Gangsters in Blue

Thirty-one days ago individuals gathered in a lower Manhattan urban park to express their disillusionment with the Statist Quo. Initially ignored by the lamestream media, the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement has spread to over 1,000 cities worldwide and can no longer be ignored. And (at least for now) it’s decentralized, which means potential for the spread of new and better ideas.

A couple of weeks ago, Cop Block teamed-up with Strike The Root, Freedoms Phoenix and Liberty On Tour to share ideas through the “Occupy Wall Street: Strike The Root!” video contest.

The goal was to communicate a consistent, rights-respecting and prosperity-maximizing framework to individuals on the ground with OWS so they could grasp how the “99%” was arrived at and positive next-steps. In other words, to replace the bad idea of looking to someone else as a leader (and thus granting them the “right” do engage in things wrong for me or you) with the good idea of self-ownership (and with it freedom and responsibility).

Thanks to the sponsoring organizations listed above and a donation by Blake Thessing $400 was up for grabs. I did my best to promote the video contest and had was told from some that they planned to submit videos but in the end, we got only one video submission, from Drew Phillips. So, congrats Drew, you took it all!

Drew’s video is damn solid so it’s likely he would have placed even were we to have gotten a lot of submissions, but the apparent lack of interest in this video contest is telling for me – I’ll try to figure out relevant take-aways from this attempt to incorporate into future such contests. If you have thoughts of your own on why only one video was submitted let me know. Was the time period between announcement and deadline too short? Were the guidelines unclear? Was the topic itself not worth pursuing here on Cop Block?

Drew Phillips Takes OWS Video Contest is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

A few weeks ago some active with Anonymous called for people to gather and do a sit-in called Occupy Wall Street, defined by Wiki as:

an ongoing peaceful demonstration opposing what participants view as negative corporate influence over U.S. politics and a lack of legal repercussions over the global financial crisis. It was inspired by the Arab Spring movement, particularly the protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square which resulted in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. The aim of the demonstration is to begin a sustained occupation of Wall Street, the financial district of New York City. Organizers intend for the occupation to last “a few months.”

Since most of the lamestream media had thus far ignored the event my bud Tommy and I left the ‘shire and traveled to NYC on Friday to document the situation on the ground first-hand.

The first of three videos below shows the scene at Zuccotti Park (aka Liberty Park), where protesters have gathered, and at nearby Wall St.

Though many present rightly vilified the actions of banksters and corporations, the reality of the situation is that such people and companies could never have such a negative impact were it not for the size and scope of the State. The solution then, is not a new “leader” or oversight board or internal review, it is to simply stop granting others arbitrary authority. (For more on this, check out Larken Rose’s The Most Dangerous Superstition and do some self-education on Austrian Economics.)

The second video was taken yesterday, Sat., Sept. 24th. It depicts some of what unfolded as protesters walked north to Union Sq. It’s clear that some of those wearing badges acted as if they had the right to use aggressive force.

For me personally, it was a whirlwind experience that was both empowering and frustrating. The energy of those in the march, as well as the vocal support of tourists and shop owners, was contagious and demonstrated just how deep runs the disillusionment with the Statist Quo. Conversely, the utter lack of independent thinking or personal responsibility exercised by those with badges only underscored for me why Cop Block exists.

The third video documents the police state now common in NYC and includes a plug from me for people to stand up for their rights and to document the actions of those wearing badges.

Though they purport to “serve and protect,” or in NYPD’s case, have “Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect,” the double-standards created by a “legitimate” monopoly of force causes such widespread rights-violations to occur without accountability. (For more on this, check out our interview with Bruce Benson.)

NEW VIDEO MADE LIVE SEPT. 27TH, USING USTREAM.TV FOOTAGE: 
Hey NYPD: Think For Yourself!

For more:
Pete Eyre, of CopBlock.org, is LIVE from Occupy Wall St Today post on CopBlock.org with embedded livestreamed videos
Ustream.TV/channel/Voluntaryists for all livestreamed content
Voluntaryism entry on Wikipedia
Private Defense Agency entry on Wikipedia
First Time Here? page on LibertyOnTour.com with videos and text about Voluntaryism

NYPD Turns Violent at Occupy Wall St. is a post from Cop Block - Badges Don't Grant Extra Rights

Craig, from Pittsburgh CopBlock, recently posted about a video where he and others CopBlocked a speed trap. I took that video and made a shorted one (my cut is above, Pitts-CB is below)

How do you feel about speed traps? Do they really make the road safer or are they only to generate money for the government? If you’re not speeding but get in a wreck should you be held accountable? What alternatives do we have to these ‘problems?’

How To CopBlock A SpeedTrap is a post from Cop Block - "Something must be done about vengeance, a badge, and a gun"

Last night we posted fliers along Main Street in Greenfield to inform more people about Ademo and my unjust arrests by Todd M. Dodge and our ongoing prosecution by Jeffrey Bengston. Using satire, the flier encourages readers to NOT attend our presentation or trial, visit our website, or share with us their police abuse stories.

We also printed-up hundreds of quarter-sheet fliers with the same text, which we’re including with our DVD and FreeKeene.com handout, and distributing around town.

We found such tactics productive last fall when in Jones County, MS last fall, where we’d been arrested in May of 2009.

Public Memo Posted Along Greenfield’s Main St. is a post from Cop Block - "Something must be done about vengeance, a badge, and a gun"

The below post was submitted by David Freeman.

In the Police State of California, 4th of July means overtime pay for cops. Saturation patrols, and “show me your papers” checkpoints should be expected when traveling by vehicle. If you want to take public transit to a barbecue, the cops may decide to celebrate independence-day-overtime by gunning you down in the BART station. Want to relax at the beach? In order to gain access to San Pedro, Santa Cruz, and other state beaches, individuals are required to submit to searches of their vehicle, bags, and ice chests to prevent injuries related to “fireworks and alcohol.”

Despite these dire circumstances, free individuals celebrating the American spirit of resistance began organizing against the agents of aggression. This year, the holiday weekend debuted with a series of so-called DUI checkpoints funded by federal grants and conducted by law enforcement agencies across California. The first took place in Livermore where an armed group of protesters confronted the LPD Gestapo officers for violating the rights of peaceful travelers. By holding signs ahead of the checkpoint, the group gave numerous drivers the opportunity to avoid the roadblock and prevent harassment by the police. The officers and volunteers from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) were also confronted and questioned as they stole vehicles and operated their for-profit criminal operation. After several hours of confrontation, Sgt. John Hurd (Badge #1000) decided to end the Livermore checkpoint at 1 A.M rather than 2 A.M. This was accomplished with only 5 concerned citizens in attendance. With a group of 10-15, a checkpoint could be entirely neutralized.

Based on published statistics, the Livermore Police Department subjected 1200 drivers to unreasonable searches (and seizures) and only arrested TWO individuals for allegedly drunk driving during their 4th of July weekend checkpoint. That means less than 0.17% of those asked “show me your papers” were drinking! Since 11 vehicles were towed, we can conclude that 82% of the vehicles were stolen from undocumented drivers or people with registration issues. We all know the real reason they have these checkpoints. The cities and law enforcement agencies make millions ($40 million across CA in 2009) by selling stolen vehicles.

Police agencies are required to give advance notice of checkpoints before they occur. Take action by organizing against checkpoints in your area!

Join Abolish Checkpoints on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbolishCheckpoints

Armed Citizens confront Nazi Checkpoint is a post from Cop Block - "Something must be done about vengeance, a badge, and a gun"

Jim Johnson (Keene, NH) and John Kurtz (Orlando, FL) may have never met but they have a lot in common, especially at the moment, as they’re both currently in a cage for standing up for their (and your) rights.

Jim Johnson is a peacefully man, one that has helped us repair and maintain MARV time and time again, who’s caged for refusing to pay a trespassing fine and for failing to fill out financial information. Yep, in ‘america’ your taxes will be used to build 40 million dollar prisons, that house 7 violent offenders out of 167 inmates – according to the Superintendent of Cheshire Co Jail, but when you go to take a walk around it they forcefully throw you inside. That’s why we made this video to encourage others to help support Jim through his painful stay at the house of corrections.

John Kurtz is another peaceful man who’s an advocate for transparency and accountability by using a camera to document government officials, especially cops – he founded OrlandoCopwatch.com. And that’s what John was doing one night, video tapping cops who were being rough with someone. After beating a felony charge at trial John was still found guilty of ‘resisting arrest.’ Yep, in ‘america’ you can be found NOT guilty of the original charge, yet do time (30 days is John’s sentence) for resisting an arrest that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. That’s also why we made this video to encourage others to support John through this troubling time of injustice.

You can send both these brave activists letters via Mail-to-Jail.com - a great website for jailed activist – please consider donating to this site if you use their service.

Jim and John: Currently Jailed for Your Rights is a post from Cop Block - "Something must be done about vengeance, a badge, and a gun"

Last week Bob “Weeda Claus” Constantine was found “guilty” of possession of marijuana by 12 jurors at Grafton County (NH) superior court. Today Bob begins his 60-day sentence.

Let’s remind those responsible for caging Bob – a peaceful, non-violent man – that they are in the wrong. Bob was growing a plant on his property. Who is the victim? Where was the harm?

Take five-minutes today and on as many of the next 59 days as you can, to call one or both of these numbers:

Melissa Pierce – 603.787.6968 mpierce@co.grafton.nh.us (Grafton Co. “district attorney”)
Grafton Co. Jail – 603.787.6767

Bob was victorious. Despite the 60-day jail sentence (two years of “prohibition” and $1,0o0 “fine”) he stood up for what was right. Thanks in advance for your support!

For more:
Trial overview – first day (text post at LibertyOnTour.com)
Trial overview – second day (text post at LibertyOnTour.com)
Trial overview – conclusion (text post at LibertyOnTour.com)
Bob Constantine to Jury: Vote Your Conscience (video by Talley TV)
Free Grafton’s Bob Constantine to be caged by New Hampshire for growing a plant (video by Talley TV)

Got Five-Minutes for Freedom? is a post from Cop Block - "Something must be done about vengeance, a badge, and a gun"

Guest post below by a great activist and good friend, Nate Cox. Check out his blog for his other writings:

March 17th, 2011 I had witnessed my second “sobriety check-point” within in matter of 6 days in my town, of Mechanicsville (within Hanover County). The first checkpoint I witnessed, I was leaving work at around 10:30pm on March 11th.. I noticed the checkpoint at the intersection just adjacent to the shopping center where my work is. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the first check point I had seen since living in the county for 17 years. I didn’t get caught in it, because it was in the opposite side of the road. So I ended up making a quick right and parked in the shopping center to capture some video and commentary of the scene, you can watch that here (includes encounter with police).

However this blog is not about that police check point.. it’s about the check point I witnessed just 6 days after the one mentioned above. I was coming home from a movie in Richmond. It was early only around 8:30pm (St. Patrick’s Day evening). As I was about 2 miles from my County line, on Mechanicsville Turnpike, I was nearing the county line which first requires me to go up a steep hill.. then down the same hill before a long straight-away over a swamp lands. As SOON as I hit the crest of the hill and started down ward.. I noticed something going on. Traffic was backed up 1/4 of a mile at least.. I didn’t see ANY blue lights.. but I could see tons of cop cars and VDOT equipment, cordoning off the lanes down to one lane. I quickly realized it was a massive check point.. I couldn’t believe it… As I was approaching the sign that said “Sobriety Roadcheck ahead: Prepare to stop Henrico Police I noticed a cop car in the median, facing the direction I was going with no lights on – my assumption was he was regulating “squirters”. I took a picture of the traffic jam, and the check point sign, and then as I passed the sign I maneuvered my car though the traffic cones that had been placed and made a u-turn. I was shocked to see I did not get pulled over by the cops, for which later, after talking with Henrico Police Internal Affairs is supposedly “illegal” to do.

So I went home and made it home successfully but not before immediately facebooking about the checkpoint. I was furious and sick to my stomach – two things that fire me up quick 1) Illegal Wars 2) The Police State. I was determined to do some Cop Block‘ing! I was home for a matter of minutes before I ran down do CVS to pick up some sign making materials. I made a sign with glitter paint that said “Police Ahead” and another one that said, “Do Not Consent”. I grabbed cameras, flashlights, my glock 26 and my signs and headed back to the check point. I parked my car and proceeded to start signwaving at around 10pm. I was standing in the road, in the direction that people would get caught up in the check point, about 1/8th – 1/4th of a mile from the top of the hill where you at that point would see the check point. There IS, one last chance to make a U-Turn at the very top of that hill.

So I sign-waved, about 30-45 minutes into it, a cop flashing his blue lights came up from the opposite direction and made a u-turn where I was posted up and sorta blocked off the road while he questioned me from his car. I got about half of that encounter on video About 20-30 minutes after that encounter, with the cop who never ID’ed himself.. another cop (quite possibly the same one) came and parked his car in the parking lot I was standing in front of by the road. He immediately got out of his car and whipped out his cell-phone and began what appeared to be shooting video. As you’ll see in the video, he never ID’ed himself either.

Thirty minutes after that encounter with the cop, a buddy of mine finally met up with me to help me sign wave and shoot video. We walked over to the top of the hill where we could seee the checkpoint at around 12:20am. We shot some video recapping the situation and noticed after we shot the video they were taking down the roadblock. I’m not sure if we had anything to do with it or not. But I DO know we had a dozen or two cars honk (in support), wave, thumbs up, and even turn around before they made it to the checkpoint and even some thank you’s.

I’m disgusted at the police state we live in. I did what I did to raise awareness and to educate people of their rights. The Police have no authority over me. I own & govern myself and take responsibility for my actions. Just because they have swore an oath to do X,Y,Z.. doesn’t mean they have additional rights as I do, or are immune to the law. We’ve got to not only educate ordinary citizens of their rights when encountered by cops, but we need to try, and educated cops of what their job is supposed to be! USE DISCERNMENT in what laws you enforce! Do NOT enforce “crimes” in which there is NO victim, “No Victim, No Crime.”

Large of amount of credit for knowing my rights when encountered by cops go to websites Cop Block and Flex Your Rights.

Richmond Activist Nate Cox Cop Blocks Police Checkpoint is a post from Cop Block - "Something must be done about vengeance, a badge, and a gun"

Guest post below by a great activist and good friend, Nate Cox. Check out his blog for his other writings:

March 17th, 2011 I had witnessed my second “sobriety check-point” within in matter of 6 days in my town, of Mechanicsville (within Hanover County). The first checkpoint I witnessed, I was leaving work at around 10:30pm on March 11th.. I noticed the checkpoint at the intersection just adjacent to the shopping center where my work is. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the first check point I had seen since living in the county for 17 years. I didn’t get caught in it, because it was in the opposite side of the road. So I ended up making a quick right and parked in the shopping center to capture some video and commentary of the scene, you can watch that here (includes encounter with police).

However this blog is not about that police check point.. it’s about the check point I witnessed just 6 days after the one mentioned above. I was coming home from a movie in Richmond. It was early only around 8:30pm (St. Patrick’s Day evening). As I was about 2 miles from my County line, on Mechanicsville Turnpike, I was nearing the county line which first requires me to go up a steep hill.. then down the same hill before a long straight-away over a swamp lands. As SOON as I hit the crest of the hill and started down ward.. I noticed something going on. Traffic was backed up 1/4 of a mile at least.. I didn’t see ANY blue lights.. but I could see tons of cop cars and VDOT equipment, cordoning off the lanes down to one lane. I quickly realized it was a massive check point.. I couldn’t believe it. As I was approaching the sign that said “Sobriety Roadcheck ahead: Prepare to stop” Henrico Police I noticed a cop car in the median, facing the direction I was going with no lights on – my assumption was he was regulating �squirters�. I took a picture of the traffic jam, and the check point sign, and then as I passed the sign I maneuvered my car though the traffic cones that had been placed and made a u-turn. I was shocked to see I did not get pulled over by the cops, for which later, after talking with Henrico Police Internal Affairs is supposedly �illegal� to do.

So I went home and made it home successfully but not before immediately facebooking about the checkpoint. I was furious and sick to my stomach � two things that fire me up quick 1) Illegal Wars 2) The Police State. I was determined to do some Cop Block�ing! I was home for a matter of minutes before I ran down do CVS to pick up some sign making materials. I made a sign with glitter paint that said �Police Ahead� and another one that said, �Do Not Consent�. I grabbed cameras, flashlights, my glock 26 and my signs and headed back to the check point. I parked my car and proceeded to start signwaving at around 10pm. I was standing in the road, in the direction that people would get caught up in the check point, about 1/8th � 1/4th of a mile from the top of the hill where you at that point would see the check point. There IS, one last chance to make a U-Turn at the very top of that hill.

So I sign-waved, about 30-45 minutes into it, a cop flashing his blue lights came up from the opposite direction and made a u-turn where I was posted up and sorta blocked off the road while he questioned me from his car. I got about half of that encounter on video About 20-30 minutes after that encounter, with the cop who never ID�ed himself.. another cop (quite possibly the same one) came and parked his car in the parking lot I was standing in front of by the road. He immediately got out of his car and whipped out his cell-phone and began what appeared to be shooting video. As you�ll see in the video, he never ID�ed himself either.

Thirty minutes after that encounter with the cop, a buddy of mine finally met up with me to help me sign wave and shoot video. We walked over to the top of the hill where we could seee the checkpoint at around 12:20am. We shot some video recapping the situation and noticed after we shot the video they were taking down the roadblock. I�m not sure if we had anything to do with it or not. But I DO know we had a dozen or two cars honk (in support), wave, thumbs up, and even turn around before they made it to the checkpoint and even some thank you�s.

I�m disgusted at the police state we live in. I did what I did to raise awareness and to educate people of their rights. The Police have no authority over me. I own & govern myself and take responsibility for my actions. Just because they have swore an oath to do X,Y,Z.. doesn�t mean they have additional rights as I do, or are immune to the law. We�ve got to not only educate ordinary citizens of their rights when encountered by cops, but we need to try, and educated cops of what their job is supposed to be! USE DISCERNMENT in what laws you enforce! Do NOT enforce �crimes� in which there is NO victim, �No Victim, No Crime.�

Large of amount of credit for knowing my rights when encountered by cops go to websites Cop Block and Flex Your Rights.

Richmond Activist Nate Cox Cop Blocks Police Checkpoint is a post from Cop Block - "Something must be done about vengeance, a badge, and a gun"

The Austin police (APD) pride themselves on their “Groceries for Guns” campaign. They claim that removing guns (most of which are dysfunctional) from “the streets” will lower crime. Unfortunately, that is just not true, and John Bush with Texans For Accountable Government (TAG), was there with fellow activists to Cop Block the APD. They sat outside the police campaign and bought guns for $110 cash, which was $10 over what the police were offering. Doesn’t matter to me that the police ‘collected’ more guns, this video is a textbook ‘Cop Block’ and the best I’ve seen in a while. My hat’s off to the Austin Crew for such a powerful video. Watch them put a major Cop Block, Austin Style, on the police in the video below.

This second video is what the local news station reported about the event. Do you notice the difference?

An Armed Society Is A Safe Society.