Homeland Security and Petition for Redress of Grievances
Dave, aka "DadaOrwell" on many internet forums, is a powerhouse of pro-freedom activity. As well as actively engaging the legislature and the media, he has taken it upon himself to petition the government for redress of grievances -- individually and personally.
His technique is simple: he makes a sign stating his grievance, goes to the offices of the relevant bureau, and holds the sign -- silently. If a law enforcement officer asks for him to identify himself, he does so -- handing over a piece of paper with his name on it, and further description of the grievance. If asked to leave, he does so -- slowly. It's a powerful way to make a statement; to get the full measure of it, you really must read Dave's own accounts, here and here. I particularly love his petition for the grievance of the University of New Hampshire Police Department spending taxpayers' money busting college "underage" drinking parties.
These "silent demonstrations" in no way interfered with the conduct of regular business at the relevant offices, and of course are protected speech under the First amendment of the US constitution. It was therefore dismally unsurprising to discover that the Department of Homeland Security wanted to "meet" with him.
Fortunately, Dave had the presence of mind to alert people that he needed witnesses to this "voluntary meeting" -- and he alerted the media, as well. The Union Leader ran a great story:
Homeland Security goes after Keene man for demonstrating at IRS office
Note, the Union Leader seems to have dropped the article, after publishing it. The reasons why are not clear.
Thank God for the free press!
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Free Speech Beneath US Homeland Security
http://wwwsouthcapitolstreet.blogspot.com
After putting out this blog for just over 4 months about the U.S. government’s betrayal of its 1990s-2001 promise for a South Capitol Street-Frederick Douglass Mall, about 20+ black suited police, including Federal, ambush me upon false pretext (non-existent traffic violations) … one of these officers comments to me that he has been “researching†me …
I have no previous criminal record.
There is a timeline that suggests this was triggered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by those displeased with my writings questioning the role of Roman Catholic Church hierarchy in the planning for the South Capitol Street corridor, particularly regarding an apparent opposition to any relocation of that corridor’s sole nice building in the right of way for the new park: St. Vincent DePaul Church...
http://wwwfreespeechbeneathUSHS.blogspot.com
Link to article doesn't
Link to article doesn't work.
Thanks
The article mysteriously disappeared from the Union Leader webpage. I have linked to a copy of the article that was posted on NHFree.com
A Google news query verifies the article used to be there...
It's a shame that the "free
It's a shame that the "free press" haven't kept the article on their site... as shown by your last link in your post :/
Missing Story?
It looks like the story is no longer on the Union Leader web site. So much for the free press?
Story no longer available?
Curious... that story is no longer available on unionleader.com. Several site search results also refer to pages that do not have the story. Also, searching Google for "Homeland Security goes after Keene" produces no results.
Thank God for Free Press...
I followed your link to the story in the Union Leader and got today's issue. Couldn't locate the story anywhere. Then did a search on "homeland security" from the Union Leader page. Three of the hits each had the same headline as your link. Followed each link, but none led to the story.
Not trying to suggest anything peculiar going on here, as I've made more than my share of errors, so I probably just missed it somehow. Could someone please check whether the story is still there somewhere, and, if so, please point me to it.
If it's gone there's most likely a harmless explanation.
My curiosity has definitely been aroused...
Thanks!