In the summer of 2013 I met Robin Hood founder and activist James Cleveland.
While riding my bike and feeding meters with Robin Hood of Keene I was approached by Officer Christopher Simonds of the Keene Police Department .
He asked me if i was chilling with the Free Staters and I answered “Yes, I am.”
The conversation went into talking about football and kids .
When I returned home I noticed a new video posted on Youtube from Freeman TV raw.
In the video, James, was increasingly concerned on the amount of time K.P.D had me there.
In the video James was driving in his car with Robin Hooder Garrett Ean.
After I saw this I inquired about who this activist was and I also searched relevant video’s.
I saw footage of this man getting punched by local drunks , going through numerous DUI checkpoints, going to chalking events, city hall meetings , involving himself in membership meetings, speaking keynotes at conventions and traveling to statewide liberty events like PorcFest and Liberty Forum.
I thought, “WOW, what an activist, but what about the person ?”
James invited me to go along with him and two others to a Summer DUI checkpoint in Manchester and there I learned about the type of heart this guy has. His beliefs and his views against Police and Federal take over.
During the event the amount of activists in Manchester was uncanny.
There were 30 to 50 activists holding signs , some alone and some in little groups of five or six people.
In front of one of the groups a Manchester cop dared to pull over a car .
The driver was impaired and I saw first hand how James responded to the victim being caged for alleged impairment. James yelled where do you live while ignoring the Officers request to not speak to the driver.
The driver yelled “A block away , next street over on the left , second house.”
James yelled back and told the guy “Give me your keys! I will drive your car home . ” The Police officer got a little combative and tossed fake policies he made up from his head then denied this action in any way he could .
This did not shut James down he followed the Cop with the kidnapped victim to the police department and bailed the guy out of jail.
I have never been so impressed with anyone like i was on this night .
This well spoken , clean cut , activist with a soft persona was the most effective activist I have yet to encounter.
He built a new business which he later sold due to a string of bad luck which started with a false arrest when getting inventory in another state for his business. After spending huge amounts of funds on his defense because of a ridiculous Lawsuit filed by the City of Keene against him , which later was dismissed ,appealed and dismissed again. He was then arrested again for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct which went to a bench trial only to be appealed. Then, today a Jury in Superior Court found him not guilty of resisting arrest and there was an even split 6/6 on disorderly. Consequently a mistrial was issued .
This activist, James Cleveland, went into a war zone in the midst of SWAT soldiers and hot headed local Cops chasing a Robbery suspect with a gun!
The individual with a gun killed himself with a self inflicted gun shot .
The Cops lied and made up stories about James resisting arrest and making a make believe imaginary line area in which they caledl off limits.
After he came out of his hearing today , James had a big smile on his face as he was greeted by friends , his love interest , and fellow activists.
To be involved in several types of mind blowing activism that have gained national attention such as Fox news, Colbet Report , among others .
would classify him in my mind as a Pillar of activism in our community.