Thanks to CBS News for this report on Free Keene and Robin Hooding that they aired nationally last night. The news package features the “parking czar” claiming that parking meters are good for business, a claim with which multiple downtown business owners disagree. Sadly, CBS did not talk to any of the dozens of business owners who are upset. Here’s the report from CBS:
Also, congratulations to James Cleaveland for being the new leader of Free Keene!
This past Saturday three members of the anti-Free Keene group, STOPFREEKEENE!!!, made an appearance on WKBK’s Sound Off to argue their case and air their grievances against the liberty community here in Keene. Callers from both sides of the aisle flooded the lines during the two hour segment. All irrelevant call-ins have been edited from the audio. B-roll depicts a few individuals from the group and their ridiculous war on smiley faces that was caught on film the previous week.
People’s BBQ recap • Breaking down the opposition. Why do they hate? • Heroes of Keene rid the town of smiley faces • Robin Hooder assaulted • James and Garret join • Show notes at: BlackSheepRising.org
Also be sure to check out our epic review of Furious 6 staring race car racer Vic Diesel. Enjoy.
![Gericke_Carla2008[1]](https://i0.wp.com/freekeene.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Gericke_Carla20081.gif)
After multiple court decisions favoring Keene liberty activists, the wins just keep coming, now with the US Court of Appeals (1st Circuit) ruling in favor of Free State Project president Carla Gericke in her case against multiple Weare police officers, the Weare PD, and the Town of Weare.
The case dates back to 2010 where Carla was arrested for recording a traffic stop in Weare (home of notoriously corrupt police who have arrested other activists for the same). Police dropped the charges against Carla before trial, which included a “wiretapping” charge. Carla, with the help of liberty attorney Seth Hipple, sued in federal district court. Her suit alleged the Weare police violated her rights, particularly those ostensibly protected by the 1st amendment to the US constitution. Weare PD motioned the district court for “summary judgement” based on claimed “qualified immunity” protecting the officers from liability. The district court denied them qualified immunity, so Weare’s attorneys filed an “interlocutory appeal” to challenge the district court’s decision.
Oh, and guess who is Weare’s attorney in this case? None other than Charles P. Bauer, the very same Charles Bauer who cashed in (and continues to cash in) on the City of Keene’s failed lawsuits against Robin Hood of Keene.
The 1st Circuit US Court of Appeals is the same court from which the Glik decision emanated. Glik is cited multiple times in the 21-page Gericke decision as evidence that the right to record government workers, especially police, is protected by the 1st amendment. The court’s decision makes it clear that the officers do not have “qualified immunity” because they, were they acting as reasonable officers, should have recognized Carla’s right to record the scene.
The appeals court ruled in Carla’s favor and now the case goes back to federal district court to proceed ahead in civil court, with the officers not protected from liability by “qualified immunity”, a protective shield typically given to bureaucrats supposedly to protect them from personal liability from mistaken decisions. Unless the case is settled by the town of Weare or PD, it will proceed. Stay tuned for the latest.
On May 20th, 2014 NH Governor Maggie Hassan used the back drop of a highway construction site to sign into law an increase on the state tax on gas. This was most likely done to show that they plan on using the extra stolen funds to finish a project that was already started with stolen funds. Further, NH State Troopers were used to shut down the highway when the Governor and the rest of the participants in the signing ceremony were traveling from the staging area to the construction site. Free Staters in collaboration with the NH chapter of Americans for Prosperity joined in a protest of this increased theft by the state. Even though many with in the liberty community disagree with some positions of the AFP(this blogger included), there is a benefit when working toward common goals. Especially when that goal is to reject theft at the hands of the state. I hope to see more collaborative work among Free Staters and any group or organization that shares the same goals of a specific issue. Free Keene bloggers Joel Valenzuela and Rich Paul were also took part in this protest.
New Hampshire has already firmly established itself as the main source of liberty media for the world and more content continues to be created! It appears that “Shire Liberty News”, a new blog, launched online several months ago. Editor Sandy Pierre positions the blog as “Spotlighting activism in New Hampshire” and the site also features opinion pieces, including the blog’s most recent post, about civil disobedience.
Here’s hoping the new blog will keep the content flowing!
Here is the letter-to-the-editor I sent into the Sentinel which was published last Sunday.![yinyang[1]](https://i0.wp.com/freekeene.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/yinyang1-300x300.jpg?resize=126%2C126)
I am still interested in discussing any concerns anyone has.
Letter Below:
You may have heard about the “Stop Free Keene” group. I see this development as positive, since I believe that if someone has concerns with other people’s actions, they should let others know, a principle that Free Keene shares.
Unfortunately, my admiration for the group is offset by the rhetoric I’ve seen from the group. Often, many comments on their Facebook group are negative. They often resort to name calling, personal attacks and even advocating for violence toward bloggers of Free Keene. I’m fine with someone disagreeing and calling names, but it’s not OK to think violence is acceptable.
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