Sam called Dan Mitchell on WKBK from jail this morning to discuss his political imprisonment. Listen as statists call in afterwards to show how inhumane and confused they can be. Learn how to contact Keene-area talk shows on the Free Keene Forum.
I have finally spoken with Sam. Turns out my upstairs phone was off the hook slightly for three days, which is why I’d not heard from him. He is still on a hunger strike. He had been trading his food for things like stamps until recently. A new jail guard handing out food would ask Sam if he was going to eat it and when Sam said no, the guard would deny and is denying Sam the food.
Also, the jailers apparently don’t turn on the air conditioning until June, so the inmates suffered in sweltering heat in the upstairs facility these past few days, and that will only get worse over this next month. More adventures coming in his blog posts here at FreeKeene.com and also Sam is expected to call in on tonight’s Free Talk Live.
Sam has requested that those sending books should send them to the jail library and is very appreciative of all the letters he’s receiving through mail-to-jail.com
[I received a letter from a fellow inmate of Sam’s, who wishes to remain anonymous. This inmate describes how the jailers are refusing to give Sam food! I have not yet verified that this person is who he claims to be (i.e., whether this account is trustworthy), but the company he says he works (worked?) for does exist. I have not yet heard back on whether this person works there and is currently incarcerated. -Mike Barskey]
26 April 09
Dear Mike –
I am an inmate at the Cheshire Country Jail. I am in the same area of the jail as your fellow protester “John Doe,” “Sam D-.” When we are not locked away in our individual cells, Sam & I share a day room with 24 other inmates. During these time of congregation I have had the opportunity to talk with “Sam” of his politics, beliefs and convictions. I agree with some of his ideals and fully support his efforts to “inform the public” and make changes.
I am writing this letter to make known to the outside some occurrances here regarding “Sam.” As you know “Sam” has been on a hunger strike…I believe, he has been on this strike since his arrest. Recently the correction officers here in jail have started a new strategy against Sam. At various times they are refusing to give him food. During the 3 times a day we are fed in jail, we line up and are each individually handed a tray of food by a corrections officer. Sam has been taking his tray, and after everybody is seated to eat, Sam gives his tray of food away to another inmate. Today, April 25 @11:30am, at lunch, when Sam approached to receive his tray of food he was refused. The corrections officer, officer Anderson, refused to give Sam a tray of food and Sam moved on and returned to his cell, without food while the rest of us sat down & ate. I have witnessed this type of incident happen to Sam several times before. Also, it must be said that this does not occur all the time.
It is one thing for an individual to be on a hunger strike, it is another to refuse them food – regardless whether they will eat it or not. I am no expert in the field of international rights, but I would venture to guess that refusing food to prisoners violates some international lw and would warrant extreme scrutiny from human rights watch dog organizations.
To validate my letter I give you my name. I do not wish to jeopardize myself while in jail, so please to not share my identity. I have not been to trial as of yet and do not wish to have undue prejudice against me from the courts.
I support the cause you represent and look forward to reading more of your exploits in the media.
Veritas
In response to the recent arrests (including one indefinite jailing) of videographers in the Keene District Court lobby, Andrew Carroll, who will be tried for his civil disobedience of publicly possessing marijuana on May 1st at 1:30pm, has stated the following on the Free Keene Forum:
I am going to refuse to proceed with my court case (May 1, at 1:30 pm) until cameras are allowed in. Freedom of the press is too invaluable to the protection of liberty to let its blatant violation go unchallenged. I demand the officers and magistrates of the court show proper respect for the rights of individuals. Someone needs to watch the watchers.
I will show up on May 1 and attend my trial as scheduled; but I will refuse to proceed with the trial without cameras there. They are too essential to a fair trial – or, more accurately, too essential to holding judges accountable for creating unfair trials – to proceed without them. (more…)
So far, Sam’s arrest and imprisonment indefinitely without trial have barely scratched the surface of the internet, let alone the mainstream media. This is similar to the lack of coverage my case received when I was locked up for “contempt of court” and my tenants’ couch in their yard. Arguably, Sam has gotten more coverage as the Keene Sentinel did publish two front page articles as a result of his arrest, but those articles never broke into other papers in NH and the AP did not pick them up. Thank you to the few bloggers on the internet who have picked up the story. To everyone who has contacted their favorite blog or news service and suggested they cover Sam’s story, thank you. If you haven’t please take a moment and do so.
Also, here’s an easy task to complete on Sam’s behalf. You can help get him on and his story covered by “Freedom Watch”, the popular online-only FOX News show. Just visit this list of potential guests, scroll to Sam Dodson and click Vote and select 3 you may then spend up to seven more votes on other guests (I recommend also voting for Free State Project founder Jason Sorens.). Then you can do the same on this list of topics. Vote 3 for “Right to Record, Reporters Getting Arrested Everywhere” (and you also may want to vote for “Discuss the Free State Project”).
I spoke with Sam this morning. He’s wondering if he should stay in jail as the writ of habeas corpus is taken to the NH supreme court. (The superior court judge denied it, saying he couldn’t let Sam out without having his “legal” name.) Sam also didn’t get mail yesterday, which he seemed bummed about. I suggested the guards have been holding his mail. I also suggested he start eating. The hunger strike hasn’t done anything to gain publicity for his case, and will only serve to weaken his composition and distract his mind. Two weeks is enough, especially for someone with Sam’s body type. So, to get out of jail, he can either wait there and see what happens, pay $10,000 cash bail (which you can bet will have whatever fines he’s ordered to pay taken out of it after a trial, so this is the worst option), or give up his “legal name”, which may lead to a bail hearing and release on recognizance.
What should Sam do? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments and I’ll print them out and send them to Sam via mail-to-jail.
Update: Please vote up the article about Sam at Nolanchart.com. Just click the thumbs up graphic at the top right of the page. Thank you!
History repeats itself as another peaceful activist is imprisoned indefinitely simply for not actively validating and participating in a system he doesn’t believe in. The video below gives a nice summary of the story of reporter Sam Dodson of the Obscured Truth Network.
Regardless of whether you agree with Sam’s motivations, do you believe that a punishment should fit the crime? Is life in prison a just sentence for remaining silent?
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