by Sam Dodson | Apr 27, 2009 |
Friday, April 24:
I’m back in population today. I felt very weak. Probably low blood pressure. Vitamins ran out Wednesday, I couldn’t get more from the isolated holding cell, and my commissary order for more never showed. I’ve asked and asked but no answer. I have also not been given access to the law library computer since the first time on Tuesday, for about 3 hours.
Still no access to my lawyer since the 2 initial visits last week. I did get the write of Habeas Corpus in the mail today. Ivy did a fantastic job. Unfortunately, Superior Court upheld, government rights in New Hampshire are only upheld for those that consent and provide a legal name. All this despite being taken Wed. to aKPD for fingerprinting and photographing the first time they even asked.
I also got copies of the charges against me thanks to Ivy mailing them. Article 14 of the NH Constitution says “Every subject of this state is entitled to a certain remedy, by having recourse to the laws, for all injuries he may receive in his person, property, or character; to obtain right and justice freely, without being obliged to purchase it; completely, and without any denial; promptly, and without delay; conformably to the laws.” But again, rights are only for those that consent.
I don’t know where we go from here. I sit in their cages growing weaker by the day.
Carlos Miller is doing a story on the court situation. I spoke with him today. Get this, the call cost $1.50 billing fee, $5.50 for the first minute, and over $3 for each additional minute. In an age where I pay $10/month with unlimited LD, is anyone surprised the jail owns the phone “company?”
It’s almost as brazen as charging 81¢ for ramen noodle pack that sell 10 for $1 at the supermarket. This so called “justice” system is nothing more than yet another way for government to extort money from taxpayers, its prisoners, their families, and friends.
What other company could claim a 5% success rate and do nothing to change?
SamIAm
by Sam Dodson | Apr 27, 2009 |
Thursday, April 23:
I spent last night in “the bubble,” a holding cell with a phone and 3 other guys. It was hot, smelled of sweaty socks, and there was barely room to walk around the mattresses on the floor. We all got along, the other prisoners watched the 15 letters and 7 postcards delivered, and soon realized I wasn’t the average prisoner.
T, a black man from Queens, NY, told me a store. He was waiting on the corner for his friend to pick him up. He had purchased a special kind of cigarette, that’s hand rolled, and was smoking it.
All of a sudden a van pulls up, men jump out,pull guns on him, and tell him not to move. This is how people are robbed, killed, or worse in NY. In this case it was the “good guys.” They demanded to know if he was smoking a spliff (cannabis), patted him down, illegally searched his pockets without probable cause, and then left when they found nothing.
This is what’s coming to a town near you, if we are unable to show people why government doesn’t work.
NYC is a little ahead, but it’s the logical conclusion of any system that grants a monopoly on the initiation of violence, to themselves.
While in the holding cell I read and shared a letter MLK wrote from a Birmingham jail. He brilliantly points out that governments were meant to keep order to ensure justice. When they go beyond this purpose, they become a “log jam that prevents social progress.”
SamIAm
by Sam Dodson | Apr 27, 2009 |
Wednesday, April 22:
I’ve settled into 208, the least restrictive block outside of the work camps at this caging facility.
The other prisoners are taking great care of me. I’ve been given everything I need: vitamins, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, paper, pen, stamped envelopes (a few), etc. Most have been gifts, a few I borrow, and some i traded the meals to get, which are of little use to me.
Having experienced the government’s system first hand, most really understand and appreciate what I’m doing. I let them read most of the letters that come in, and they think I’m some kind of superstar.
Last night I awoke to them talking after lockdown about what they could do to support me. Many are considering joining the hunger strike.
Today I was called down to the nurse to find her, Van Wickler, and a guard. Richard was pissed that I hadn’t taken the TB Test and kept stressing that everyone is treated the same here.
I’ve been reading a great book, Chicken Soup for the Soul. I recently finished The Animal School on p. 95. It’s a great store explaining why treating everyone the same, what government strives to do, is such a flawed idea. I would love for somebody to print it out and send it into Richard Van Wickler with your thoughts.
He was visibly upset that I had not been cranked through the machine like everyone else.
Sad, really, that great men overlook such obvious flaws.
SamIAm
by Sam Dodson | Apr 27, 2009 |
[I asked Sam in a letter about his mediation, and here is his response. He gave me permission to post this personal letter to the blog.]
Hey Mike,
On the meditation, you have the right idea. I focus on my breathing. When my mind wonders I notice and rerturn my focus to breathing. I do other things as well.
Sometimes I sit and focus on my freedom. I see and feel the joy of my freedom, the feast we are going to have, the return to my life.
Other times I sit feeling joy and compassion for those who have not yet come to understand the ideas of liberty. I feel them coming around and experience the joy of a free world. I experience the healing that begins to take place int he lives of those destroyed by governments.
Yet other times I sit focusing the energy of the universe into my body and radiate it out from within me. I can feel my entire body tingle with positive energy. It courses through me, and I feel peace contentment and conneted to the universe.
There is no “right” or “wrong” way to meditate. It’s the result that counts.
I invite everyone to join me in feeling how great it will be when they release me shortly.
Sam
by Ian | Apr 26, 2009 |
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!
by Dale Everett | Apr 25, 2009 |
Click to Enlarge
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?
(Watch Video…)
