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.
Thanks to Carlos Miller for uncovering this story about Keene PD’s Sgt. and prosecutor Eli Rivera. As you can see in the article, Rivera’s license plate says “PEACE”. However, in his job as prosecutor he regularly destroys the peaceful lives of individuals who have not harmed another person or their property. The article also says he has worked “to ensure law enforcement was viewed as a partner, not an adversary.” If police were our partners, for example, our friends and family members would not be being imprisoned for possessing plant matter or other chemicals. Drivers would be allowed to use their good judgment instead of being harassed and ticketed for speeding or not coming to a complete stop. People would be free to live their lives as they wish as long as they don’t harm others. The voluntary society wouldn’t be utopia, but there would be a lot more peace than there is today, where the police are the adversary of freedom. They could choose to behave differently. In private conversations some have admitted they would like to do the right thing, but they are scared they might lose their jobs, because those higher ranking than them are not interested in peace. They want more conflict, because conflict fills their jails and prisons and fills state coffers with fines extracted mostly from lower-income victims of the oppressive police state.
In the interests of promoting peace, I invited Rivera out for coffee and he accepted. Then, he canceled and never rescheduled. When I recently encountered him in person and asked when he’d let me take him out, he said “When all of this is over”, referring to the prosecutions of liberty activists here in Keene.
Eli, please stop prosecuting peaceful people. That would make Keene the most peaceful place on earth, and the police would start getting respect from people again, since they would only be going after people who do harm. Doesn’t that make sense?
UPDATE: More about Eli here on JailedActivist.info
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So a gay marriage bill was passed by the house and the senate. It’s up to the governor now and New Hampshire could be the next state government to grant permission for two individuals to partake of a contract between them that’s really no one else’s business. Good news, I suppose. As long as the government is involved, they shouldn’t discriminate. But I hold to what I’ve said for some time now. Even if I were heterosexual, I wouldn’t touch a government marriage with a ten foot pole.
A medical marijuana bill is also now awaiting the governor. Also good news, though it’s yet another personal matter they should never have butted into in the first place.
The heroic photojournalist Carlos Miller (who himself was arrested for photographing the police in public) has blogged about Sam’s arrest and imprisonment, Andrew Carroll, as well as the Free State Project and more. I’m sending him a donation for his legal defense fund.
Yesterday, LewRockwell.com’s Manuel Lora also blogged about Sam’s situation. Plus, NolanChart.com’s Steven McDuffie has also covered the situation in a popular article. Thank you, Manuel and Steven.
If your favorite blog or news organization hasn’t covered Sam yet, please encourage them to do so!
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
A little good news in a sea of tyranny, from MPP:
The New Hampshire Senate just voted 14-10 in favor of HB 648, the medical marijuana bill. New Hampshire is now very close to becoming the 14th state to stop arresting patients for using medical marijuana with their doctors’ recommendations.
Gov. John Lynch (D) has expressed concerns about the bill and it is vital that he hear that Granite Staters support protecting patients.
If you’d like to call Lynch’s office and tell the secretary to ask him to support the medical marijuana bill, the number is 271-2121.
[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
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