Report from my "raids" on Epping PD, UNH PD

[Dave Ridley]

OK here is a report on my Aug 31 "silent visit" to Epping P.D. in protest of their infamous breakup of the Gatchell party last weekend.

Having received no indications of others joining me, I made no rush to get there at 10, ended up pulling into epping at 11:30 a.m.  After parking a ways away from the police complex itself I went over there with my sign and an improved collection of handouts.

The sign read:

Gatchell parties (thumbs up)
EPD busts (thumbs down)
NHfree.com

I and my sign entered yet another police lobby and stood in front of yet another pane of bulletproof glass, facing yet another police receptionist who did me the honor of panicking a bit when she realized I wasn't going to speak to her.   Through the secure mail slot I handed her a note that said something like this:

_____

END THE WAR ON FUNS

I have the right to remain silent.  *You* have the right to stop busting up peaceful parties on private property, like the Gatchell party of August 26.

(then it quoted the fourth amendment)

________

She got on the police radio quick and called for help..."there's a man in here with a sign and he won't talk, and there's no one here!"   Note to activists:  You can't hear thru bulletproof glass much, but you can hear through the document tray.

She read my leaflet to whoever was listening.   There was also a 20 something guy in the office with her wearing a white tank top.  I assumed he was a cop, but maybe he was not.

About 10 minutes later the door opened and Chief Dodge came out and started asking me questions. I handed him the leaflet above. He was hostile at first.  At some point he said "if you are not answering my questions, I have to assume you are a threat."

He also said "keep your hands where I can see them."   It was tense, and maybe I should have looked more amused, less stern.  I was shaking with nervousness which is a little unusual; I'm sure it showed.   He said are we just going to stare at each other all day?  He asked me who I was.  I just stood there.   He asked me what I wanted.  I looked down at the sign.  He said " I can read your sign"

This time, unlike at Nashua, I tried to focus on not giving out any information except the leaflets.  I didn't nod or shake my head much.

He said I was in a place of business, and asked if I was attempting to obstruct business.   Eventually he got around to doing something which passed for a lawful order to identify myself ( he said I could be subject to arrest if I didn't answer his identity question).  That was what I needed to hear, and I smiled and nodded at him.  I reached into my left front pocket and produced a piece of paper that basically said

I am
Your humble servant
Dave Ridley
From NHfree.com

That started to relax him some.  He said ok you're the guy who called me last week.  ( I had called him and via phone tag voice mails he had declined to comment, but the exchange had been cordial).   But then he got kinda angry again.  He said well I'm here now ready to talk but you don't want to talk?   He said this is a waste of time, I need you to leave ( or something like that).  So I nodded again and began backing up at my new top speed of 2 feet per second.  He followed me out, very slowly of course (heh heh), and when we got outside he said ok never mind you can stay out here.  I don't want you to hurt yourself walking backward.   I just don't want you obstructing traffic in there, it's cramped (to EPD's credit, it is a small austure lobby).

At this point two officers drove up and I nodded at them and tried to look more friendly than I had been looking at the schocked chief (I felt kinda bad about scaring him and his staff that much).  One of them asked me a question and the chief obligingly did my talking for me, he said "he's not talking!  He has the right to remain silent, and he knows it!" I grinned at that.  By now the atmosphere was somewhere between ridicule and mutual levity, the chief said..."he is my humble servant! Maybe he will tie my shoes!"  I laughed at this.

By the way I use that phrase because churchill used to use it when communicating with people he was in conflict with.  His written declaration of war on Japan ends with " your humble servant, winston s. churchill" LOL

Of course this is not a war, and I do not consider police my enemy.  But I still like the phrase for some reason.

Anyway, then one of the officers said do you work for Gatchell?   When I didn't respond he said..."the lack of response speaks volumes." 

One of the officers also said "I know why he's mad...he didn't get invited to the party!"
I laughed at this a lot and they started laughing.   The other responded, "well of course he didn't get invited, he's over 21! And he's not a female." 

They asked...did you walk all the way here? 

They took my picture and said they might post it to NHfree.com

One of them said can we go to your website and vote up or down as to whether we should have raided the party?
I still didn't respond , so hopefully they will drop by and figure it out for themselves...maybe i should start a poll....
Guys if you're listening....register and start one yourself!   And welcome to NHfree.com! 

Somewhere in their they said again "we're wasting our time."  But they looked amused. 

The chief repeated that I was free to stay if I didn't get in the way, then I stuck out my hand in their general direction and all three men shook it and I had a sense I had in some very limited degree won them over.  I then went to the road and directed my sign at traffic (as well as incoming cops) for half an hour, and somewhere in there Paul Gatchell himself drove up!   We talked for maybe 10 minutes with his car parked right there blocking part of the police exit LOL.    They finally asked him to move it, and he invited me over to the Gatchell place.   I never made it, probably I should have gone , but I felt confused about the directions and wanted to get to Durham with lots of time to spare for inter-class foot traffic.   He thanked me over and over but I told him no, thank *you* for sticking up for your rights, if everyone did that there'd be no need for me!  He was wearing a bright green shirt that said "Gatchell Event Staff" LOL

Also he indicated that the police had ordered partygoers to get in their vehicles and drive home....then started pulling them over to check for DUI !!  He says he's getting lots of support.

Anyway around 1230 I went back to my vehicle and on the way a litle school bus did a u turn, the lady inside stopped in the middle of the busy road and started asking me questions too!   She asked if i was for gatchell or the police, I said "gatchell!  But I like police,  I just think they're wrong "  she said I'm for gatchell too!  I said you're blocking traffic!  But come to NHfree.com!

Then I drove to UNH at durham, where things got even more interesting!   Report to follow.

Anyway to sum it up, I think this was a pretty useful way to spend the day, it just feels exhilarating!

[Dave Ridley]

some things i forgot to mention:

they wanted to see the other side of my sign, which read

NPD PLZ
RETURN MIKE
GANNON'S PROPERTY
NHFREE.COM

when I showed it to them they wanted to know which police department npd was and who mike gannon was....  why are they asking me, I don't talk, remember?


I called free talk live about 3 hours ago and told them about this.  they seemed pretty pumped.  also the call right before me was also from NH!

[d_goddard]

I have enjoyed reading this more than any other post on any forum, ever.

Dada, this is priceless, and touching.
You are making something new, something that never existed before... some kind of blend of lawful petition for redress of greivances, street theatre, public relations, ally-formation, and website promotion, ALL ROLLED IN ONE!

This is a kind of "protest" that I can get behind 100%.
By god, if only this had been on film... maybe next time!

The only thing that sucks about this is that I have to wait 12 more hours before clicking the "applaud" button again!

[Pat K]

Very Cool. 

[Spencer]

You, sir, are amazing.  To have the discipline and guts to remain silent in the face of authority is nearly impossible.  The silence is key.  People are very uncomfortable with silence, so they talk to fill the silence, and people always remember the things that they come to on their own (rather than someone shouting a message at them).  I'll bet that several of them are registered NHfree-ers now (and will soon be addicted).

[Dave Ridley]

OK here is a synopsis of events in Durham today...

After ending my little minidemonstration in Epping, I went to the home base of EPD's "backup perpetrators:" the University of New Hampshire Police in Durham.   They were also, to their credit, in a cramped space, but when I entered, I was not sure if I was in the right part of the building and had to ask how to get to UNHPD.   Without bulletproof glass it was hard to believe I was in a police department!  The receptionist said "This is UNHPD."   So I just stepped back and aimed my sign at her for a while.   She asked me questions which I didn't answer.  Then I handed her the "end the war on funs" flyer which she read with what appeared to be a bit of contempt and then put it back on the counter in my direction.   Then she and the other receptionist just ignored me.  An officer, and later another person, a man dressed in a pink shirt, popped their head in and looked at me.  They didn't ask me any questions. After 15 minutes I walked back up to the counter and presented a letter for the Chief which basically read:

_______

PLZ END THE WAR ON FUNS

Chief Halias:

You had a visitor today.

A neatly dressed pro-liberty activist entered your headquarters and, for some minutes, aimed a large sign at the public servants there.   Referring to your complicity in the August 26 raid on the Gatchell party in Epping, it read:

Gatchell parties (thumbs up)
EPD busts (thumbs down)
NHfree.com

He also handed your employees a flyer (attached) and shook hands with them but refused to speak.

Now he's out aiming his sign at the general public.  He respectfully urges you to end your witch hunts for "underage" drinkers and your property-invading persecution of party hosts.  What you are doing is wrong.

But if *your* liberties are ever in danger from the government, call me, that I may in some form or fashion come to your defense.

(then my name, number, etc.)

___________


I should note that I forgot to attach the attachment....ack.   While I was standing there I got a lot of time in reading a poster placed there by one of those whiney complicated femenists groups.  It advertised a lecture series which featured, among other things, a surely captivating talk on "Modern social constructs of the male as perpetrator."  Hey what do you expect from government funded academics?   

Anyway then I left and wandered around the outside of the building looking for new people to aim the sign at.  After that I took up position in front of the UNHPD building and aimed it at cars and pedestrians.   Some of the pedestrians began stopping to ask me questions.  About seven cops came and when while I was standing there.  Some came up to me and asked me questions, they all got the flyer.  One asked me a question from a car too far away to hand flyers to, so I showed mercy on him and answered him verbally.

One older cop, possibly the chief, yelled something to me from 40 yards away as he was entering the building, but I couldn't understand him even after he repeated himself.   He could tell that from my leaning my ear toward him but instead of repeatig himself a third time he just waved me away with a sort of "bah!"

Eventually I ended up moving to a better-trafficked area with a lot of foot traffic and cars too.    About 35 people total stopped and asked me questions, sometimes gaggles of people would form and we'd talk for a while.  I basically would just ask if they had heard about the party that got busted last week, explain what happened and that it was because of a "witch hunt for underage drinkers."   I said I was there because I didn't like my tax money being used that way.  THAT line was the one that really got the good response, kids just loved to hear that for some reason.

I always tried to mention the free state project so they'd understand that all these out of staters coming in to live here were doing something to try and support their (not-yet-recognized) right to drink.   I passed out stubs with the NHfree.com URL on them.

probably the sign got  seen by about fifteen hundred people because I was out for a long time.   A third of the UNH students probably have now heard the term "Gatchell Party" for what that is worth!  They will all be wondering how to go to one I assume - heh !

One gal walked up to me and told me she had heard of NHfree.com and some of her friends had too.  I told her that was a real honor and was surprised.  We talked for maybe 15 minutes and I told her we'd be honored if she'd join NHfree.com.

During the course of the day I got maybe 20 whoops and hollors or thumbs up from motorists.  No negative feedback from students par se  though a few of the sorority girl types gave me dirty looks.

At some point in here a 60-something security guy stopped his vehicle (again on a trafficked road!!) and wanted to ask me all these questions.  I didn't answer at first but then he said I don't have anything to do with the police here!  I'm just curious!  So I had mercy on him as well and clued him in.   

Here's the interesting part:

Around 5pm an officer on motorcycle drove past, and as usual I aimed the sign wherever he went.   Eventually he turned around, stopped in front of me and asked me if I had a permit.  I fumbled around for my "right to remain silent" flyer a bit , and when I handed it to him he laughed and said " this is your permit???"  I smiled but didn't nod of course    He said well you need to have a permit to protest on UNH property and you can get one at PD (I was actually on or very near the right of way for hwy 115a, but of course I didn't tell him that) He said I'm sure they'll give you one, but you do need to go get it.  Then he said you know they are closed now so next time...just get a permit.   He said do you understand that you need to get a permit next time?    Then he said I'm going to take your lack of response as an indication that you understand.

There was a pause.  He then said but you can't protest without one, and looked at me like I was supposed to leave.  I just stood there squinting because it was bright.  And because he hadn't actually asked me to leave.   He said...so are you going to leave?   

Then for the next five minutes we just stood there facing each other not saying a word.  Students of course were now starting to take an additional interest.  Why is this guy aiming a sign at an officer 4 feet away, what does it say, etc.

I put my hand up over my forehead to shield my eyes from the sun.  And then the officer said he thought I should get some sunglasses, that would make it easier.  I grinned.   He said what does the other side of your sign say?   I showed it to him.  He said who is NPD?  Who is Mike Gannon?   Then he said "Should I look it up on the Internet?"   And then he pulled out a cell phone, as if to do so. 

He said ok I'm going to drive off now.  I reached out my hand.  He shook it and said does this mean you are leaving?   There was another pause.  And then he said..."I'm driving that way" and pointed to the right.  And off he went.

I stayed for another half hour or so and left when the traffic died down.  On the way out I passed a student wearing a D.A.R.E. t shirt.  What a role reversal huh?  The 40 year old is the borderline anarchist and the kid wants more controls placed over him.

Most of the young folks today seemed to "get it," however.  In describing NHfree to one of the guys, I said that is where you go to participate in peaceful, respectful anti government activity.  He said "that is very New Hampshire."

[Dave Ridley]

thanks for the kind words everyone!

hey here's another memo to activists:  do this and you will feel happy, if happy is something you like to be.

[d_goddard]

OOn the way out I passed a student wearing a D.A.R.E. t shirt.  What a role reversal huh?  The 40 year old is the borderline anarchist and the kid wants more controls placed over him.

The "druggies" in my high school and college all loved getting DARE t-shirts. He may have been wearing it for the irony rather than in a show of support.

[KBCraig]

Dave, this is absolutely brilliant. You've come upon a way to engage people by baffling them. You de-escalate the situation by presenting no threat whatsoever.

Then there's this...

At this point two officers drove up and I nodded at them and tried to look more friendly than I had been looking at the schocked chief (I felt kinda bad about scaring him and his staff that much).  One of them asked me a question and the chief obligingly did my talking for me, he said "he's not talking!  He has the right to remain silent, and he knows it!" I grinned at that.  By now the atmosphere was somewhere between ridicule and mutual levity, the chief said..."he is my humble servant! Maybe he will tie my shoes!"  I laughed at this.

( . . . )

Anyway, then one of the officers said do you work for Gatchell?   When I didn't respond he said..."the lack of response speaks volumes." 

One of the officers also said "I know why he's mad...he didn't get invited to the party!"
I laughed at this a lot and they started laughing.   The other responded, "well of course he didn't get invited, he's over 21! And he's not a female." 

They asked...did you walk all the way here? 

They took my picture and said they might post it to NHfree.com

One of them said can we go to your website and vote up or down as to whether we should have raided the party?
I still didn't respond , so hopefully they will drop by and figure it out for themselves...maybe i should start a poll....
Guys if you're listening....register and start one yourself!   And welcome to NHfree.com! 

Somewhere in their they said again "we're wasting our time."  But they looked amused.

All interrogators know that uncomfortable silence is the best way to get someone to spill their guts. All police are trained in this, even those who aren't detectives. I've seen an investigator say nothing more that, "So. You know why we're here. Do you have anything to say?", and then doodle on a legal pad without making eye contact for minute ... upon ... minute ... upon ... achingly ... loooong ... silent ... minute ... until ... "Hey, boss, I can give you something to really help you out! Can we make this go away?" (At which time the investigator would again break eye contact, and resume doodling, until the interviewee gives up not just those he was willing to sell out, but everything he himself had done.)

Seriously. Nerves are your enemy in this situation (as Dave saw at the Epping PD lobby). Silence is your friend when you want to engage someone and get them to talk.

Brilliant, Dave. I salute you!

Kevin

[tracysaboe]

I said I was there because I didn't like my tax money being used that way.

That really is a excellent line. It makes both the conservative and liberal argument for freedom in a short easy to understand sentence.

Tracy

[Russell Kanning]

I love it. It is funny to hear how each government worker tries to fulfill the "requirements" of their job with the "silent sign sentinel".

[Russell Kanning]

I said I was there because I didn't like my tax money being used that way.

That really is a excellent line. It makes both the conservative and liberal argument for freedom in a short easy to understand sentence.

That's funny. I was thinking that it was just the truth. Dada doesn't like his money spent that way.

[tracysaboe]

 

[FTL_Ian]

Dada, you are quite inspirational!  Keep up the good work!

Oh, I don't know how closely you looked at the DARE shirt, but there's a chance it was a joke version that says in small print: "Drugs Are Really Expensive".

[aries]

That cop at durham story... Gold, jerry, gold!

Maybe this could be your "permit" next time you're asked... in fact anyone here could use it:

Here are the laws:

The people have a right, in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble and consult upon the common good, give instructions to their representatives, and to request of the l egislative body, by way of petition or remonstrance, redress of the wrongs done them, and of the grievances they suffer.

Free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.