Dada in Federal Court 7/17 .... leads to 4 days in jail

[John]

Dada was our media expert.

Damn. I'll just have to do my best then. I will call WMUR and bug them a little and see what we can accomplish there.

BTW, Kat, is was really nice to meet you today! Nice to put a face to a name! I'm sad we all live so spread out!

We are closer than you think.
THINK POSITIVE!

[David]

More photos here.  I didn't resize one of them, I guess.  Maybe someone will fix it.

http://www.newhampshireunderground.com/wiki/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=86

Was that sign supposed to say "leafleteer"?

I also thought the spelling was wrong, but all I could think of was leaf lettier. 

Dave Ridley is the Outlaw Leafleteer.  Free the Outlaw Leafleteer.  Thanks to those that were able to make it for Dave.  He is a good man, and a good friend. 

[John]

I called the jail/prison.  I talked to the guy there.  I am from that area (his (the gaurds's) town/area, etc.)
I grew up with these guys (today's gaurds) and or their brothers and sisters . . . and their prisoners . . .etc.
I did my best to tell him that we have a perfectly good guy in their custody . . .

Desent conversation with the night guy.
I hope my connection to these guys helps.
YOUR CALLS WILL HELP AS MUCH - CALL TODAY/TONIGHT!
Be polite.  Ask polite questions!
Remind them that Dave is a peaceful man.

[David]

Recap

The Essex County Jail is at: 978.750.1900 (records is ex. 3400).

David Ridley
Outlaw Leafleteer
Essex County Jail
165 Marston Street
Lawrence, Mass. 01841

The following is the address I was originally told about.
Essex County Correctional Facility & Sheriff's Headquarters
20 Manning Rd
Middleton, MA 01949-2807

Telephone: (978) 750-1900
Ext. 3301 - Central Control/Ext. 3370 Sheriff's Office

Good advice John.

[Caleb]

My thoughts and prayers are with Dave.  The thugs are shameless. How any judge can even maintain the pretense that he is protecting people when he throws a harmless man in prison for handing someone a piece of paper is beyond me.  

[Caleb]

"Please wait, line busy, thank you for your patience."

We must be flooding them with calls. 

[error]

Can someone confirm which jail he's at? There are at least three in Essex County.

[Caleb]

He is in the county facility. The guy told me that there are 1300 inmates, there, most of them federal and state inmates.

He also told me that, while he couldn't speak as to Mr. Ridley's case individually, as a general rule an individual is not eligible for visitation until after a week has passed. He also told me that an inmate generally is only considered for time off for good behavior if his sentence is longer than six months.  I had hoped that he would be released early, but that's looking unlikely.

[CNHT]

Oh hell he's in MIDDLETON? 

[CNHT]

Oh hell he's in MIDDLETON? 

EEEK! I had to post again, so my posts would not be 6666

[error]

It would seem he's in Middleton, though I'm still waiting on someone to actually post confirmation.

[Caleb]

My LTE to the Keene Sentinel

-----

Last September, Keene resident David Ridley walked into an IRS office in Nashua to petition for redress of grievances. Reminiscent of Thoreau's claim that "[w]hen the subject has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the revolution is accomplished", Ridley entered the IRS for the sole purpose of encouraging the IRS officers to resign. To this end, he held a sign which asked "Is it right to work for the Internal Robbery Squadron?" He also distributed a flyer with the same message.

It was then that his legal troubles began. First, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security visited his home. He wasn't home, but DHS met him the next day in a parking lot, and issued him a citation, fining him $125. Ridley attended his court hearing, was found guilty of "distributing handbills", and the judge upheld the fine. In good conscience, believing that he has a first amendment right to petition for redress of grievances, Ridley refused to pay the fine. He attended several more court hearings on the matter, until finally on July 17, the judge magistrate held him in contempt, and ordered that he be held in prison for four days.

You probably won't read about this on the front page of the paper, or see the story on the evening news. But here in America, here in New Hampshire, a man was jailed by the US government for the crime of handing a government employee a piece of paper. Young men are being asked to fight overseas and die for "freedom", but what sort of freedom is this that jails a man for petitioning for redress of grievance? I don't recognize America anymore.

[Pat K]

While Dave being jailed does not surprise me in the least.

It still pisses me off.

[EthanAllen]

My LTE to the Keene Sentinel

-----

Last September, Keene resident David Ridley walked into an IRS office in Nashua to petition for redress of grievances. Reminiscent of Thoreau's claim that "[w]hen the subject has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the revolution is accomplished", Ridley entered the IRS for the sole purpose of encouraging the IRS officers to resign. To this end, he held a sign which asked "Is it right to work for the Internal Robbery Squadron?" He also distributed a flyer with the same message.

It was then that his legal troubles began. First, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security visited his home. He wasn't home, but DHS met him the next day in a parking lot, and issued him a citation, fining him $125. Ridley attended his court hearing, was found guilty of "distributing handbills", and the judge upheld the fine. In good conscience, believing that he has a first amendment right to petition for redress of grievances, Ridley refused to pay the fine. He attended several more court hearings on the matter, until finally on July 17, the judge magistrate held him in contempt, and ordered that he be held in prison for four days.

You probably won't read about this on the front page of the paper, or see the story on the evening news. But here in America, here in New Hampshire, a man was jailed by the US government for the crime of handing a government employee a piece of paper. Young men are being asked to fight overseas and die for "freedom", but what sort of freedom is this that jails a man for petitioning for redress of grievance? I don't recognize America anymore.

A "petition for the redress of grievances" and a "handbill" are very specific documents serving completely different purposes. So we have two immediate problems:

1. The claim that Dave was issuing a petition vs. a handbill.
2. The claim that an IRS building is a proper place for Dave to submit a petition vs. a place so designated for that purpose.

Now before someone engages in non-violent, civil disobedience they have to be very specific  about what exact law they are breaking, why they are breaking it, and be willing to suffer the consequences for breaking the law.

What exact law did Dave intend on breaking and for what specific purpose?

[Caleb]

maybe you can write your own rebuttal of my letter, and submit it to the sentinel. I bet you'd be a big hit.