Robert Saulnier Trial Aug. 15th

[cathleeninnh]

I will come tomorrow if someone can pick me up. I have no vehicle and live a little too far to walk.

Cathleen

[technigirl]

Cathleen, where do you live?

My Dad is going to go on a hunger strike if he ends up going to jail.? I am bringing a sign to protest after the case is finished if I feel that the outcome is unfair (perhaps with his dually pick up truck that has the red 21 foot windsock).? If they do not allow the property ownership issues to be brought up, then I am going to try and 'cross examine' the Town Manager (to the best of my ability given that the only legal background I have is watching Law and Order).? I will ask if it is customary to arrest people on public property for exercising their first amendment rights when they are not causing any damage and I?ll try to get in some other fast facts about how he?s been mistreated along the way until I am shut down by the Judge.? There were no signs on the property, and the order that told him that he could not go on the property expired last November...

[KBCraig]

Mike, my advice for the press release: leave your fast out of it. Talking about Salty's plan to hunger strike is fine, but the way your release is written, it quickly switches from being about Salty, to being about you.

The public automatically associate hunger strikes with publicity stunts. (I know your fast and a hunger strike are not exactly the same, but most people don't.) That kind of red flag means the rest of your message gets ignored.

By journalistic convention, the lead paragraph must only be a single sentence.

Kevin

[Russell Kanning]

My Dad is going to go on a hunger strike if he ends up going to jail.
....then I am going to try and 'cross examine' the Town Manager

Hey do whatever you have to do... you shouldn't have to be a trial lawyer to be heard in a courtroom. Throw a mild fit in there .... let them know that you are getting screwed by the town.

[cathleeninnh]

I live near the Irving store at Londonderry Tpke and Tsienneto Rd. I am not familiar with the entire situation but will support your property rights and learn something too.

Both John C and Mike F know me.

Cathleen

[Michael Fisher]

Mike, my advice for the press release: leave your fast out of it. Talking about Salty's plan to hunger strike is fine, but the way your release is written, it quickly switches from being about Salty, to being about you.

The public automatically associate hunger strikes with publicity stunts. (I know your fast and a hunger strike are not exactly the same, but most people don't.) That kind of red flag means the rest of your message gets ignored.

By journalistic convention, the lead paragraph must only be a single sentence.

Kevin

Thanks for the advice.? I'll somehow shorten the first paragraph.? I did not know Salty planned a hunger strike, so I was going to fast for him.

What will probably happen is that I will fast for him even if he goes on a hunger strike.? It's a double-whammy.? The only reason it should include information about my fast is because I'm making a significant self-sacrifice in order to bring to Salty any attention the public gives me.? There is a lot of public attention on the NH Underground movement, and if I can bring this attention to Salty's aid, then I must do so.

This is not about me, it's about Robert Saulnier.? There are large barriers to entry into the media spotlight, and since we've already gone over these hurdles, we must use this to our advantage.? There must be zero probability that Salty's imprisonment can be ignored.

But I need to change my quotes to be less confrontational and more nonviolent to avoid as much backlash and anger as possible, and I need to add information about Salty's proposed hunger strike to the press release.

[Michael Fisher]

Besides, this is also a way to show the media that we strongly support Saulnier.  It may make towns think twice before taking someone's home.

If we can do a good job getting this into the media spotlight, more families will approach us for help.  We can help them as well, and so on, until the theft of private property in this state is kept to a minimum! 

[mikefam]

with all due respect, being someone only loosly following the situation. why are the Saulnier's letting this matter be herd in a "police court" (the Derry district court). I wos wondering if they have asked the matter to be herd in the supirior court as NH State Constitution part1 article 6 specificly provides for the right of  jury trial in matters concerning matter of Title to real estate? 
i really wondered if this was brought up to the magistrate at the Derry district court and what wasthe courts reply.

[technigirl]

The charge at hand is criminal trespassing because he went onto the property in protest of Town's claim of ownership and the Town manager had him arrested.? ?

[technigirl]

I am not familiar with the entire situation but will support your property rights and learn something too.

BTW, Cathleen I forgot to answer earlier, but we can definitely pick you up.?

My cell phone number is 603.315.8564.

[Michael Fisher]

Anne, can I use that cell number to put you as the primary or secondary press contact?

I also need someone to be a backup press contact.  Kat?  Dave R?  Someone?

[technigirl]

Yes, that's the best number for me.

Robert Saulnier, (age??), was arrested for the second time in July for trespassing on the property at 22 Grenier Field Road.?

He is 66 years old.

[Michael Fisher]

Thanks!? Here's the new one so far, just incase he's convicted:



From NHFree.com
INITIAL DRAFT COPY - DO NOT RELEASE


Londonderry man and activist will fast because of jail sentence

Derry, NH, August 17, 2005 - A Londonderry man arrested for trespassing on what he believes is his own property was convicted Wednesday and sentenced to 72 days in Rockingham County jail, and now he and a renowned libertarian activist vow to fast in order to secure his release.

Robert Saulnier, 66, was arrested for the second time in July for trespassing on the property at 22 Grenier Field Road.? Once owned by Mr. Saulnier, this property was deeded to the Town of Londonderry in May of 1999 for his alleged failure to pay taxes due on the property.? The property is now the proposed future site of a Town fire station.

Saulnier rejects the Town's story.? Before today's trial, he claimed, "I temporarily fell behind on my property taxes and tried to make partial payments which the Town repeatedly refused in violation of RSA 80:71."

"The interest and fees built up until the Town illegally stole my property and paid me nothing in return for it.? Now they're arresting me for 'trespassing' on my own property!"

While operating his car inspection business, Saulnier admits he made the mistake of continuing to store cars and spare parts on his neighbor's property after it had been sold from the original owner who gave him permission to do so.  The Town of Londonderry, however, is not entirely innocent in this matter.

In December, the NH Supreme Court upheld an earlier Superior Court ruling against the Town and Saulnier.? Londonderry was required to pay for cleanup of a property neighboring 22 Grenier Field Road because the Town failed to comply with State hazardous cleanup laws.

At his trial today in Derry District Court, Saulnier defended himself without an attorney and tried to convince Justice John Coughlin that he could not have been trespassing because it is his land.? He claims his prior guilty plea for trespassing on this land was entered "under duress" because he was held for 17 days without bail after vowing to return to the property if released.

The court refused to accept any items of evidence from Saulnier including a 58-page booklet of legal documents, applicable State laws, and scanned copies of partial property tax payments that were refused by the Town.? Justice Coughlin even dismissed as "hearsay" a copy of an authentic document signed by the attorney of Londonderry's Town Manager, David Caron.

Saulnier and his family were visibly upset by the trial and conviction.? At one point he told the judge, "what this town has done to my family is beyond comprehension."

Like a scene out of a movie, Saulnier said that if convicted he will begin a fast for several days, consuming nothing but water and salt.? About six libertarian activists from the NH Underground (NHFree.com) recently protested in Londonderry to support him, and now one of them, Seacoast entrepreneur Michael Fisher, will also fast in support of Saulnier.? Weighing under 120 pounds, Fisher will not live very long without food.

Fisher caused a commotion throughout New England in May after he was arrested for performing an unlicensed manicure in a public protest against licensing laws.? These days, he and other NHFree.com activists are protesting against government "theft" of private property.

"I hope some day that local governments will learn respect for our rights," Fisher said of the fasts.? "The situation in this country is very grim.? Each day, land is stolen by local governments through eminent domain and tax deed, and it's very rare that a family can defend itself against the vast resources of a government."

Summary:

What:? Protest against the "theft" of private property by local governments.
How:? By consuming nothing but water for several days.
Why:? Because ownership of property is "an inalienable human right."
When:? Robert Saulnier's fast begins immediately.? Mike Fisher's fast begins on Saturday, August 20.
Who:? Robert Saulnier and Mike Fisher.
Where:? Rockingham County Jail and the home of Mike Fisher at 7 Lamprey River Park, Newmarket, NH.
Contacts:? Anne Saulnier (603) 315-8564, Mike Fisher (603) 498-7935, Backup:? ? ? ?


INITIAL DRAFT COPY - DO NOT RELEASE

[Michael Fisher]

I hope it's okay that I added your quote to our front page.? ?

I wonder what we should do if Salty wins this case.   ???

[Kat Kanning]

Nice quote   you can put whatever you like on the wiki.