Today at Concord District Court, I had attempted to audio and video record a hearing at the defendant’s request. I was given last minute notice, and ended up missing the brief hearing by the time I had arrived. When I entered the courthouse, I did not appreciate that security had disarmed me of my harmless accountability mechanism, the camera. They also took my tripod, and would give me back none of my equipment until a judge gave me permission to act as the press.
To protest the violation of my first amendment right, I exercised different first amendment rights outside. Utilizing my speech, I chalked out against the press restrictions practiced by the monopolist court officers. I was almost finished when the head of court security exited the building and asked me to stop chalking and leave. He implied that I was doing something illegal, but never spelled out exactly what. He even identified himself as a police officer. Due to some NH court’s crackdowns on press freedom, in the more restrictive venues it is rare to see a court security officer in action, especially outside of his normal domain inside the building.
As the new year approaches, unprecedented global unrest continues to mount. With the New Hampshire primary two weeks away, the military presence in Iraq has officially come to an end, despite reports of approximately five thousand paramilitary contractors being employed to protect US government properties in Baghdad. The conflict is three months away from its ninth year anniversary, and ends shortly before the election process begins involving the president who campaigned on bringing the war to a conclusion.
In Russia, the largest protests since the fall of the Soviet Union are occurring against the decade-plus rule of Vladimir Putin. Putin ceded the presidency to Dimitry Medvedev in 2008, but has since held the number two position of Prime Minister.
Russian President Dimitry Medvedev with the late North Korean head of state Kim Jong Il.
The Chinese village of Wukan is in open revolt against the central government of the PRC since a village representative was murdered in police custody. Police and communist party officials were expelled from the town, prompting the central government to establish barricades preventing food from being brought into the area. Search engine results for Wukan are being heavily censored by the central government to prevent news of the uprising from spreading.
Liberty activists in Philadelphia organized a charity event last week. They assembled grocery bags filled with food for 20 hungry families in Philadelphia. It was an inspiration to witness. Enjoy!
The Freeman Family sends its warmest wishes to the Keene Bureaucrats this year. Maybe they will grant my Christmas wish and stop arresting peaceful people. Until then, I will record!
Thanks to WKBK‘s Brad Ryder for this coverage of Romney’s campaign appearance which features a performance by the Shire Choir. Download the Chronic Carols songsheet here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-syiTlJcBI
Today at Concord District Court, I had attempted to audio and video record a hearing at the defendant’s request. I was given last minute notice, and ended up missing the brief hearing by the time I had arrived. When I entered the courthouse, I did not appreciate that security had disarmed me of my harmless accountability mechanism, the camera. They also took my tripod, and would give me back none of my equipment until a judge gave me permission to act as the press.
