Letters from Russell

[Kat Kanning]

Russell asked me to share his letters with everyone (minus the mushy parts), so I'll post them here.

[Kat Kanning]

Hello Kat,

I am writing you at about 2 pm August 1st from my new room in maximum security (Cell Block D).  My room faces out West onto a road that is open to the public.  You drive straight S on a road almost to the dog pound.  I am on the bottom floor and about in the middle of the block.  I see a big white take that says "modern."  I bet you could hold signs across the road where I can see you or by the start(?) of the road by the entrance to the jail.

Since I am walking around now for them, they don't hurt me anymore.  The Federal Marshals would twist my arms and hands to get me to walk and get fingerprinted.  I spent the first night in a cell by myself next to the front desk in my own clothes.  Now I have a roommate in max.  Both situations are because I would not answer questions.  Now they think they are punishing me by keeping me in a room 23 hours a day.

The sentencing lady talked to me yesterday and will speed things up so that I get sentenced before September 6th (or whenever they said).

I am fine in here. I am fasting right now and I guess I will continue until I am sentenced.  If they throw me back in for more time, I guess I will drink juice.

My current roommate is in here for drugs...of course.  He is getting out in a little while. 

I think the mail goes out Monday and Wednesday from "max" so this should go out tomorrow, Wednesday the 2nd.

I have no need or way to spend money in "max", so ask people to advertise in the paper if they want to help me.

I guess you are having to take care of a lot without me. I hope you are getting help.  You should be able to do Ian's stuff, maybe with Caleb's help.

[Kat Kanning]

                           Aug. 3rd
                           about 6am

Hello Kat,

I got your and Lex's letter 10 pm Wednesday, so they must not delay it.  ?  It was about as good of news as I could have gotten.  It even got my roommate excited.  Can you copy my letters to people (except the mushy parts)?  I think the jailers will be affected if I get lots of mail each day.  I don't bother them, but I don't cooperate with their paperwork.

Last night the officer handing out the medication to my roommate couldn't believe that I wasn't on medication, considering my paperwork.  They had 3 guys watch me dress the 1st time and chained me up to bring me to "max".  I haven't heard anyone else come in in chains.  I must be dangerous ?  My roommate can't believe they put me in with him since I refused everything including the medical stuff, so they don't know if I have diseases or am crazy ?  They don't hurt me or anything and I am the "quiet guy" in "max".

I don't know if the sentencing will still be in Sept. or if the sentencing lady in Concord will speed it up.  I don't know if the judge will throw the book at me and give me 4 months in jail.

The one thing I will change next time is not walking where they tell me to.  Now I just don't cooperate with their questions and don't sign anything.  I have a better relationship with them this way and they don't twist my arms.  In the "intake" area the first night, I was "the IRS protester", so I am getting the word out.  Over time I bet the officers will get very curious about me.

I have a bible and can read it all I want.  If I am in here long, maybe somebody can donate Tolstoy, Thoreau, or Rand stuff (paperback) to this and other jails so they are available.  [Note:  I believe these are all on the way already.  Kat]  We have one library here, but I can't really communicate with them right now.  I will let you know.  If they put me in the "population" I will spread thoughts of the nonviolent revolution.  Most of the guys are in here for drugs and other Fed things.  I tell them they should be free and we are working on it.  The marshal in Concord thought I was crazy when I said "we should be free to do whatever we want."  That almost got me in the loony bin before my trial thing ?

Tell Kira I am proud of her pitching in and helping out.  Now that we are cranking things up everyone can help in little ways.

If anyone else is thinking of writing, please do.  This writing is the simplest, cheapest way to infiltrate these walls.  They could reject visits, but they don't seem to mind letters. 

Thank you Gloria, Jenn, Denis, Roger, Elizabeth and "superman" the paper boy for coming so quickly to my trial.  I was surprised to see people in the courtroom and I know it effects the government workers.  It is all about what we stand up for and how many of us stand up against this evil power.

I have met lots of people in here who have not hurt anyone.  Our cause is just even if all we did is free them.  My roommate is happy to have me since I am quiet and we can talk some.  He will be out in a month.  You can send him a paper if it comes from the publisher.  His name is Jack T.

I will just write letters to you and let you spread the word since I can only send out 3/week.  They let me have your extra pieces of paper you sent me.  I think that is all I can get.  Maybe I can get news clippings or printouts from the computer ?

Jail stuff
-As long as no one puts money in my inmate account, I get 3 free envelopes, papers, stamps each week.
-In "max" I get mail but no visitors (clergy, media might be exempted).
-If they put me in "medical observation" I might not have contact for a while.
-They may let the "media" visit me, but not if I am part of it.  Now sure right now.
-I am not in the middle of my Cell Block.  I might be in the lower right hand corner of the wall that faces the tank and garbage bin.  The road back here is public access.
-I have not signed anything, so they keep me in "max".  The good think is that I am not where the fighting happens.  If guys are bad, they come here.
-In "max" I get out into the hallway once a day and take a shower.  It is warm in here so my fast will be fine.

It will be cool if I get mail every day, even if I am in here a long time.  It is important to not get used to the idea of me being in jail and letting the system forget about me and devour me.  The other inmates are forgotten people in here.

My fast is going fine.  It is not hard since the food is so bad.  The guards don't know I am fasting since we ask for 2 trays.  I got a little hungry last night, but not much.  If I feel like eating, I will start drinking juice.  I should make it quite some time.  I don't really do anything.  I can sleep any time and it is warm in here.  They might put me in "medical observation" if they worry/know about my fast.  It would be good because I would be by myself, but I might also not have my Bible or the ability to write.  I guess they will know I am fasting when my roommate leaves in a few days when his punishment is over.

Regarding civil disobedience, it sure is powerful, isn't it?  I gave the sentencing lady recommended reading to understand what I am trying to accomplish.  Maybe you can change my wiki page and put up the mail books and ideas.  Sermon on the mount, Matt 5-7, Jesus, Voluntary Servitude - Etienne le Botie, The Law -Bastiat, Civil Disobedience - Thoreau, The Kingdom of God is Within You -Tolstoy.  I am sure people are getting affected by the ideas and actions that lead to liberty.

I do miss being with you, Kat, but it does seem worth it.  I do remember us next to Goose Pond and having fun with our friends.  I hope you all still get together and have fun.  I wish we could be free from just ?, but it will be harder than that.  I miss your cooking, so it is easy to skip this boring no-good food ?

Russell
about 10 am 8/3

[Note:  these are written in microscopic handwriting and sometimes I can't make out the words.  Kat]

[Dave Ridley]

Good stuff.  Powerful. I got interrupted after reading the first half page and couldn't wait to get back and read the rest.  I'll post these letters to my forum list or at least part of it.

[FTL_Ian]

Hmm, as I expected, they are much rougher with a non cooperating male.  When Lauren refused to move for the cops, they begged her and whined.  When Russell refused, they hurt him.

The other inmates are forgotten people in here.

They say you find out who your true friends are when you get put in jail.  This is one reason why we will win.  We will not forget.

[Atlas]

Please re-post Russell's new address as I'm writing him Tomorrow.

[Kat Kanning]

Russell Kanning
c/o Strafford County House of Corrections
266 COUNTY FARM ROAD
DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03820

[ravelkinbow]

Kat, tell Russell I was glad to be there as I would never leave you and Kira alone in the hot sun 

[John]

Thanks for posting these Kat.
I was committed to working BIG Long hours this week well before this all came down.  I am so happy to hear that Russell is well - as expected.

[NC2NH]

Thank you for posting these, Kat. 

[Tom Sawyer]

Sent pictures with my letter...
Hope they let him have them.

[PowerPenguin]

Kat, I assume it's OK with you for me to write him a letter at the above address? I'm sure a little support note from FSP LG SoCal would cheer him up.

[Kat Kanning]

Yes, of course it's OK to write. 

Roger, they had let him have a picture I sent.

[PowerPenguin]

Cool. Do you think they would freak out if I sent him a sand dollar for symbolic/entertainment value?

[Kat Kanning]

I kinda doubt they would give it to him.