Written by: Nathan Cox
Edited by Meg McLain & Chris Staples
On Memorial Day weekend,May 26th, I was coming home from a side-job I had picked up. Quickly noticed that Interstate 295 was being HEAVILY Policed by State Troopers. Here is my initial CELL PHONE Video):
“I passed 3 state troopers just 50 meters from the Pole Green Road Exit on 295. They were conducting a traffic stop, funny thing was, 2 of them were conducting the stop, while a third was on the opposite shoulder. As I drove by one of the cops stared me, or my vehicle down. The next thing I knew one of those cops came up fast behind me while I was still on the phone. She moved over the adjacent lane and proceeded to pass me, just enough to see my State Inspection sticker which expired March 1. Then she pulled behind me and blue lighted me. She came up to my door, opened the door and aggressively asked to get out of the car. After I complied and stepped out of my car, she had her hands all over me trying to prevent me from recording her. After I signed the tickets she claimed my muffler sounded loud (it’s a stock muffler on a 08 civic Si). As I tried to capture some video of all the cruisers that came to the scene, she threatened me with a citation for being a “pedestrian on the highway” you can see that in the next video. 3 more cops came to the scene. The entire stop was not caught on MY phone because one of the male cops turned my phone upside down when they noticed it filming. I’m hoping to get the dashboard cam via FOIA after the criminal charges are dealt with.”
After going to court about this, I was able to get the inspection sticker citation dismissed but was found “guilty” on the charge “Failure to Display Front License Plate”. Following these court proceedings over these charges, I filed an official complaint with the Virginia State Police concerning the aggressive nature of State Trooper McKenney. I also filed a Freedom Of Information Act Request in hopes to obtain Trooper McKenney’s Dashboard Camera, as well as any other communication about me via, phone, text, email and radio. Also, I tried to recover previous complaints Trooper McKenney may have received, but was denied that request.
Approximately August 22nd I received the FOIA Request Package from the Virginia State Police. After reviewing the information we received, being the Dashboard Camera and text messages that was sent to/received from McKenney validated my account of what happened and provides enough evidence that could make a case for a 4th Amendment Rights Violation. If you have not yet seen MY video of the traffic stop yet, you can watchthe video here and you will notice at the 7:27 mark someone violates my 4th Amendment Rights by trespassing against my property (My Phone). As well as a short clip here of trying to get footage of the cop cars after recovering my phone, she then threatened to cite me for “being a pedestrian on a highway”.
What you’ve been waiting for – State Trooper McKenney’s Dashboard Camera: Read more
To educate people about their rights, and empower them to be active in the protection and preservation of liberty.
Goal:
The creation and targeted distribution of 10,000 educational packets consisting of literature on the following subjects:
-The Philosophy of Liberty/The Nonaggression Principle
-Police Accountability/Know Your Rights When Encountered by Police
-Never Take a Plea Deal Concept
-Jury Nullification
We feel these subjects are the most critical to convey to the public; as they offer the most direct, immediate, and individually beneficial results in dealing with the ever expanding police state.
How it’s going to work:
To start every morning we will be handing out this literature in front of various court-houses and police stations from roughly 8/ 8:30am – 10/ 10:30am – which allows us the chance to then go into the neighborhoods mid-morning, keeping in consideration residents who may be late sleepers, or not “morning people”. We will target everyone out in the street, sidewalks, pedestrians as well as go door to door handing out literature, and if not home leave the literature in a bag hanging on the door handle. We will be on foot doing outreach, educating an activism 8-10 hours a day. If we encounter anyone whom we get a very positive reaction out of we will ask to do a quick video interview (and will try and do this as much as possible.) We will also make a quick 2-5 minute AAR (After Action Review) video at the end of each day explaining what we accomplished for the day, if we ran into anything positive or negative, police, etc. At the end of every week we will make a 5-10 minute AAR video covering/ releasing anything not included in those daily updates. We will be making live/ real-time updates throughout the week. EVERYTHING will be transparent.
Materials Included:
-The Philosophy of Liberty (trifold brochure)
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is the fundamental message behind our movement. This brochure breaks down the principles behind liberty in a very easy and eye catching manner and it also is paralleled with a brief explanation of the Non-Aggression Principle. Statism is running rampant in this country and educating people on these basic principles is a MUST if we want to see further growth in the Liberty Movement.
-Police Accountability/Know Your Rights (4″x6″ flyer & business card)
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The Country has literally become a Militarized Police State that has very little accountability. It appears the police have thrown their oaths out of the window and have chosen to “serve and protect” Lobbyists, Law Makers, themselves & The State – Instead of the people whom are coerced to pay for their “services”. It’s been my personal, second hand and thirty party experience that many people whom are encountered by the police simply DO NOT know their rights, and because of this they are either victimized by police abuse or misconduct OR they are taken advantage of and get locked up or some sort of citation simply because they incriminated themselves by talking or allowing for a search of their person or property. We MUST educate and empower people. The literature we plan on handing out from this comes from CopBlock.org and VirginiaCopBlock.Org. It explains the mission of Cop Block, being police Accountability, it encourages people to film the police, most especially their interactions with the police as well as educating individuals on what to do/ not do and say/ not say when talking with the police.
-Don’t Take the Plea Deal (trifold brochure)
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The idea behind this initiative is that if enough people (not necessarily a majority) STOPPED pre-paying their pre-payable traffic “violations” (or any victimless crime for that matter) and insisted on battling it out in court even if the likelihood of being found guilty is still imminent, the idea is to CLOG the system. Who knows how many people, probably countless amounts pre-pay their tickets, or go to court and inter a “Plea Deal”. Take a second and think about this, if you’ve ever been in a court room, you know they are already backed up with all sorts of cases and there are always delays and they have an increasingly harder time trying to manage their dockets because of how many people they coerce into these unpleasant appointments with the State. Imagine If more and more people stopped prepaying those tickets, and stopped taking plea deals and exhausted the State by fighting for their innocence. The Court system would be shut down, they’d have to figure something out.. or stop arresting/ issuing citations for so many people. The Fact of the matter is non-violent offenders make up more than 60 percent of the prison/ jail population. Nonviolent drug offenders now account for about one-fourth of all inmates, up from less than 10 percent in 1980. FACT: There are 2.1 MILLION people caged up in a Prison — or in Jail, awaiting trial. FACT: More than 40% of the prison population are African American despite African American’s making up only 12% of the American Population. The U.S has about 5% of the world’s population, yet 25% of the world’s prison population
-Jury Nullification (trifold brochure)
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To educate individuals regarding their full powers as jurors, including their ability to rely on personal conscience, to judge the merit of the law and its application, and to nullify bad law, when necessary for justice, by finding for the defendant. When every American juror is aware of and permitted to exercise all of his and her rights, the final judgment of law will return to where it was always intended to be located…in the hands of the people. Once again our jury system will function as our country’s founders intended it to function as people’s final check against the government’s tendency to encroach upon the rights of its people. Jury Nullification is another effective way and essentially our last resort to restore the republic, to salvage and take back our freedoms and to strike the root of the State.
How to make this project possible:
I (Nathan) initially thought of this idea or similar version of it, near the beginning of this year or late last year but it was for a 6-12 month plan, plus I was working two jobs. Now that I lost my full-time job (about 4 weeks ago) I have the opportunity to do FULL-TIME Activism. This idea I have, the project I’m pitching is for ONE MONTH of Full-time 40+ hour a week educating, outreach and activism. Meg McLain along with myself will be on the street of Richmond, targeting inner-city neighborhoods, residents, etc combined with a number of “part-time” activists/ educators whom are eager to help as well.
Expenses: All donations will first go to cover material expenses, then personal expenses.
Materials
Philosophy of Liberty (trifold brochure) x 10,000: $463
Don’t Take the Plea Deal (trifold brochure) x 10,000: $463
Jury Nullification (trifold brochure) x 10,000: $463
Virginia CopBlock (business card) x 10,000: $139.15
Police Accountability/Know Your Rights (4″x6″ flyer) x 10,000: $261.88
Cover (4″x8.5″ flyer) x 10,000: $301.92
Bags (6″x9″ clear bags w/ handle) x 10,000: $209.60
TOTAL = $2,301.55
Personal
Cell Phone (Verizon): $109.38
Car Insurance (Progressive): $85.92
Rent: $700
Electric (avg of last 3 months): $115
Water (avg of last 3 months): $69
TOTAL = $1,079.30 (does not include things like gas, food, etc…)
GRAND TOTAL = $3,380.85
Ad Sales:
To help fund this project, we have come up with several different ad options. These spots will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Print ads range from $25 to $500, depending on size and location. Please see images for size/price options.
If you would like to support this project, donations can be made here:
Here are current AD spaces available: (ALL SOLD OUT) unless otherwise stated, ADs can be purchased for $50 (1.75″ x 2″ – “small”) or $100 (3.5″ x 2″ – “large”) till AD space is filled
-Philosophy of Liberty (trifold): $300 worth of AD space available (SOLD OUT)
-Don’t Take the Plea Deal (trifold): $400 worth of AD space available (SOLD OUT)
-Jury Nullification (trifold): $200 worth of AD space available (SOLD OUT)
-Police Accountability/Know Your Rights (4″x6″ flyer): $100 AD space (SOLD OUT)
-Cover (4″ x 8.5″ flyer): $500 for full page (SOLD OUT)
Three suspects, none over the age of 19 have been formally charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of 16-year-old Brett A. Wells of Mechanicsville, VA that occurred over this past weekend. According to Sgt. Chris R. Whitley of the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the three suspect were arrested today (Monday). They also were charged with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and aggravated malicious wounding. The victims include Brett Wells, whom was shot at his house located on Verdi Lane. He was a sophomore at Atlee High School. The second victim, who’s named appears to not have been released, was also shot, reports say in the hand, as the suspects attempted to get away.
Colonel David R. Hines, sheriff of the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office stated, “I am exceptionally proud of the exhaustive efforts of our investigative staff in resolving this case in less than 48 hours,” Col David R. Hines, sheriff, said. “They have literally worked non-stop and are to be commended for their hard work and dedication. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the City of Richmond and Henrico County Police Departments for their direct assistance in furthering our investigation. Lastly, I would like to thank the community for their cooperation during this very trying time.” I too, would like to congratulate the Sheriff’s Officer and the cooperating local Police Departments in the success of capturing 3 thieves and at least one murderer. Hats off to you!
Whitley, of the Hanover County’s Sheriff’s Office said the preliminary investigation indicates that an arrangement was made to purchase a quantity of marijuana from the victim, Brett Well. However, the intention of the suspects was (allegedly) never to purchase the marijuana. Rather, they (allegedly) intended to steal it. As a result, a physical altercation took place during the transaction, which led to Brett Wells being shot once in the chest.
It’s a shame these business transactions can’t be done peacefully, like any other transaction, whether it be a buying goods from a 7-Eleven or Walmart, purchasing the services of a prostitute, or purchasing what we are told are “prohibited items”, such as drugs, off people who operate on the black or grey markets. That’s part of the consequences of prohibition though: trust issues. Everything is done in secret, which creates violence. That’s why educating today’s youth on the principles of Liberty,Voluntaryism and the The Non-Aggression Axiom are SO IMPORTANT. WITH Liberty comes freedom of choice and with freedom of choice comes self responsibility. Force & violence should never be acceptable unless it’s in self defense; and there are NO double standards to that principle (simply meaning people with a badge and a gun don’t have immunity from consequences for using force against peaceful people – but we won’t go down that route right now).
This is an example of the type of business transactions you can expect when you are operating on a black or even grey market. And it’s unfortunate because as a result of the prohibition on certain goods and services, it creates a dangerous environment and a market that good people unfortunately have to operate in. Secrecy, alley-way transactions, behind close-doors transactions, simply transactions that aren’t transparent create trust issues between the entrepreneur and his/ her customers. The good or service being sold is NOT what is causing the violence, it’s a result of the prohibition of those goods or services and a great example of that was the prohibition of alcohol.
For example, hiring the services of a “working girl”, aka prostitute, if criminalized, creates an unsafe environment for her profession because it means the way she has to carry out her job must be done in secret or in fear that if caught, another type of aggression will be committed against her (The State will demand her money or take her freedom by locking her away). Furthermore, carrying out her business in a more private, hush-hush, non-transparent manner creates more of a risk for a violent attack or robbery. On the flip-side to that coin, if she could carry about her business in a professional manner the risk factor would tremendously be decreased for several reasons. Reason one, she could openly/transparently advertise her business and her office, meeting place, which means, she would be that much more protected by the community around her. Reason two, she could have security, or some sort of security system. As far as health aspects, if prostitution was legalized, like it is in some parts of the country, the demand for this type of service would create higher standards when it comes to health related issues, specifically STD’s. ALL legal prostitutes now (possibly by mandated law, or the company they work for) get health screenings and a DNA Analysis to check for STD’s quite frequently, likely on a weekly basis. (I don’t plan on exhausting each point here, I hope the reader can follow my way of thinking and continue to look outside the box w/out having me to explain it). The same can be said for drug transactions or ANY transactions of goods or services that are done within the black orgrey market (but we know there is even a risk of getting robbed in the open market as well). If there was a Laissez Faire Capitalism “Free Market” we wouldn’t have this violent situation that is created by the “drug war”.
That’s why I said that educating today’s youth on the principles of Liberty, Voluntaryism, and the The Non-Aggression Axiom are SO IMPORTANT. With Liberty comes freedom of choice and with freedom of choice comes self responsibility. Anything and everything that is voluntary or consensual, should be permissible in a free society. Teach your children to use force ONLY when it’s morally acceptable to, in self-defense. Otherwise, committing an act of aggression against somebody shows a complete lack of respect for their life, liberty and property. Our education must go one step further than that though. Government, especially the federal government is out of control, and there is a little something called “nullification” that people can do to keep the government in check. I will only mention this in brief, but there are various types of nullification, state nullification to federal mandates/legislation, jury nullification and lastly what Sheriff Richard Mack calls “Sheriff Nullification“. Sheriff Nullification is a simple concept, The Sheriff being an elected official has more authority than agents of The Federal Government and to retain our Constitution and the Republic, if the Federal or even State government start passing laws that are unConstitutional, The Sheriff (to all Police, and anyone who’s taken the same oath) has a right and a duty to uphold the Constitution and to disregard any mandates or legislation that are unConstitutional that would essentially undermine our life, liberty or property. Sheriff Richard Mack HAS HAD SUCCESS at this – I implore all you readers to look into him and the hyperlinks i’m providing. If you took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, I would implore you that you take that oath seriously and be an Oath Keeper.
Urge YOUR Sheriff to become a Constitutional, Oath Keeping Sheriff TODAY!
Aggression from an individual, or a collection of individuals (including an organization or institution like the State) should never be morally acceptable.
My sincerest thoughts to the family and friends of this young man who’s passed away. My prayers are with you.
—– addendum—-
Just in case I didn’t make my point clear enough. The cause of the violence was due to a transaction (does NOT matter what it was) that turned into a robbery. People who commit these types of crimes clearly don’t have any respect for someone’s life, liberty or property and THESE are the basic fundamental principles that need be taught to children as they are growing up.
