Letters from Russell

[Dave Ridley]

Just wrote him a new message and attached the article rev. revere suggested I send.


Sent this earlier note a couple days ago:

Hi Russell and those jail employees reading his mail!  Just a quick note to wish you the best Russell and thank you for what you are doing. And for those of you reading his mail, I urge you to listen to and remember what he has to say.  He is guilty of attempting to enter an IRS office and hand them a flyer.  He is guilty of wanting your IRS taxes to drop below 15% for a change, and for them to stop funding torture.

He deserves no punishment for any of these things, and I urge each of you to do what you can to mitigate or eliminate his.

Yours,

[Kat Kanning]

Friday 8/4  I got JJ 8/1, LC 8/1, LC 8/2 Kat 8/2 today

8am I got my mail from Thursday this morning.  Some of the officers hold the mail, others give it over right away.  People can send envelopes and paper, but no stamps.  I am not sure about pictures, but they are OK with the computer printouts so far.  They open my mail at my cell door and look at stuff before they hand it to me, so the officer was looking at the brochures. ?  They pretend I am just a normal prisoner who is being punished in "max", but it slips out every once in a while.  They told my roommate that I don't get things like books because I won't cooperate.  All I have done is not answer some questions.  Keep sending the letters, they are the highlight of my day.  I should be able to write 3 times a week and so far they give me envelopes and paper. ?

Jim J:  Thanks for the flyer.  The officer looked at it for a long time.
Lauren:  Thanks for the encouragement.  If I know it is worthwhile, I can keep a smile on my face.

The other guys laugh when I get mail and get all revved up.  So how did it go on Thursday at the IRS?  It would be cool if you guys were able to do anything ?  I told the guys to look for bibs, drums, ?, pitchforks, etc.  We can see you if you circle around back by the loading dock and white tank.  You guys can park by the dog pound without a problem.

I am glad the planning meeting is growing.  It wasn't even because of my IRS action ?

(Regarding the Federal Marshals)?They were so eager to hurt me.  When I talked to them, I realized that would kill Americans if Bush told them to. ? We live in a police state and have to free the population.

I guess if people want to help with money they can give it for the paper and you can make it bigger or print more copies. 

The fast is going fine.  I wasn't hungry at all.  We take two trays, so they don't know anything.

I don't have a bracelet or ID# so I might not have an account, which is good because I get free mail.  If I had money, I have no way to spend it in "max" so I would not be able to send mail.

Sat. 8/4
I am still fasting.  I feel fine.  My tongue is not that coated anymore and I am not really losing weight, so I will keep going.  I have not really been light-headed and I am never cold.  I will take it slow so I don't pass out or get hurt jumping out of my bunk.

Please tell me everything that is going on outside, since so little happens in here. Let me know if you don't like me being in jail so we can plan for the next stuff or if you just want to tell me after I get out, I will understand ?
I will tell you how I really feel in jail.  I can't do much and I miss you guys, but it is OK, especially since the CD is working.  I got thrown in jail for trying to hand out papers!

Keep up the chain-yanking.  Although we want to try to be humble we need to rock the boat.  Reading the Bible all the time doesn't exactly turn me into a moderate or a politician ?  Jesus was hauled in by the religious leaders and accused of "he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar?" to Palate. Luke 23:1-5  He and his followers "incited the people" and changed the world.  Jesus said we could do anything, if we have faith.  Why not go for the whole ball of wax?  Pray for his kingdom to come right now and work toward a free society where we live in peace and have voluntary relationships ?  Maybe Caleb can make up a good flyer for churches with a few appropriate quotes and we can hand those out and ask them to join us and help bring that kind of existence into being.

Maybe you can burn the court documents in front of the IRS office.  I liked the way the prosecutor called it the "Federal Building" in Keene.  We sure hit the spot, didn't we ?

Maybe you can cut and paste stuff from the internet and print it out and send it to me.  All the info from the outside makes it seem worth it in here.

Another donation idea:  have guys raise money for another movie camera so you can film everything that happens ?  It seems like visuals really help the cause over the internet.  They could also help pay for Roger's cool posters.  I am sure you will need more ?

On Friday the 4th I got this letter.  I guess we could try and contact him.  I also got a postcard from Tom in Richmond VA.  He said, "What if they had a government and nobody came (to work)"  ?

August 1st
Russell, You are one brave SOB.  The world needs more men like you.  Keep up the fight.
-Kevin, president of a Texas AG company.
(Note:  I'm taking out identifying info from the people I don't know -Kat)

8/5 at about 9 am (glancing out the window to see if you guys are out there)
I am rereading the letters I got last night.  I like the picture.  They didn't let another guy get pictures in "max" but they gave me yours.

I am stuck in "max" because I won't be processed and they have not asked again.  They must be waiting for me to break down to get out of this place.  But it is OK here.  I don't get beat up and I don't have to play their usual jail games in a normal cellblock.  Nobody can believe that I am just "in the hole" for all the time I am here.  I am like the baseball guy in the Great Escape, but this is far from solitary and I get/send mail ? .. for free.  One of the guys is ? La Boetie from the brochure to the officers ?

When do you think the sentencing thing will happen?  The guys here say that I might be in jail if the judge fines me and I don't pay.  We will see.  Maybe you can try to get my glasses & protector case to me sometime, especially if they throw me in for 4 months.  I don?t want them lost or broken (that is why I left them) and I can see alright without them, but it would be nice to throw them on when I look outside to see the trees and field better and to see your guy's faces better ?

I hope you guys visit today and go around back where we can see you.  I can hear thunder and loud trucks, so we will see about drums and more cowbell. ?

It is great getting mail every day because I can bug the officers and ask, since I know I have some ?  It has to effect them a little.

How did it go on Thursday at the IRS office?  I would think that show up there and holding signs would so something.  And if you guys passed out flyers even if you aren't arrested it would be powerful.

Maybe you could use donations to buy Keene Free Press "the nonviolent revolution starts here" t-shirts and give them out.  Or you could sell them to people to raise money.

8/5 about 8 pm
I looked for you guys for most of the day but never caught sight of you.  It would be safe for you to come around back on the public road, park in the dirt road/lot for the dog pound and wave to me from where I can see in my current room.  When I look out on my left there is a dirt road and a field.  To the right is a loading dock, garbage dumpsters and the buildings.  I get to watch nice sunsets and the weather moving in.  We get sun in the afternoon and I try to catch a few rays of sunshine ?  Some guys came and asked me about my fasting and telling me all the advantages I will get if I submit to a medical exam and such?TV and Doctors visits?where do I sign?  ?  I am dying to get mail tonight, so I can find out if you got my first letter.

Sun 8/6 at 2pm
Last night I got your package 8/4, a letter from my mom 7/31 and a note from Shorty 8/3 ?

Dear Shorty,
I am glad to hear you made it into the Fed building.  I am sure the signs and reminders will be of tremendous help.  When I get out, I need to help you out with the Shorty's hangout (center of the nonviolent revolution).  Tell everyone that your card was perfect.  It was short, cheap and had no personal info. ?

Thanks Phil for the poem.  My roommate really liked it.

Thanks Sandy for getting the word out about what I am trying to do.  Don't worry.  I will not starve.

I started eating this morning.  I just felt like it.  I feel great.  I drank OJ this morning and had mashed potatoes and corn for lunch.  I started moving around a little more today and stretching.  Both my thumbs tingle sometimes from the bad things they did to my wrists.  They don't hurt me here in jail and I have been safe from any bad inmates so far.  I never got dizzy or had any really big cleansing.  One tooth was funny for a couple of hours.  It didn't last long, but it was good.

(bunch of mushy stuff)

Russell

[Kat Kanning]

Sorry I'm taking so long to transcribe the letters and notes to people.  They're long and hard to read.

[KBCraig]

Thank you, Kat.

[Dave Ridley]

Sent this to russell a few days ago with the Embassy of Heaven printout


Russell:

Rev. Revere asked me to send you this printout, said it's the most powerful tool he's ever seen used against the court system.
He says however it hasn't beeen used that often and he's looking forward to seeing it used.  I think he used it once and the judge said she agreed with him but they would try him anyway.  Then they convicted him, sent him home, sent him all records of his trial and left him alone.
we  talked for about half an hour.  He was interested to know if you had given anyone permission to do anything to you or if you had refused to cooperate on every count; seemed to think the latter is better.
He says he does water only fasts also, and the most they have held him is 20 days, but he looks like "death warmed over" at that point.
Mike Fisher tells me that at the turn of the century, one of the early sufferagettes demonstrated in front of the white house and was arrested for it.  when jailed she refused to cooperate and went on a hunger strike. they ended up force feeding her. When the news got out, as it always does, they released her and her movement enjoyed a real shot in the arm.  And we all know what eventually happened!

I've taken three calls from the Union Leader about you, and as of 8/5 far they have published one article, it was good but short. 
You made the front page of Digg.com and that has triggered a lot of new traffic on NHfree.com.  most of the feedback at digg is supportive, as is the feedback at Hammer of Truth.    there is a heck of a lot more going on that I wont' ever be able to fully detail.   new membership is up to 3 a day on NHfree.com forums since 7/27.  seth did a hit piece on you for the Monitor blogs but actually it was semi supportive LOL.
I will be sending you more stuff over the coming days and weeks.

God bless you russell and know that you are having an electric effect on this movement.

[Russell Kanning]

I am going to type out my mail I sent to Kat. I sent all my mail to Kat because I could only send out 3 envelopes a week, so I could not respond to you each individually. Kat had trouble reading my handwriting especially since I had short dull pencils most of the time.

So here we go.

[Russell Kanning]

8/7 7pm
Wow! That was great talking to you Kat. I guess when the call is from my "attorney" it can last all day if we want.

Hello Joe, (Joe Roux wrote me. He signed it FSP member and NH Taxpayer)
It is good to hear from you. Thanks for the legal fund donation, but I don't use lawyers. Should we us the money for some project or give it back to you?
Russell

(notes from captivity - printed in the Keene Free Press)

How did the raffle go? Give a KFP subscription to Shane MacLeod. He wants a picture of one of the rallies or a small sign for his window. He will be in for a while.
Keep up the good fight out there. It keeps me going in here. I got the Kingdom of God is Within You book safe and sound. I passed it on to a buddy in jail and I will request it from the library later.
This jail could use a nonviolent revolution to focus on, since there is so much bitterness and hate in here.

[Russell Kanning]

My roommate is getting bummed about being in "max". He will be out by 8/10. I am much more positive in here.
Tell my sister I could use some artwork from my nieces.
We are guessing how long before the superintendant come around for my cooperation.
I just write what comes to mind. My handwriting gets small because of these short pencils they give me. I miss your good cooking and food.
If anyone asks why I am doing this  tell them to watch the Gandhi movie, read Matthew 5-7 and Tolstoy's book. If they can't read that stuff then they don't really care.

7pm
I got a letter from Shorty today.
Dear Shorty,
I am glad to hear of the adventures at your place on the south end of Upton Corners. I can just imagine the fun we can have there.

I started reading Tolstoy again today. It fits our situation perfectly. Once you are headed down the right path that makes sense, other things have no power over you........

[Russell Kanning]

Later on 8/8
I thought that the mail had gotten light ... only 2 monday and 1 from shorty on tuesday afternoon ... and then Wham! the mother lode. I got pictures and letters galore. One of the better officers gave them to me and said this is more than some guys get in a year. The other guys say I have great friends and they are right.
I am really living large. I moved to my own room.

[Russell Kanning]

Thanks Sandy for the great card,
     Thank you everyone who signed it. I will be showing this and the pictures to the other guys. BTW they open the mail in front of me, so you don't have to worry about them reading it. Next time I come to the MVP meeting I will bring a supersoaker for the politicians.
Russell
Caleb- The Homeland is now secure.
Joel- All I do is rest and plan. Don't say "hang in there" .... they will put me in the rubber room with paper clothes.

[Russell Kanning]

Dear John, (Connell)
     Thanks for the letter buddy. Right now that is all you can give me. I can't believe Mincin would stoop to this to get me in Dover! I can't have visits for awhile since I am in "max", but you can stop by and ask about me, check the sign, and wave to the people sometime. They were pretty affected by the big visit. Thanks for the news clip. I like the song.
Russell

[Russell Kanning]

We went to the jail yesterday and picked up my stuff. They remembered me and just handed me the bag without need for ID or a signature.
I found the stuff my mom sent to me and the letter she had included.
I got the 4 books that Rich Goldman sent te me, so that is good.

[John]

They remembered me

[John]

without need for ID or a signature.