July 31, 2006: Russell arrested

[Dan]

I was looking up US code for Russell's infractions and came across this:

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 73 > ? 1507
? 1507. Picketing or parading
Whoever, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer, in the discharge of his duty, pickets or parades in or near a building housing a court of the United States, or in or near a building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer, or with such intent uses any sound-truck or similar device or resorts to any other demonstration in or near any such building or residence, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Nothing in this section shall interfere with or prevent the exercise by any court of the United States of its power to punish for contempt.

Can any form of dissent outside a courthouse NOT be considerd interfering or influencing?

Or are protestors (that world alone scream influence to me) informing the public at large?

And what of FIJA pamphlets to jurors?

[Tom Sawyer]

[Michael Fisher]

I am a government agent.

Either this is true and you've been highly secretive (dishonest, IMO) about it or you're being dishonest about this right now.

In any case, I don't believe you.

And now I see why, I refuse to join the libertarian party, or move to New Hampshire after I graduate college (when I get into it, of course).

The paranoia vibe here is pretty pronounced. And tis be funny, becuase I"m sure in some time, someone is going to say that by simpyl calling for basic order ina government office, that I am some sort of lover of the feds. More funny considering, people call me an anarchist on the other boards.

How was my statement in any way paranoid? That was a statement of fact. FACT: Either he's telling the truth and he hid the truth from us before, or he's lying now. Not that I care either way. I'm just stating a fact.

You can make all the excuses you want not to be an activist--countless people have done this--or you can just get over it and work toward liberty in your own way like a responsible, mature adult would do. It's your life.

[d_goddard]

Can any form of dissent outside a courthouse NOT be considerd interfering or influencing?
Or are protestors (that world alone scream influence to me) informing the public at large?

At the Manchester District Court they told us that as long as we kept walking, we could hold signs, chant, and generally do whatever protesters do. I guess there must be some case law that established that if you're walking, you're not interfering. Go figure!

And what of FIJA pamphlets to jurors?

ALWAYS an excellent idea... even just passing out FIJA flyers to random passers-by is very, very good.

[d_goddard]

You can make all the excuses you want not to be an activist--countless people have done this--or you can just get over it and work toward liberty in your own way like a responsible, mature adult would do. It's your life.

Amen

[jgmaynard]

Have/would you be willing to talk to the ACLU? They can give this the national audience it deserves. I'll talk to them if you dont want to - I'm a member (but I am also a member sof the GOA as well  ).

I also think that there shoudl be a LTE campaign ASAP to the Sentinel. I'll be more than happy to write one, but I need to get the facts right (dates, times, etc.). I know it's all on these two threads, I just need to piece it all together.

A couple dozen LTEs from us to the KS outta embarass the crap out of those responsible for enforcing Homeland Insecurity's Stasi-like behavior.

JM

[Dave Ridley]

<<Thursday, tomorrow going to be outside the IRS at noon with signs.>>

which IRS?

[Dave Ridley]

THIRD NEWS RELEASE NATIONAL VERSION LATEST

NH: Feds to hold "Outlaw Leafleter" till September

From NHfree.com
8/1/06
Concord, New Hampshire

Feds will hold Free Stater for full month
  Leafleting attempt at IRS office triggers summary conviction

Still wearing the shorts and T-shirt he had on when Homeland Security agents came through his door, Keene resident Russell Kanning sat in front of his accusers Monday and built a paper airplane.

"He refused to cooperate," says his wife, Kat Dillon. "I'm so proud of him."

Appearing in Concord District Court Monday afternoon, Kanning faced five Federal charges for attempting to enter Keene's IRS office during business hours and hand out a "quit your job" flyer.  But no one seemed thrilled to have him in the courtroom. 

After refusing an attorney, the libertarian activist - who normally wears glasses - squinted at court officials and shivered in the cold chamber but otherwise appeared to be in good spirits.

"Government prosecutor was totally playing softball," writes one of one of the six NHfree.com activists who rushed to the courthouse after the arrest but asked not to be named in this article. "Palmer and the ICE guy (the arresting officers) seemed to like Russ. I know that will sound crass, since they did arrest him."

The Federal prosecutor asked Inspector Palmer, a Homeland Security agent, what Kanning was carrying while outside the IRS offices. 

"A pitchfork," replied Palmer, triggering grins from Kanning's supporters and some of the officials. 

Kanning, who had dropped the pitchfork before attempting to enter IRS offices, did not face charges related to the "weapon," or for leafleting outside.  Charges instead centered on his attempt to physically enter the IRS office with his leaflet despite police warnings. 

"I got the impression that the basic issue was that there was expected to be a 'disruption' of the business that day," continues the unnamed activist, who quizzed agents after the hearing. 

In planning the event on the NHfree.com forums, Kanning had indicated he might indeed eventually go to the IRS and disrupt operations, but that he would not do so before August 3.

"The judge told Russ he had a constitutional right to question the witness," writes the activist.  "Russ asked Palmer if he'd quit his job, which was a nice touch."

Halfway through the hearing a bailiff pointedly seized Kanning's paper airplane.

The judge eventually convicted Kanning on four of the five charges, and asked the 36-year-old when would be a good day for him to come in and face sentencing.   Kanning replied that he would not come back on his own.  The judge then ordered he be held without bail until sentencing on Sept. 6.

Kanning now sits in Strafford County Jail in Dover, New Hampshire.  He is a member of the Free State Project (www.FreeStateProject.org), a movement aimed at recruiting libertarians to New Hampshire.

For additional late-breaking details, or to learn how you can support Russell, visit the NHfree.com forums at

http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=4640.0

Contacts:  Dave Ridley 603.721.1490,  Kat Dillon 603.357.2049

[Dave Ridley]

BTW I am probably not going to be able to write any news releases for a few days, so I urge someone else to write one and get the thing out there. we are putting too much effort into debate and into "the product", not putting enough effort into getting the word out about what happened.

[Tom Sawyer]

"I got the impression that the basic issue was that there was expected to be a 'disruption' of the business that day," continues the unnamed activist, who quizzed agents after the hearing."

This part is incorrect. The unnamed activist did not ask the officer anything other than to write in the forum.
The officer did not refer about anything to do with a disruption. As far as my memory serves.

Thanks for your work Dave.

[Tom Sawyer]

<<Thursday, tomorrow going to be outside the IRS at noon with signs.>>

which IRS?

The scene of the incident
196 Main St. Keene, NH

[FrankChodorov]

I guess there must be some case law that established that if you're walking, you're not interfering. Go figure!

because we all have an individual common right of way to use the sidewalk (collective property) to excercise our other common rights - speech & assembly.

standing in the right of way (vs. walking) is considered infringement of everyone else's individual equal right to the same.

[Dave Ridley]

wait, what's not correct?  The part where I said he quizzed the officers?

[Dave Ridley]

just called (well a couple hours ago anyway) 7 people not on the forums and invited them to the manchester meeting and the Free Russell rally.

also contacted the Herald about the rally.  haven't been able to call free talk live much lately tho and don't expect to.    I'm not usually able to pick up the phone and make a talk radio call at that time these days.  hope some of you will start calling FTL a lot in the meantime. 

[earthhaven]

I also think that there shoudl be a LTE campaign ASAP to the Sentinel. I'll be more than happy to write one, but I need to get the facts right (dates, times, etc.). I know it's all on these two threads, I just need to piece it all together.

I'm writing mine