Via MikeHansonArchives on YouTube:
John Bush returns to speak before Austin City Council on January 12, 2012. He was banned from Speaking for one year in August 2011. Four months later he received a letter from the city that said his ban had been lifted. Apparenty the city realized they violated his right to petiton his government and lifted the ban.
This is a follow up to the Live Free or Dance Party on September 9th 2011, which led to the arrests of Ryan Maddox, Roz, Nick and Derrick J. Freeman. While several events transpired that evening, this video’s focus will be on Derrick and his arresting/pepper spraying officer, Copcha (Michael). After handcuffed Derrick cooperates by walking to the police car. Rather than assisting Derrick, like he had for the 150 meter walk to the cruiser, Copcha asks Derrick “are you going to get in the car.” Derrick verbally refuses, he states “I feel as though I’m being kidnapped”. He warns Derrick with pepper spray if he doesn’t comply, Derrick repeats his reasoning. Copcha proceeds to pepper spray Derrick, then assists him in the cruiser (This part of the video is included).
On December 21st Derrick speaks with Copcha & asks him several questions in reference to the incident, including an apology request… Copcha Declines. Also a few days after the Sept. 9th occurrence, Jason Talley asks Copcha several questions about the incident.
I’ll give a briefing on the entire incident to those who are unfamiliar.
Police came to the Square around 10:15-10:30, due to a “so called” complaint, in conjunction with a violation of using an electrical outlet in a public park (why do they have it if no one is able to use it?) Anyways, the complaint was bogus, based on the several witnesses who were there. The music could not be heard outside the Gazebo, let alone across the street & the music had not even completed a song. At one point before things escalated, Copcha stated, “just shut it down and were out of here.” It was shut down, unplugged & the cops remained on the scene. Just a side note, if the music had been blasting to the point where people living nearby could hear, we would have understandably complied.
The cops wanted someone to claim the equipment and check someone’s ID. One of the Juggalo’s (Nick) said it was his. The cops knew it wasn’t, because they know the kid & they had a run in with him earlier in the night (as heard on the original video). Why does Nick claiming the property lead to his arrest? I have no idea, but to speculate, the kid got into trouble earlier in the night & they wanted a reason to arrest this kid. After Nick was arrested & hauled off, the cops proceed to seize the equipment. The attempt to prevent the property from being stolen by the Keene PD, is what leads to the three arrests (holding onto the property while the cops pried it away). I didn’t want the police to take the equipment either, it’s an expensive piece of equipment, it’s something several of us use for Karaoke on a weekly basis among many other uses. What gives them the right (they knew it wasn’t Nicks)? Another side note… the Live free or Dance Party occurred the previous week with no problems & several following Friday’s after this incident with no issues.
This leads to the pepper spray incident, which is unbelievably perplexing why a cop would use pepper spray on someone who demonstrated no signs of physical violence, & someone who assisted the cops to the cruiser? Even if someone was handcuffed, resisted getting into the car, and extremely violent, pepper spray would be excessive. These people go through an academy where they learn to subdue individuals, to resort to such measures is inexcusable. Even to those out there who disagree with Derrick & the actions of those involved. You have to agree, that it’s unethical for an officer to get revenge/justice, because someone is annoying or gives them a hard time. This is what they get paid to do.
Aside from that, I’m not happy with how I behaved that night. Not that I, or anyone else there should have been arrested, but I was cussing & screaming like a jack-ass. For that, I’m sorry to the Keene police who were on scene, along with those (including myself) who see the importance of having positive interactions with the PD, the community & people in general. Of course I have issues with the institution, how it’s funded & the lack of accountability that’s inevitable in a forced monopoly etc… but I try to give them the identical respect, which I give to any stranger I come in contact with in my daily endeavors. I’ve had discussion with some of the local cops & generally they’re good people. Of course I have issues once again with the notion that they’re upholding unethical laws & caging peaceful people, but I think when they’re not following orders, they’re potentially good people.
In reference to Copcha, I think he knows he made a bad judgment that night and I’d be willing to bet he feels guilty and is regretful for what happened. Aside from that incident, he’s been a very reasonable person anytime I’ve had interactions with him, or witnessed his interactions with others.
On Friday evening the City of Keene sent the night shift of the Keene Police Department to Central Square where law enforcers stole an audio mixer and assaulted three people participating in the community’s Live Free or Dance event. Derrick Freeman was maced while law enforcers attempted to blind the cameras from the actions of their aggressive colleague with their flashlights.
For background, read my post on Talley.TV and watch this video by Dave Ridley, featuring Neal Connor. Please join me in watching the backs of Ryan Maddox, Roz and Derrick J. Freeman by watching the video below and the schedule under that:
These videos will also be published on the watchtalleytv YouTube channel. Subscribe to be alerted to future videos.
We intend to go to the following bureaucracies and enforcement agencies in the following order and hope to arrive at Keene City Hall at 8AM.
Each of these organizations are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and this morning is the first available chance for the FOIA to be evoked.
For any members of law enforcement who may be thinking about stopping my efforts to make government more transparent I suggest you read about the recent Glik ruling by the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals here and here. It upheld the right to record public servants and makes it clear that people who are law enforcers can be personally held liable for for infringing on rights acknowledged by the First Amendement to the U.S. Constitution. Words on paper that law enforcers swore to uphold. From the unanimous three judge ruling (PDF) by the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals:
[A] citizen’s right to film government officials, including law enforcement officers, in the discharge of their duties in a public space is a basic, vital, and well-established liberty safeguarded by the First Amendment.
Lets see if they want to challenge the U.S. District Court today?
On Friday evening the City of Keene sent the night shift of the Keene Police Department to Central Square where law enforcers stole an audio mixer and assaulted three people participating in the community’s Live Free or Dance event. Derrick Freeman was maced while law enforcers attempted to blind the cameras from the actions of their aggressive colleague with their flashlights.
For background, read my post on Talley.TV and watch this video by Dave Ridley, featuring Neal Connor. Please join me in watching the backs of Ryan Maddox, Roz and Derrick J. Freeman by watching the video below and the schedule under that:
These videos will also be published on the watchtalleytv YouTube channel. Subscribe to be alerted to future videos.
We intend to go to the following bureaucracies and enforcement agencies in the following order and hope to arrive at Keene City Hall at 8AM.
Each of these organizations are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and this morning is the first available chance for the FOIA to be evoked.
For any members of law enforcement who may be thinking about stopping my efforts to make government more transparent I suggest you read about the recent Glik ruling by the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals here and here. It upheld the right to record public servants and makes it clear that people who are law enforcers can be personally held liable for for infringing on rights acknowledged by the First Amendement to the U.S. Constitution. Words on paper that law enforcers swore to uphold. From the unanimous three judge ruling (PDF) by the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals:
[A] citizen’s right to film government officials, including law enforcement officers, in the discharge of their duties in a public space is a basic, vital, and well-established liberty safeguarded by the First Amendment.
Lets see if they want to challenge the U.S. District Court today?
Photo by Claire Haus
Free Speech Friday kicked off earlier today in Keene’s Central Square but unfortunately a family emergency kept Derrick away. Instead he e-mailed me the speech he was preparing to deliver and I read it with the help of Beau Davis. Here is the text of the speech which covers the recent caging of two peaceful people – Ian Freeman and Jim Johnson:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Isn’t it wonderful to live in a free country?
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of enlightenment, it was the age of foolishness.” – Charles Dickens, a Tale of Two Cities
Isn’t it amazing that in the information age, a person can type any question into a search engine and instantly browse millions of links with answers, and yet human freedom still alludes us?
I am thrilled that you’re here today because that means the first ever Free Speech Friday is commencing. I think this is a fitting place to address some of my grievances with the state.
First of all, to those who do this sort of thing, please stop kidnapping and caging peaceful people.
Ian Freeman is in a cage at 825 Marlboro St. His crime? Standing in front of a vehicle. He hurt no one.
Jim Johnson, recently bailed out of jail after being caged for 21 days. His crime? Trespassing on public property and refusing to fill out a piece of paper. These cases may sound extreme and non-sensical, but they are the two cases with which I am most familiar since my arrival in Keene 6 months ago. These people are friends of mine, the first people I met when I came up here, and they’re decent, peaceful people. Peaceful people do not belong in cages.
I address this grievance to you, my neighbors, because I think you’ve been fooled, and I want to petition YOU, rather than the state, to help me curb this aggression. You see, there’s this group of people who call themselves the state, and they claim to serve and protect the people of this community. I am doubtful of this claim. Why? Because they don’t give me the option to opt out of their “services.” In fact they force their services on me and other peaceful people daily, acting as if I approve of aggression. When my friend Ian was kidnapped, where were the protectors? They were doing the kidnapping. I do not ask mosquitoes to stop seeking blood, and I do not petition the state to stop using violence.
I petition you, instead. A proper redress of grievances is partnered with solutions. The solution I propose involves you. The violence perpetuated by those who call themselves “the state” cannot persist without YOUR obedience. Most people want to live their lives and be left alone. One may pay off a bully rather than take a beating. But there comes a point where one no longer lets the threats of bullies decide one’s actions.
What can one do, you ask, in order to act with self-authority?
I would encourage you NOT to vote, for this only encourages the gang. Replacing one bully for another is hardly more than giving your master a facelift. Peaceful people don’t endorse violent behavior, and I’m sure you’ll agree that it is violent to force obedience from everyone inside an arbitrary geographic location.
One effective way to say “no” to the violent gang is to refuse to take a plea deal, and encourage others to do the same. If just 10-15% of all the victimless crimes charged against peaceful people were taken to court, the establishment would be incentivized to take a discerning look at how it spends its time and resources. For instance, it’s likely that the more often charges for possession of marijuana are brought to court, the less often the state will victimize those who possess marijuana. In this way, you have the power to jam the cogs of the “justice system,” arguably the weakest leg of the state.
Another effective way you can impact the community’s freedom is by utilizing what is called “Jury Nullification.” This means you, as a juror, have the power to free an individual from the clutches of the government by declaring a person “not guilty.” An individual who acts with self-authority does not follow the confines of the “legal system” as it is presented to him. He instead follows his own moral code, allowing his conscience to guide his decisions. If no property was damaged, and there was no victim, then can there really be a crime? If you have the opportunity to be on a jury, communicate your disapproval for bad laws by nullifying them in court. All it takes is one person to plead not guilty. Before you support putting humans in cages, ask yourself, “Would I spend $40,000 per year to keep this person away from his freedom?”
Those who call themselves the state have no power unless YOU sacrifice your own. I ask that you keep your power and use it. Exercise your own authority as a peaceful, sovereign, sentient being. STOP asking others to use force on your behalf, and LIVE FREE!
Thank you.
Derrick spoke to Talley.TV live on the night of Ian’s kidnapping and caging by law enforcers employed by “Cheshire County” and here is what he had to say:
Derrick recently started a new Fr33manTV channel on YouTube that I just subscribed to.
| # | Member | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  SouthernPatriot |
23 |
| 2. |  KellyVoluntaryist |
3 |
| 3. |  Hanarchist |
2 |
| 4. |  Ian Freeman |
2 |
| 5. |  TalleyTV |
2 |
| 6. |  nicoladoula |
1 |
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