Civil Disobedience

[Michael Fisher]

I had an idea:? hand out FIJA material outside courthouses.? It'd be pretty easy to get tossed in jail for it.? I have a bunch of printed brochures still, courtesy of Scott.

Is that really illegal?  If so, I would be amazed!

[Michael Fisher]

Here's my first attempt at a press release... ever. 

Draft Press Release for Anti-Licensing Civil Disobedience

[Kat Kanning]

People have been jailed for it, whether it's actually illegal or not.  I believe they try and pass it off as jury tampering.  Supposedly if you hand the brochures to people in the jury pool and not to an already selected jury, you're not doing anything illegal.  I can check up on it again.

[Kat Kanning]

State Contacts  -- FIJA   (Heh, we know them already)
New Hampshire

Dick Marple
Phone: (603)627-1837
Fax: Same
E-Mail: armlaw(a)hotmail.com
Address: 11 Dartmouth St, Hooksett, NH 03106

Norman Bernier
26 South Main Street #135
Concord, NH 03301
603-848-0316
normanbernier(a)hotmail.com

[Kat Kanning]

Distributing FIJA Literature in Front of Courthouses

FIJA activists frequently stand on the public sidewalks near courthouses, or near the jurors? parking lot, and distribute FIJA brochures to all passersby. Some activists tell us that the best time to be there is when the whole jury pool is first assembled (often on Monday mornings; be there bright and early, 7:30 or 8:00 AM). At this time those summoned are not yet officially jurors, and the authorities are less likely to bother you. On the other hand, authorities sometimes confiscate brochures from prospective jurors as they enter the courthouse. For this reason, it has been suggested that a better time to distribute literature may be late in the afternoon, to catch people as they come out.

FIJA activists should make it clear that they are only passing out information of general interest to all citizens, and are not trying to influence any particular case. No case-specific literature should be distributed with FIJA literature to anyone who might be a prospective juror. FIJA literature, which informs jurors of their rights and powers in general terms and which seeks reform of the judicial process, is protected speech under the First Amendment. If other people present are passing out literature protesting the case or cases which happen to being going on inside, fine. It is their right to protest, and the sidewalk is a traditional public forum for First Amendment purposes. (U.S. v. Grace et al, 461 U.S., 1983)

Literature distribution is most effective if you dress neatly and conservatively, smile, and are polite. A FIJA button in your lapel would also be appropriate. It is not good to engage in long debates with anyone, while dozens of people walk by without receiving your material ? unless you have enough people to do it. Limit your interaction to a minute or less, and have a short, prepared delivery speech to use as you hand out literature.

Thousands of people have now distributed FIJA literature at courthouses, the vast majority without any trouble. Although a few people have been hassled, some even arrested, we have rarely had anyone convicted of anything for passing out FIJA brochures. One conviction was for disobeying a court injunction to cease literature distribution (this is being appealed at this time). (If you are facing contempt charges for violating an injunction, as things stand now, you do not get a trial by a jury of your peers; instead, a judge decides if you are ?guilty?, too often the same one who issued the injunction.) Another arrest and conviction was for refusing to cease literature distribution and leave the interior of a courthouse (also being appealed).

A handful of ?jury tampering? charges have been have been filed for simply passing out FIJA literature. Juries have so far refused to convict people so charged.

Usually when the authorities decide there is not much they can actually do to stop brochure distribution, they stumble over themselves in their haste to dismiss charges or otherwise back down. Perhaps they come to realize that prosecuting you for jury tampering will mean giving FIJA brochures to your jury as evidence... and they realize that distributing political/informational brochures in a public place is a clearly protected First Amendment right. In addition, prosecutions are liable to generate a great deal of local media interest and exposure for FIJA?s message ? and this is the last thing judges and prosecutors want!

You?re more likely to encounter trouble if you insist on distributing brochures inside the courthouse, but it has been done successfully. In any case, if the powers that be react at all, expect them to warn you first and ask that you leave. Some of our activists have refused to leave because they were trying to be arrested, but even so couldn?t induce an arrest. And some ?arresting authorities? are now facing civil suits brought by FIJA supporters.

However, let me emphasize that we are not offering legal advice in this manual. These are just things we have observed.

[FTL_Ian]

Handing out FIJA material at a courthouse would be a great Activist Project, but doesn't really qualify as civil disobedience.

[Michael Fisher]

I'll post the text of the press release here for people like me who are too lazy to click on a link.?

Mike Fisher, 362 Lita Ln, Newmarket, NH? 03857

For Immediate Release

For further information, please contact:? Mike Fisher, 603-498-7935

Activists to Defy State Licensing Laws

Concord, NH, April 19, 2005 ? On Monday, May 9, at noon, activists plan to violate New Hampshire?s licensing laws at the State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics in Concord.  In an act of civil disobedience, the activists plan to sell haircuts, massages, and manicures for profit without obtaining licenses from the State government.

The purpose of this event is ?to call attention to the State?s intrusive, unnecessary, and ever-expanding restrictions on entry-level workers and entrepreneurs in many industries,? according to Mike Fisher, an activist heading up the effort through the NH Underground (NHFree.com).  ?In a free country, people do not need permission to start a business.  We are no longer free to make a living without government approval.?

According to State law, ?it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to engage in any practice regulated by [Chapter 313] without the appropriate license.?  It is a misdemeanor in New Hampshire to start many types of service businesses without a license.  In addition, these laws were recently expanded to include all tanning businesses.

The general public and supporters are invited to attend this event of civil disobedience.  The event will be held on Monday, May 9, at noon, at or near the NH Board of Cosmetology at 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH  03301.  Attendees are asked to bring their friends, families, cameras, anti-licensing signs, and positive attitudes.

# # #

Mike Fisher
603-498-7935

[Kat Kanning]

That sounds great, Mike!  The only suggestion I have to is change the "two activists" to something like "activists", since you wont know for sure how many people you'll get to help.

[Russell Kanning]

Should we make a wiki page for this and link from the front page?

[Michael Fisher]

Should we make a wiki page for this and link from the front page?

Absolutely!!!

How do I do that?  Or can I not do that?

[AllanHampton]

?Allan, you're, pretty much preaching to the choir here about, re-electing scum?

Are you sure? I am not so sure of that.

?Realistically this is no longer, Constitutional America,?

Yes, that is what I am talking about and mentioning the only way citizens can ?force? it to be fixed.

?even if we increase the number of people who realize it by a factor of 10, it would make little difference at the voting booth.?

Maybe so, but protesting carries no force with it and the ballot box does. Yes, citizens have the Right of Grievance (protest), which I support, but government officials are obligated only to listen to citizen?s protests. If protesting had any force then America would be a mobbed ruled democracy.

?Many of the  'theatrical events' showing the absurdity of most of what the government does, could, get more voters on our side.?

That is possible, but unless voters are told, and learn, why they elect public Officials theatrical events are all but worthless. Citizens are voting for public Officials for all the wrong reasons when there is only one reason to elect anyone to public office. Freedom never will be restored as long as citizens? vote on the political issues fed them by the enemy of freedom.

Americans have the best government (the government created by the Constitution) ever in history and to maintain it citizens are obligated to force Officials to honor their Oath of Office.

Allan

[Lloyd Danforth]

I had an idea:? hand out FIJA material outside courthouses.? It'd be pretty easy to get tossed in jail for it.? I have a bunch of printed brochures still, courtesy of Scott.

Is that really illegal?? If so, I would be amazed!

"When, correctly viewed, and, your rights, mistrued, everything is lewd" Ilegal.

My apologies to Tom Lerher.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Americans have the best government (the government created by the Constitution) ever in history and to maintain it citizens are obligated to force Officials to honor their Oath of Office.

Allan

All, but, lost

It will take a castastrophe to get remenants of it back.

If a 25% tax rate was Serfdom, what is an excess of 50%?

[Russell Kanning]

Should we make a wiki page for this and link from the front page?

Absolutely!!!

How do I do that?? Or can I not do that?

Just punch the edit button on the first page and see how it is done and do whatever you want. To make a new page use ((New Page)) and after you save.....click on the ? mark to start editing the new page.

[Pat K]

Should we make a wiki page for this and link from the front page?

Absolutely!!!

How do I do that?? Or can I not do that?

Just punch the edit button on the first page and see how it is done and do whatever you want. To make a new page use ((New Page)) and after you save.....click on the ? mark to start editing the new page.

Insert slot A into slot B rotate cam 180 degrees  click your heels together and say there's no place like home..........