Archive | Episodes RSS feed for this section

Bob Constantine’s Update on Nurse Patricia Appeal to the NH Supreme Court

by Agent on 2011.10.20 in Episodes, Free Grafton | Comments { 2 }
Thanks to Bob and Brooks Constantine for spending the day with me to record the New Hampshire Supreme Court. We joined over 500 government school kids to hear an appeal by Patricia Smith’s lawyer, Marc Sisti, asking that she not be locked in a New Hampshire cage. Employees of “the State” intend to lock Nurse Patricia in a cage for 2 – 4 years because she grew plants that the State deems ILLEGAL – so illegal that taxpayers will be funding the work of the Women’s State Prison to “correct” a peaceful woman.

Nurse Patricia believes she owns her body and that it isn’t owned by some legal fiction that individuals call the State of New Hampshire (or the court, the cops, the Ku Klux Klan, Al-Qaeda or any other conspiracy to make other people miserable. All of these organizations use violence to achieve their goals so they don’t have my support).

As Bob points out in the video above, Nurse Patricia was forced to give the U.S. Federal Government $51,000 so that she could keep her house.

Laura Kiernan produced today’s “On the Road” session of the New Hampshire Supreme Court and made it easy for me to record it. Power was supplied as well as a choice location. I was unmolested by the 8 Bailiffs who all acted in a professional manner. Thanks to the Moultonborough Academy for hosting. Here’s Laura’s press release for the event:

CONTACT:
Laura Kiernan
Communications Director
lkiernan@courts.state.nh.us
603-271-2646 ext 2359
See photos of previous “On the Road” sessions

Supreme Court’s 13th “On the Road” session set for October 20
at Moultonborough Academy

CONCORD, October 14, 2011 – The New Hampshire Supreme Court’s annual “On the Road” special session will be held on October 20 at Moultonborough Academy. More than 500 students from 11 high schools in the area are expected to attend the event, which includes an informal question and answer session with the lawyers appearing before the court and with the justices themselves.

Since 2002, the members of the Supreme Court have traveled to a different location around the state to provide high school students with a unique opportunity to learn about the court and how it works and talk with the justices about their background and their careers.

The moderator for the Supreme Court special session will be Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Larry M. Smukler. Seating is reserved for students from participating schools; 20 seats are available to the public on a first-come first-served basis.

Prior to the October 20 special session, during which the justices hear oral argument on actual Supreme Court cases, volunteer lawyers visit each of the invited schools to discuss in advance with teachers and students the legal issues and proceedings involved in the cases that will be heard by the court. The same protocols used at the Supreme Court in Concord during oral argument will be followed during the session at Moultonborough. After each case is heard, the lawyers involved take questions from the student audience about the cases they have just presented.

In addition to students from Moultonborough Academy, students from the following schools are also participating in the October 20 program: Kingswood Regional High School; Laconia High School; Inter- Lakes High School; Prospect Mountain High School; Winnisquam Regional High School; Laconia Christian School; Belmont High School; Franklin High School; Tilton School; and New Hampton School.

Lawyers who volunteered to visit the participating schools to brief students on the two cases to be heard by the court are: Former New Hampshire Attorney General Philip T. McLaughlin; Assistant Attorney General Jane E. Young; Attorneys Paul A. Maggiotto of Concord; Joshua M. Wyatt and Kristin R. Blanchette of Manchester; Dorcas J. Gordon of Laconia, and Jeremy D. Eggleton of Concord; Belknap County Attorney Melissa Countway Guldbrandsen and assistant Belknap County Attorney Benjamin E. Leduc; public defenders Donna J. Brown and Stephanie Hausman; and assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCormick.

The “On the Road” program was launched in May 2002 at St. Anselm College in Manchester. Since then, sessions have been held at Dover High School, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, Keene State College, Nashua North High School and Philips Exeter Academy, Berlin Junior High School, Bow High School, Souhegan High School, Memorial High School and Sanborn Regional High School. These sessions are the only occasion when the Court convenes outside the Supreme Court building in Concord. Approximately 5,500 high school and college students have participated in the program since it began.

In the first case to be heard by the Supreme Court during the special session, State of New Hampshire v. Roderick Davidson, the justices have been asked to consider whether the defendant was denied his constitutional right to a fair trial because the jury in his case was allowed to hear evidence about the defendant’s controlling behavior toward the victim. The defendant, who was convicted of three counts of misdemeanor simple assault, also contends that his action toward the victim was justified under the law because he says he was trying to prevent her from taking his property, in this instance his car keys.

In the second case to be heard by the justices during the special session, State of New Hampshire v. Patricia Smith, the defendant argues that local law enforcement officials violated her constitutional right to privacy and protection from unreasonable searches when they conducted a stakeout in a wooded area behind her home. Local officials had received a tip that the defendant was growing marijuana at her home and they obtained a search warrant for the house after detecting the odor of growing marijuana during the surveillance. The defendant, who was convicted of manufacturing marijuana, contends the evidence found in her house should have been thrown out of court because the officials should have obtained a search warrant before they came onto property that was close to her house.

To learn more about the Supreme Court’s “On the Road” program, and for summaries of the two cases to be heard by the court, and the legal issues involved, go to http://www.courts.state.nh.us/student/ontheroad.htm.

Read full story

Doing the “State Free Dance” at the Jefferson Memorial

by Agent on 2011.07.14 in Civil Disobedience, Episodes, Shire Choir | Comments { 0 }

WASHINGTON, DC – On June 4th, a week after the violent crackdown by employees of the U.S. Park Police, hundreds of people travelled to the Jefferson Memorial to take a stand for freedom and to protest the police brutality witnessed on the viral video showing government employees choke and body slam peaceful dancers.

This episode of Talley.TV takes place after the successful disobedient dancing inside the memorial. Standing on the steps outside the memorial, some people took the microphone, provided by Code Pink, to share their favorite Thomas Jefferson quotes, speak about other abuses by the Park Police, and discuss other issues of importance. I plugged my tablet into the sound system and began playing the State Free Dance song produced by Hannah Hoffman. When she heard the song playing she excitedly took the microphone and led everyone in singing.

Read Hannah’s account and download the State Free Dance MP3 here.

This was a team effort. The video was taken by Ron Nair, who you can hear in the beginning of the video passing out the flyers he designed. The flyers were funded by PorcFest to advertise their “State Free Dance Party” at the Porcupine Freedom Festival. The food and transportation expenses to DC were covered by the Civil Disobedience Evolution Fund, thanks to donations by our supporters. In addition to being an organizer of the event, Eddie Free hosted Rob, Hannah and I at his home for several days. The crowd in attendance was largely due to Adam Kokesh (seen at the end hugging Eddie) and his following on RT.

It was a lot of work and logistical hurdles but we took a stand and along with hundreds of others, we were victorious.

One month later, on July 4th (aka IndepenDANCE Day), disobedient dancers returned to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial with fewer numbers, similar to the May 28th event.

Instead of chocking and body-slamming the peaceful dancers, the armed employees of the U.S. Park Police watched five people enjoy what Thomas Jefferson called a “healthy and elegant exercise.” Despite trying to intimidate dancers with assault rifles, armored vehicles and vests, U.S. Park Police refused to enforce the judge’s order banning dancing at the Jefferson Memorial. Victory belonged to the peaceful yet disobedient dancers. The State knows what to do with violent people, since they speak that language, but are totally unprepared for peaceful and entertaining resistance as demonstrated at the Jefferson Memorial.

Here are the lyrics to the “State Free Dance” by the talented Hannah Hoffman: Continue Reading →

Read full story

Talley explains the violence inherent in the system to Code Pink Co-Founder

by Agent on 2011.06.15 in Episodes | Comments { 3 }

Normally I stay behind the camera but Rob Nair captured my conversation with Code Pink Co-Founder Medea Benjamin the evening before she returned to the Jefferson memorial for some civil danceobedience. A lot of people oppose Code Pink and have an unfavorable opinion of the dance party because of their association. But others may have the same reaction to my involvement or Adam Kokesh’s presence. Every disobedient dancer had a reason for disobeying a bad law and Medea was kind enough to give me an opportunity to discuss our different points of view.

I can’t tell you why Madea danced (I should have asked) but here is what her website, codepink4peace.org tells us about her:

Medea Benjamin is a cofounder of both CODEPINK and the international human rights organization Global Exchange. She has been an advocate for social justice for more than 30 years. Described as “one of America’s most committed — and most effective — fighters for human rights” by New York Newsday, and called “one of the high profile leaders of the peace movement” by the Los Angeles Times, Medea has distinguished herself as an eloquent and energetic figure in the progressive movement.

CODEPINK describes itself as:

a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S. funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally, and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. Won’t you join us?

Here’s Madea talking to Adam Kokesh on his Russia Today show:

And the video produced by Code Pink about Madea’s triumphant return to the Jefferson Memorial where she danced unmolested by the U.S. Park Police:

Madea and I may not agree on the issues but I like her style. If only Code Pink’s “women for peace” would help end the wars at home in addition to U.S. Emire building we’d have more to dance about.

Read full story

NH Speaker O’Brien on “compelling people under threat of violence to give us their money”

by Agent on 2010.12.08 in Episodes | Comments { 0 }

North Haverhill, NH – Bill O’Brien, the newly elected Speaker of the New Hampshire State House, recently spoke with Talley.TV about various issues including the Free State Project, the peaceful people who were recently aggressed against by the state, why he thinks government is necessary, and what he believes should happen to those who choose to opt out of compulsory government “services.”

The new Speaker of the State House told Talley.TV that “this is an opportunity to rethink government.” O’Brien isn’t the first politician to use such rhetoric. Former Vice President Al Gore “Reinvented Government” and Governor Cuomo is currently leading a “Government Redesign” in New York State. Unfortunately, the idea of government achieving its goals without resorting to violence is never on the reformists’ table.

The new speaker deserves a lot of credit for being honest about the true nature of the State. He says: “I understand what government does. It goes to people and says, ‘give me your money or we will cause you to go to jail.” But O’Brien does not see the threat of violence as a problem, and continues, “Certainly we have to organize as a society. There is some compulsion in some instances where you have to go to people and say we need money to run this government.” According to O’Brien, the government’s use of violence is not only permissible – it’s necessary.

The location of my interview with Mr. O’Brien was the Grafton County Courthouse in Haverhill, NH where the State is accusing my Free Grafton friend and neighbor Robert Constantine of growing illegal plants. They want to “organize” Bob into a cage for the crime of owning himself. I have no use for a system that takes peaceful people like Bob and turns them into prisoners.

Speaker O’Brien told Talley.TV that “Communities as a whole will rise and take care of their friends, family and neighbors and we don’t have to have a strong centralized government in Concord that has to answer all of those needs.” Nowhere is that more clear than in Free Grafton, where a growing voluntary community hopes to replace coercive town “services” with ones that are based on consent.

O’Brien claims that New Hampshire Government is premised on volunteerism, and offers that he and other law makers don’t make much, if any, money. I countered that those government employees who enforce immoral laws – such as judges and police – get paid well, as do political operatives. And since taking office, Bill O’Brien agreed to pay Greg Moore $75,000 annually to be the new “House Policy Director.”

Speaker O’Brien invites you and me to “participate and work to change the system” so we can “work to lower taxes.” He adds, “it’s open to anyone that wants to participate in the system.”

I will join with Speaker O’Brien in working to lower taxes but I don’t need to work within his coercive system in order to accomplish that. I can stop paying most taxes right now, and so can you.

When O’Brien was asked about the growing number of people moving to New Hampshire for “liberty in their lifetime” as part of the Free State Project, he replied “I wish there were more.” He pointed to the recent election of legislators who are members of the FSP. O’Brien says of Free-Staters: “They are responsibly participating in expanding liberty in New Hampshire and that’s a great thing.”

Also discussed were the peaceful people currently being held captive in New Hampshire cages. O’Brien told Talley.TV: “I think we really need to look at that.” New Hampshire Republicans promised to rein in government spending if elected so I asked about the cost savings of freeing these prisoners. O’Brien calls it an ongoing concern and states: “I don’t want people who are committing victimless crimes to not be in jail because we can save money; I don’t want them in jail because they haven’t harmed other individuals.” When I followed up, asking if this would be a priority, he answered, “The priorities are going to be the fiscal issues.” O’Brien must have overlooked the significant cost savings that would take place if peaceful people were no longer held captive in New Hampshire cages. Entire State prisons could close.

The Speaker was insistent that “We all have an obligation to participate in society. One of the ways is paying taxes.” But when I asked about opting out of a violent system he warned me and Talley.TV viewers that opting out “could be miserable if they catch up with you.”

“They” is the government and if you don’t pay for the crimes they commit against peaceful people, you could be thrown into one of their many cold cages.

Speaker O’Brien agreed that he’d like for people who opt-out of his system to be left alone, but acknowledges that if we are to have a government, people would be compelled “under threat of violence” to give them our money.

Thanks to the Kinks for the use of their song “Well Respected Man” and to Talley.TV producer Bob Constantine for helping “get it done.” Thanks to Anton Lee and Graham Nadig for use of their photography.

Read full story

US Federal Government Employs Violence at Anti-Government Violence Protest

by Agent on 2010.11.15 in Episodes | Comments { 0 }

CONCORD, NH – Over twenty Shire Activists met at the Federal Building in Concord on Saturday for “street theater, chalk, fun” and also, according to the event page on Facebook, “to let the Feds know we don’t like all the killing, torture, stealing.”

Kat and Russell Kanning traveled from Free Grafton to provide the street theater, dressing up as the iconic torture victims of the U.S. Federal Government. Among the chalk tags the activists made were “End the Police State,” “End the Wars,” “Free the Drug War Victims,” and “GOV’T is Violence.”

Seemingly as an attempt to prove the protesters correct, armed men from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attacked Kat Kanning as she chalked “Taxes = Theft” on the pavement in front of the Federal Building. After struggling with the non-compliant Kat, they put her in chains and dragged her inside where they gave her a $125 ticket for “disobeying a lawful order.” She was released to her concerned friends and talked to Talley.TV about her experience.

During her captivity, Free Grafton’s Emperor Evan wrote “Free Kat” in chalk and was quickly accosted by an employee of DHS with the assistance from an employee from the private firm, Security Services (SS).

As they attempted to put Evan in chains, the young emperor heroically finished another “Free Kat” chalking in additions to the word “Freedom” and an anarchy A. Evan spent three hours with his Federal Government captors because he refused to identify himself. Eventually his release was secured by Free Grafton’s Ambassador, Weeda Claus, and Evan was returned home to his peaceful Shire home that evening.

Signs were sparse during the event as activists opted for cameras and chalk. The signs that were there read “Taxes Pay for War & Torture,” “U.S. out of New Hampshire” and simply “NO.”

The event was also covered by Shire Independent Media Makers, “Biker Bill” who reports that The Regime Can Be Brought Down (with chalk), Ean Garrett of Free Concord and Anton Lee of Shire Photojournalism.

Read full story

The Peaceful Assembly Choir makes its debut at 4:20 State House Celebration

by Agent on 2010.11.12 in Episodes | Comments { 0 }

Shire independent media-maker, Biker Bill reports on the recent 4:20 Celebration at the State House in Concord on November 5th. Activists from all over the Shire answered Rich Paul’s Call to “Remember, Remember Disobey in November. 40 stood in front of their building where the State of New Hampshire passes it’s laws which rob people of their money and liberty.

It also marks the very first performance of the Peaceful Assembly Choir from Free Grafton.

Read full story

Emperor Evan on the Free Grafton Election

by Agent on 2010.11.09 in Episodes | Comments { 0 }

Like many other places in North America, Tuesday, Nov 2nd was “Election Day” in Free Grafton. To make it as easy as possible for voters, Russell Kanning set up the Free Grafton election next to the “Unfree” Grafton election taking place in the Volunteer Fire Station on Main Street.

It wasn’t elaborate, just a white marker board leaning against a folding table and chairs, but at the end of the day Weeda Claus was elected Ambassador and Prohibition was overwhelmingly abolished in Free Grafton with 31 votes for Yes and 7 votes for No.

Emperor Evan manned the table for most of the day, registering new sovereigns (there are no citizens in Free Grafton) and ensuring the voting was fair and friendly. Many new people voted and registered in the Free Grafton election making it a successful outreach event.

When Evan wasn’t overseeing the vote he was selling Vanzetti’s Breakfast Tacos and decorating the pavement around the Free Grafton Polls with chalk. He sold out of tacos and was only threatened once by the Town of Grafton’s “Moderator” for his chalk art.

Evan, elected Emperor during the previous Free Grafton Election, notes the significance of the vote on his blog post at FreeGrafton.com:

To the best of my knowledge, Free Grafton is the first geo-political entity in North America to completely abolish all prohibition of substances. If you’re a Free Grafton sovereign, feel free to smoke a joint of cannabis in celebration of this historic event. If you’re not part of Free Grafton, this might still be illegal, so you should be aware of the potential consequences.

Congratulations to Bob “Weeda Claus” Constantine on becoming Ambassador and to all of the Free Grafton Sovereigns who made it clear that the prohibition of substances won’t be taking place in Free Grafton. Proving once again why it’s “the place to live free.”

Read full story

The State vs Patricia Smith

by Agent on 2010.10.28 in Episodes | Comments { 0 }

In episode 15 of Talley.TV we rewind to August 16th when producer Bob Constantine and I first met Nurse Patricia Smith. It was the morning of her trial and she spoke to me through tears as Bob handed out nullification information to her jurors. Despite Bob’s efforts and attorney Mark Sisti’s plea to the 12 member jury that they use their power of nullification, they found Nurse Patricia guilty of manufacturing a controlled substance.

After hearing Prosecutor Fitzpatrick bully Nurse Patricia for hours in his official capacity I decided to ask him some questions. When he didn’t respond I decided to editorialize and share with him the radical notion that if there’s no victim there can’t possibly be a crime.

It’s hard to believe that Fitzpatrick crossed the Pacific Ocean to leave his native Australia so that he could put peaceful people, like Patricia Smith, in New Hampshire cages. He, as well as the police who “descended” on Nurse Patricia’s home, could be considered the true criminals in this situation by anyone who isn’t a cold-hearted statist. Detective Frederic James even admits that the police took money from Nurse Patricia’s purse and from envelopes in her home marked “anniversary,” “wedding,” “house” and “Christmas.”

The video ends by showing my illegal detention by court security at the request of Judge Timothy Vaughn. He issued the order that I was to remain inside until the jurors had exited the parking lot. Despite statements that they were not detaining me, court security guards wouldn’t reveal what would happen if their illegal order was ignored.

At Nurse Patricia’s sentencing earlier this month, Judge Timothy Vaughn ordered this peaceful woman to spend 2-4 years in a State prison because he wanted to send a strong message. Should peaceful people be locked in a cage for growing plants? You can send Timothy Vaughn a message by calling the Grafton Superior Court at (603) 787-6961. Let us know what you think in the comments.

Read full story

Former Corrections Officer Loses Faith in Justice System After Daughter’s Medical Marijuana Conviction

by Agent on 2010.10.15 in Episodes | Comments { 0 }

Just after interviewing Nurse Patricia, Talley.TV, Bob Constantine (aka Weeda Claus) and Anton Lee of Shire Photography met with her mother, Rita Richards. In this episode of Talley TV, Mrs. Richards shares the letter she wrote and sent to the Judge in the State vs Patricia Smith trial. Disappointed, she believes that the judge has never even read it.

Mrs. Richards provides an interesting perspective because she was a “corrections” officer for the State of New Hampshire for 15 years. She admits that while she was doing her job, many of the people in the cages she oversaw were there for victimless drug-related crimes. When asked how this made her feel knowing that her daughter faces the same punishment for harming no one, Rita admitted that she felt confused.

Mrs. Richards also provides insight into the type of person Nurse Patricia is: a good person who hasn’t harmed anyone. The same can not be said of the cops that raided Nurse Patricia’s home, stealing her money and property, or the prosecutor and judge who will ensure that a peaceful person remains a hostage of the State for years as part of their ongoing war on people who use drugs. Drugs like marijuana but not liquor which the State of New Hampshire sells exclusively at a rate of $500 million a year.

Read full story

New Hampshire to Cage Medical Marijuana Growing Nurse for Two Years

by Agent on 2010.10.14 in Episodes | Comments { 0 }

Free Grafton’s Bob Constantine (aka Weeda Claus) and Talley.TV have been meeting with Nurse Patricia Smith over the last few months. Our first meeting was at her trial where she was found guilty of growing illegal plants in Grafton Superior Court. Our next meeting was one week ago where we were joined by Anton Lee of Shire Photography. We met at her home that the Federal Government plans to seize and learned more about the State’s aggression against her. Nurse Patricia is now labeled a “felon” and she is currently on bail during her appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. As Nurse Patricia states in this episode of Talley.TV, “it’s hard to keep hopeful” and doubts her appeal will keep her out of a New Hampshire State cage.

What stands out in this video is that the State somehow believes it knows what’s best for Nurse Patricia and her adult daughter. Patricia Smith is a medical professional. She tells us that smoking marijuana helped her and her daughter. The State disagrees with this so much that they will steal at least $70,000 from tax payers just to keep Patricia away from her family and friends.

This is the first episode from conversations that Talley TV, Bob Constantine, Anton Lee will have with other victims of government violence. Bob intends to meet with as many victims of the Drug War as possible before he is found guilty of growing plants in December 2010 and placed in a State of New Hampshire cage of his own.

Watch Bob’s episode of Talley.TV.

UPDATE: Patricia’s mom, a former corrections officer, speaks with Talley.TV about losing her faith in the justice system.

Read full story