city’s attorneys began their case, Meyer declined to offer an opening statement, but instead asked if the city could clarify the specific demands it is seeking for “injunctive relief”.
Robert Dietel outlined that the CoK now requests no more than a ten foot “buffer zone” to float around parking enforcement officers. The request seemed modest compared to prior demands for 50, 30, and 20 feet of bureaucrat safety buffers. The tone of the day, echoing a sentiment expressed at the supreme court, seemed to be that the city’s attorneys would accept whatever “injunctive relief” they could be granted, anything to declare a small victory in what must be a loss of staggering proportions, both financially and politically. (more…)
After the NH supreme court ruled mostly in Robin Hooders’ favor, they sent the injunction request by the “City of Keene” gang back to the Cheshire superior court for it to be considered separately from their failed demand for financial damages.
Hence, we were back in court yesterday for round two of the “evidentiary hearing” (the original was three days long in 2013). The evidentiary hearing looks and feels like a trial, but actually isn’t. We’ve never even gotten to the trial, since the judge dismissed the city of Keene’s case before that could happen.
Once again, Robin Hooders were represented by top-tier free speech attorney Jon Meyer, and he did a spectacular job.
Thankfully, the hearing only lasted one day, and boy are there some amazing moments captured on video. Don’t miss when Jane claims Garret is “taunting” her no matter what words come out of his mouth, even if he were to talk to her about the weather! No kidding – she really says that.
The icing on the cake had to be both Jane and Linda expressing having “anxiety” (Jane even likens her experience to PTSD) due to not knowing when Robin Hooders were going to pop up. Hey Jane and Linda, how do you think the innocent people that park downtown feel? They never know when the parking enforcers will pop up and ruin their day with a ticket.
Now the case is again in the hands of judge John C Kissinger. He ruled correctly the first time around but this injunction portion of the case was remanded back to him by the NH supreme court on a technicality. Did the parking agents’ sob story convince him to issue an unconstitutional injunction against Robin Hooders? Stay tuned here to Free Keene for the latest in this ongoing saga!
The Robin Hood court hearings were back in Cheshire superior court today. Thanks to Darryl W Perry for live tweeting the hearing. Here are his tweets in reverse chronological order:
@DarrylWPerry 2h2 hours ago
Correction: there is no hearing scheduled for the 19th #RobinHoodTrial
@DarrylWPerry 2h2 hours ago
Court is over #RobinHoodTrial
@DarrylWPerry 2h2 hours ago
Judge asks both sides to address floating buffer zones in their memoranda #RobinHoodTrial
@DarrylWPerry 2h2 hours ago
Discussing procedure from here. Both sides to file legal memos, there is a hearing tentatively scheduled for Oct 19 #RobinHoodTrial (more…)
Here’s an editorial published in Sunday’s Sentinel about the upcoming superior court decision on the Robin Hood of Keene case. Right out of the gate, the Sentinel poorly describes Robin Hooding, saying: 
