On June 16 the Keene Sentinel published a letter to the editor regarding my participation in the local Memorial Day Parade.
The letter reads,“I was angered and saddened to have to bear witness to the protesters that felt it necessary to be at the end of the parade.
I do respect and understand their right to protest the war… they can do this every Saturday in Central Square.” It seems Ms. Szoc wants to limit dissenting speech to a single day and to a single location in town. I’d like to remind her and others that free speech means just that FREE SPEECH. It does not mean popular speech or limited dissent only when other approve of the time and place of the dissent. (more…)
On June 14 at approximately 9am (barely 2 ½ hours after I went to bed after getting home from work at 4:30am ) I was rudely awaken by knocking and shouts of “hello, this is the Keene Fire Department, we’re here for an inspection.”
Over the past weekend I have visited both Derrick J. Freeman and Beau Davis at the Keene Spiritual Retreat aka Cheshire Co. House of Corrections. As many of you already know, both are incarcerated for victimless crimes. Friday night I visited Derrick and in the course of our conversation Derrick relayed to me the following story: Late one night Derrick was in his cell catching up on writing letters when he happens to look over at the door and sees a correctional officer staring at him through the window in the door. This is incredibly creepy, how long was this state thug watching our sweet, handsome Derrick? What might his intention be? Can you be safe in a place like this? These are some of the questions that went through Derrick’s mind. He also told me that he and Beau have a new job in which they cart the various meal times to each incarceree. At the beginning and ending of each shift, both are physically patted down. Seriously? They are in a secure facility, yet handing out plates of food deems it necessary to pat them down up to 6 times a day. Later I wondered, who are the real criminals? The corrections officers that stares through the door at night and the “pat down” officers or the two lovely activists who have never hurt another person? Otherwise, both Derrick and Beau are doing well, they both have some great ideas for the future!
Friday April 27, 2012 at approximately 2:15PM, I parked my vehicle on Main Street and ran into the bank. Less than five minutes later, I exited the bank to find a parking ticket on my windshield.
Today, Cecelia and I went to the Keene Police Department where I stated my desire to contest the ticket. As the vehicle is registered under the name of another individual, I was told that I am not allowed to contest the ticket. According to the woman behind the counter and the officer she sent out to speak with me, my three options were: Ask my father to take time away from work to contest a parking ticket that is not his responsibility and that he would not be able to make an argument for because it stems from a situation he knows nothing about, let them coerce my dad into paying them with threats of stealing the vehicle, or pay the ticket.
