We seem to be losing all common sense these days. Our First Amendment Rights are clearly under attack. Not only are our public officials flouting Right to Know laws, they are using LAWFARE to shut down dissent, arresting citizens exercising their right to speak freely in public.
We all watched the drama unfold in Gilford when William Baer was arrested for making inquiries to the Gilford School Board which the board deemed inappropriate. (In his December decision, Judge James Carroll ruled that Baer was “impolite, but not criminal…the sequence of the arrest actions cause pause by the court as to the chilling, if not silencing, of a citizen by the state, for actions which do not warrant a criminal arrest nor conviction.”) This was one for the good guys.
And now, in the town of Alton, we are watching this drama once again unfold with the Feb. 3 arrest of Jeffrey Clay. Arrested for “defamatory” comments, Mr. Clay is quoted as saying, “Every time I show up here, it is with my fervent hope that I find you folks have resigned…But you continue to show an unwillingness to take responsibility for your actions as selectman and resign.” Hmmm…Defamatory? Not so much, I think.
I guess some members of the Alton Board of Selectmen have VERY thin skin. This was not well done of them but unfortunately, it is not at all surprising. Yes, Jeffrey Clay was arrested by Police Chief Ryan Heath on two counts of disorderly conduct. (One has to wonder if anyone READ Judge Carrolls’ Dec. decision? HELLOOOO…)
So, here we go again. Alton taxpayers will now have to foot the bill of yet another wonderful lawsuit because their ELECTED officials didn’t like what a citizen had to say about them. The same lawyer who WON the case for William Baer against the Gilford School Board, will now represent Mr. Clay. And, the result will probably be the same. As it should be.
I think it is time to put up or shut up. Selectman (then sitting Chair) Lorin Carr used LAWFARE to silence a citizen’s First Amendment rights. Clay had a five minute window to speak (big of the Select Board to ALLOW five minutes of FREE SPEECH at an OPEN town meeting) but was shut down because “The Powers That Be” felt offended. Big whoop. Alton, you should be outraged! Heck, we should ALL be outraged!
When asked about this case, Attorney Sisti responded, “To arrest people who disagree with the school board or selectmen is reprehensible. Frankly, I find it frightening.” I have to agree with this statement. It IS frightening that we would allow this type of censuring within our communities. Our public officials work for US. When “The Powers That Be” overstep their boundries, it is incumbent upon citizens to DEMAND these public servants step down. No muss – no fuss.
Yes, this LAWFARE suit will cost Alton Taxpayers some money. But, even more importantly, if this breach of trust is allowed to stand, the Powers That Be may become even more emboldened. That would be a true travesty. We need to EXERCISE our rights, folks. If we don’t, these rights will atrophy. We need to get in the game and hold our public servants accountable. Come on Alton. Take care of business. I know you can do it.
(Anyone can view the Alton Select Board meeting on YouTube(https://youtu.be/weEltxNbINA?t=10m45s.)
