-By Jordan Freshour

A Cop Blocker in Kettering warns drivers of an OVI checkpoint

“Southwestern Ohio is the center for civil disobedience activism in the world right now.” – Mark Edge, Free Talk Live, April 1st, 2015.

Wait, what? Not New Hampshire with the Free State Project? Not in the Middle East, where protests and civil war are still erupting years after the Arab Spring? Not in DC, a Mecca for civil demonstrations and home to hundreds of national and global non-profit headquarters? Not in places like Los Angeles or Texas, where a new era of technological innovation is bursting forth?

While it’s difficult to accurately compare the efficacy of various methods used by groups to promote social change, Mark Edge did not speak out of context in lauding this specific region of the United States. In the radio segment mentioned above, he was interviewing Virgil Văduva about his own acts of civil disobedience. In particular, Văduva’s intentional violation of an anti-panhandling ordinance in the nearby city of Xenia. When asked if he agreed with Mark’s assessment, he said:

“I do agree. I have friends who live in California who complain that they are the lone activist in their large town and are unable to grow the liberty community. In essence they are alone in the middle of a crowd. I’m not sure what is causing this phenomenon here in SW Ohio, but I remember just a few years ago being the only Cop Blocker within 100 mile radius. Since then the number of activists and libertarians has exploded. While I would love to take credit for some of the growth, the reality is that there have been quite a few events in the area that served as catalysts for the message of freedom. Ohio Open Carry, the shooting of John Crawford and Tamir Rice have been huge factors in bringing new activists on board, and the recent shooting at the University of Cincinnati was another reminder of a growing police brutality problem. The police alone are responsible for the growth in the numbers of local activists. In essence they are the largest creators responsible for building our community.”

Văduva isn’t the only Ohio activist who believes the police have directly contributed to the local growth in activism. Micah David of Yellow Springs, Ohio – writer, editor, and designer for Counter Current News – shares similar thoughts:

“Yes, I think Ohio is ground zero in terms of police abuse, brutality and racism. A lot of times people will assume coastal cities, or a large midwestern city like Chicago would be the focal point of such police abuses. But Ohio has a unique history with regards to racism and injustice, as law enforcement and government reacted in very deliberate ways to the influx of freed-men and women who came across the Kentucky border. As such, many so-called minority communities know Ohio to be little more than an extension of the south, with some of the most segregated communities in the nation. On top of that, the middle-American nature of Ohio suburbs has lent to a particular flavor of Ohio activism, and reaction by law enforcement and the government, even going back to the Kent State Massacre during the Vietnam War.

So in a sense, activists come after the situation that is created sociologically in Ohio – they are borne from it. And at the same time, the law enforcement response to activism in Ohio is borne out of the sociological “Northern South” vibe that is Ohio. It is that vibe, or climate that leads to incidences such as the shooting of John Crawford, Tamir Rice and Sam Dubose, or even earlier, Timothy Thomas.”

To get closer to the target of racial police abuse, I spoke with Talis Gage (also from Yellow Springs), an activist and organizer with Black Lives Matter Miami Valley and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative. He said everything “jumped off” after the murder of John Crawford III in Beavercreek, Ohio. Talis echoed Micah’s assessment when answering if police targeting has been a catalyst for uniting the black community:

“In Yellow Springs it definitely has, because there really isn’t a black community here. So we are now all working together collectively in different ways – on the radio, on HRC [Human Relations Commission], and I was running for village council. I would say [the shooting] made different organizations more active and much more aggressive in the black communities. The Ohio Student Association was very active in getting the Beavercreek police to release the tapes from the Wal-Mart shooting. They were also outside of the Beavercreek police station for days protesting. We tag teamed with them to shut down Wal-Mart, and then the Beavercreek Mall.”

Outcry over the murder of Crawford isn’t the only response from leaders in the nearby black community. Talis went on to explain how BLM Miami Valley has quickly become a group which works with others to feed the poor and homeless, provide clothes to those in need, clean up the neighborhood, educate their neighbors, and host potlucks for the public.  “Everyone is doing all they can within their organization to wake up the black community to stand strong as the Kings and Queens they originally were,” said Talis.

“Waking up” individuals to the reality of the classist warfare waged by the government is a major challenge for activists of all stripes. Constant mobile connectivity to one another has been the single greatest tool for the nonconformist in infiltrating the minds of others with new ideas. Heather Lucas – an Awakened Cincinnatian, and council member for Unite Ohio – has worked with more than a dozen Ohio groups, linking them to each other. The Militia, Ohio Patriot Bikers, libertarian chapters, Pin Ups for Patriots, NORML, 3% Militia, and Columbus Anonymous are but a few allies. She credited social media for the success of networking and growth among like-minded people, saying:

“Activism in my opinion has become much easier for everyone due to social media. I think for one the instant access to stories, info, and causes have caused “normal” people to have to look at things they wouldn’t have normally. So they join a group, or start their own.”

Having instant access to information is vital to spreading the word about events and ideas, but social giants such as Facebook are only one element in the Buckeye dissenter’s tool kit. The effectiveness of Heather’s endeavors to unite various Ohio efforts increases with the availability of new technology designed to facilitate counter culture. Apps such as Bambuser, Wickr, and Cell 411 can be found on the smartphones of revolutionaries statewide, the latter having been developed by Văduva specifically for the use of activism. Virgil (a cryptology professional) believes advances of this kind are precisely the silver bullet for government tyranny:

“As a crypto-anarchist, it’s evident to me that technology is making the ideas of liberty virtually impregnable to government tyrants, and that’s an empowering realization. This is why I am focusing on building even more tools to empower people to subvert the state, whether it’s through adopting currencies like Bitcoin, embracing free markets, or subverting State surveillance. We are barely toddlers in this world and we are just now learning how to use technology to be truly free.”

It should be noted these kinds of technology are available across the world, but southwest Ohio has a unique environment. It is a place where innovators are focusing their implements on freedom, and the principles of the people living there are predisposed to take advantage of inventions which empower the individual. Where similar movements in other areas fragment due to infighting between egos, those in Ohio have learned how to use ego to their advantage. Justin King, journalist, and editor for The Fifth Column opines:

“Ohio’s activists seem to have adopted an informal cellular structure. There are hundreds of small groups that are self contained. Each of these groups does a great job of making the other groups aware of their actions. This means everybody supports each other. The small group sizes allow more people to have egos. If there is one large group there are only so many top positions. People of influence end up arguing. Small groups allow people of influence to abstain from an event they don’t agree with without destroying the overall movement. It cuts down on infighting because the “cells” are free to do as they choose. Nobody is jockeying for position.”

Justin has a fitting resume for a gonzo journalist, having been a military contractor, bodyguard, a “smuggler,” a federal inmate, and so on. He offers a unique set of skills for other activists. “I’ve been waterboarded, I’ve conducted counter-surveillance for activists, I’ve investigated dirty politicians for groups, and basically anything that requires a bit of playing dirty. I [..] bring tactical experience to the movement.” Justin knows to maximize his own impact, strategically aligning with specific people and events is important. “…it boils down to choosing your battles carefully,” he said. “Let’s say somebody is done wrong by a police department, but they have a massive criminal record. Ideologically it’s still an offense, tactically don’t waste the resources on a person that isn’t relatable to the rest of America.”

That last statement might be controversial in other circles of activism. But it’s not in Ohio. When activists there see a cause they like, they support it. When activists disagree about a cause, they don’t support it. And when activists think there is a better way of doing something, instead of criticizing others, they form the solutions themselves. Such is the story of Awakened Cincinnatians. Richard Brewster, an AC member, touched on this when I inquired to how the group had formed:

“Actually I started it. I loved the idea of Anonymous: How everyone can be one. I went to a few Occupy Cincinnati events and saw how they couldn’t get along – the left stayed to the left, the right stayed to the right. There was really nothing for us Awakened People, who don’t fall for the left/right nonsense. After arguing and being kicked out of the local Occupy [Cincinnati], and all the Patriot groups, I decided we needed our own. I made the group on Facebook. […] Once numbers were decent we [began holding meetings]. Ever since we have kept the ball rolling picking up new people with every event we do.”

Events arranged and promoted by the Awakened Cincinnatians have taken the Queen City by storm, attracting mainstream media attention, and the support of the most widely-known organization to focus on police accountability: Cop Block. At a recent September 19th protest – organized by AC to call attention to the murder of Sam DuBose – several Cop Block journalists were in attendance, including Ademo Freeman, CB’s co-founder. As one of the most influential anarcho-activists in the country, I was curious to his take on the Ohio brand of activism. When asked what surprised him the most from his time spent there, Ademo articulated the volume of hard-working individuals:

“Whether it be CopBlocking a checkpoint, running websites, creating videos or smartphone apps, someone in Ohio is doing it. I would say that they’ve all energized, inspired and provided hope to me in some form. From their energy, tactics and the diversity of such, it has been most beneficial to myself – and hopefully to those who view our/their work/efforts.”

Freeman is no stranger to the work being done in Ohio. Upon leaving New Hampshire a year ago to spread the message of police accountability nationwide, he made a temporary base in Cleveland in preparation for the rest of his journey. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with and meet many, some I knew before arriving – like Valerie and DEO; while others like Virgil, Micah and some of the CB offshoots (Dayton CB, Greater Cleveland folks and so on) I’ve gotten to know while CopBlocking,” he said. During his time visiting the state, new chapters were formed in Dayton and Beavercreek. Other chapters, such as Ohio Valley, Columbus, and Zanesville were strengthened by his collaboration with Columbus activist, Valerie Petrichor, whom with I also spoke.

Valerie has been involved with Cop Block since it’s inception, forming multiple chapters in and near her suburban Columbus home. Working for police accountability before Cop Block had evened formed, her efforts are reflected (in part) by a hometown which suffers far less police misconduct than cities of comparable size. I asked her a similar question as I did the others, “Is there anything you believe makes Ohioans more receptive to the message of freedom?”

“Individual thought. People who think on any level other than unique individual thought will typically not understand the need for freedom or accountability. The exception being those who believe they are part of some “movement”. Finding like-minded individuals who want to work toward shared goals is great – necessary, even. However, believing in a “movement” is just a way to continue groupthink passively and avoid truly unique thought. In Ohio we have what is probably one of the strongest, if not the strongest, [group of] activists in the US.”

Being one of the few women planted in the trenches of the fight against police brutality, I wondered if Valerie thought her femininity was a trait she considered a strength. Oddly enough, she didn’t. “It’s just a circumstance,” She said, playing down the question. “If anything, it makes what I do easier than it would be for a man. People tend to respect me and my gender is probably part of the reason. I think being female causes me to be perceived as less of a threat.” 

Though it may be true the police underestimate the strength of a principled woman, fellow Ohio activists do not. Individuals such as Heather and Valerie are not only freedom fighters in the public arena, but also in the home raising the next generation of world-changers. In wrapping up my case for Ohio being ground zero for activists, I wished to unearth that lesser-seen side of activism. Knowing where to look, I asked Jamie Văduva (married to Virgil), if she would round out my story. She obliged.

Jamie is a member of Libertarians of Southwest Ohio, artist, caretaker of her family’s farm, mother of four, and a homeschooler. Though not as visible as other activists, her efforts to promote freedom are the most selfless of type. As principled and hard-working as any liberty-minded person, she labors to raise her children as lovers of freedom and humanity, while spreading a message of love and kindness to those around. She offered the story of Christopher McCandless as one inspiring tale which shaped her values as teacher, Mom, and wife:

“I just started reading books about survival and people living simpler lives: Christopher McCandless, Henry David Thoreau, Everett Ruess and many others. Extreme stories that challenged my thinking. We gave away most of our furniture, and sold our new cars and 5-year-old house to get an old house in the country. All because God and family were what mattered. Not things, not money and mortgages, but our time together. And to be able to experience having animals and grow food, have bees, et cetera – that lifestyle goes with living a liberty or Voluntaryist life very much.”

Referencing Thoreau’s message of simplicity, only what’s truly important matters in her home. She proudly sees herself as an activist for “the little things in every day life.”  She added, “[Our kids] get to see first hand voluntary interactions between friends and acquaintances. Helping others and they help us…we have each other’s backs or do things to help because we care. Each person has something different to offer.”

Activists are stereotyped in many ways, often in a cold manner. However, those in southwest Ohio come off as the most devoted  – and caring – humans I have encountered. This may be the secret to the robust and diverse community of liberty-lovers in the Buckeye State. In closing, Jamie speaks directly to what I believe is the essence of these people:

 “I can only be myself which is someone who is drawn toward the positive. I don’t pretend everything is perfect. But my place here is to keep reminding everyone to have good hearts, and to try to bring out the softer side in people. To make them smile, and see it’s all about being free and happy with the people you love and care about. Live…just be yourself and do the things you love. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. And remember to be a nice person. Sometimes something as simple as a smile can change someone’s world and you don’t even realize it.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

By Kenneth Ottinger

It is a strange thing, this life, we, as intelligent, conscience beings live. On the one hand we yearn for the creature comforts that “civilized” society affords. On the other we are a roiling mass of emotions and impulse, forever seeking discomfort and the challenge. Every individual I know fancies themselves a master of their own life, in their own right. All searching for meaning and purpose when there is none to be found. Perhaps the journey is the true purpose.

From the moment we are conceived, our lives are a battle against the odds. Everything from prenatal injury and disease to abortion, and possibly fetal suicide, is working against us to ensure that only the strongest can survive. Once we are free of the womb, free of the bonds of maternal protection, can we truly seek out our own purpose. How do we define that purpose? The vast majority define it through the external world. Allowing those we have never met and those who care naught for our well being to determine what the goals and aspirations of our lives should be. Graduate college,  seek enlightenment,buy a house, be one with nature, own a flashy new car, align our chakras, get that promotion, build the new earthship, finish your doctorate, these are all goals and aspirations thrust upon mankind through outside forces, none of which come from the inner, from the true place of peace and serenity, but, only a place of emptiness, a place of neglect.

We, as a free humanity should not look to compare ourselves to the rest of society, but rather, compare ourselves to our own moral compass. Define our true being by what we subjectively find true. Every individual has their own pathway to walk, and find, and once we do, once you find that avenue that resonates with your true being, you have a choice to make. Do you take the courageous route and walk it, regardless of the precariousness, heedless to the stygian depths that threaten to overwhelm ones senses at every step? Or, in haste, do you retreat to the safety and security of the maternal bosom? Both paths are correct, both paths are folly. The determining factor is your own views. Can one tolerate not challenging oneself? If you can, all the better for you. If you cannot, do not trouble yourself with the whither to’s and the why for’s, NAY, embrace your own path. Walk with your head held high, for your choice is your own to make, and no judgment is legitimate, lest you allow it to be, lest you choose for that judgment to reflect upon your soul.

WE WANT THE WHIP!! — an oft forgotten funeral chant, but one which has immense meaning. Society will, if one lets it, devour us whole.  It will deposit the remains in the darkest and deepest crevices on earth. The Marianas Trench is but a paltry crater compared to the depths to which we can allow ourselves to be expelled, upon the whims of “civilized” society. The Colosseum, the NFL, both alike in grandeur and congregation, are but a representation of the banal, base nature which still resides in the hearts of humanity. If it is such an existence one seeks, then seek it, with the whole of your being. Do not hide your visage in shame. Do not acquiesce to the reproach and ridicule of those who do not know their own hearts. Rejoice! For you have found your rapture. You have found your purpose.

If yours is the path of the courageous, know that you will be tried. The tenacity of your heart will be called forward to do battle with the timidness of your mind. Only you can decide for yourself when you have faltered. Only you can decide when you have succeeded. Riches and fame are but a drop in the bucket for the truly dauntless. Money dissipates, fame is fleeting. The reward you seek will not be in gold or fans, but rather in the knowledge that you did not quit. You pushed yourself to what you viewed as your breaking point and beyond.  Your true requital will be the ability to persevere, the proficiency in success.

What ever choice you make in life, believe in that choice, and hold to it. We can not yet turn back the clocks, and so must choose again, at the next fork in our path, ever onward to infinity … and beyond.

With Love

Fenix

By Ken Ottinger

Anticipation. Fear. Apprehension.

The moment had come for the final leg of my journey. Part of me wanted to stay in Ohio. I wanted help with the amazing activism happening there, to compound upon the works being done in the realm of police accountability, but I knew my path led elsewhere. Towards a larger, and more complex community than I could have imagined. The Free State Project.

The name alone generates images of an idealized world. A world where individuals are free to make their own choices in regards to their bodies and property. Free to associate with those of their choosing, the very definition of an intentional community. Free to fail, or succeed, based on their own merits, ability and perserverance. One where force, deception, fraud, and aggression are frowned upon,(and often result in ostracization and a reduction in the quality of all lives involved) and techniques and ideas of peaceful moderation and discussion of every issue small and large, by the entire community, are fostered. Where contracts provide proof, cameras contribute to legal/societal compliance and firearms impress upon others to hold to a moral aquiescence. Although, such techniques are not adhered to as strictly or as pervasively as one would wish, nonetheless, it would be a mistake to forget that this is still the ground floor of one of the most amazing and enlightening human experiments in recorded history. As such every individual would do well to maintain an air of forgiveness and compromise never, forgetting that to err is human, and to forgive is divine.

I procrastinated as long as I could, anticipating a caravan of activists to hit the road together. But, it was not to be. So, at 12 noon, with my equipment all loaded back into my van, and hugs and well wishes past, I departed Parma, Ohio.

My path out of Ohio would take me ironically north of Orwell, a rather fitting name for the times we all live in. The weather was acceptable for early march, a light dusting of snow was beginning to set in. The true intent of mother nature, however, was still incognito. Unknown to myself there was a rather large winter swell dogging my tred marks. One that would not impose its will upon me and my van until late in the night. I had planned on viewing the next episode of The Rebel Love Show in person, which went live on LRN.FM at 10 PM that Tuesday, and then memorialize my move at the new movers party anon. The weather had other ideas though.

As it got darker, the roads got worse. What started as a light rain, soon became sleet, then snow. The temperature drop had me concerned about black ice. I resigned myself to 55 miles an hour. Thankfully, the road had the rumble strips on it to notify me when i was going too far over….. but it would have been better had they been solar freakin roadways. No fuss, no muss. I soon got concerned about my time frame, and began pushing my van harder. Doing 75 on ice and snow, in a fully loaded rear wheel van, is not the safest option for an individual moving to the free state, but, I am solely responsible for my own safety, none other. Had I wrecked that is what insurance is for. Had I hurt someone that would have been properly dealt with, between myself and the injured party. Luckily, there were no incidents.

Around Albany, I noticed my gas gauge was pleading to be adjusted. The oasis I stopped at was poorly managed and incapable of providing adequate service that that moment, considering they were doing a drop, not to mention the young lady behind the counter seemed fairly new, and ignorant of the procedures. I took the delay to eat a bit of tuna I had brought with me. Forgetting in my haste to depart Illinois that can-openers were a useful tool.

After both the van and myself were fueled, I continued on my way. Through great ravines, over enormous hills, and down treacherously steep grades, I was undeterred by the weather. After the god awful plow tactics employed by The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, I arrived in New Hampshire at approximately 2:05 am and promptly removed my seatbelt, and exhalted with a resounding cheer. The Rebel Love Show was long over, and so, off to The Quill, the private club for Free Staters, where the new movers party was held. After a brief interaction with some of the members, many of whom I had known prior to my arrival, and others I had only known on Facebook, we headed back to the Rebel Love Pad.

The next few days would be a whirlwind of Celebritarians, and those aspiring to be one. All yearning to change the world within their own spheres of influence. From Carla Gericke, and Jeffery Tucker, to Carlos Morales, Brett Veinotte, Ian Freeman, Rich Paul, Joel Valenzuela, and the incalculable various other influences I had on my activism and the evolution of my own personal philosophy, everyone was there. Some already my best friends and some soon to be. But the fun is just beginning. The next four months will be an amazing ride. Acts of civil disobedience, meant to inspire and convince, and thought crimes meant to enlighten and open the minds all pouring forth from this small geographical location we free staters affectionately refer to as The Shire. I hope to share it with you all right here.

Who will end the violence first? Will the agents of the state lay down their arms and refuse the immoral orders of their paymasters? Will people realize that murder does not solve the issue, and only serves to increase the disconnection between the enforcer class and the proletariat?

Every time an agent of the state harasses, murders, rapes, brutalizes, extorts, kidnaps, commits or helps assist with democide and lies (in a supposedly impartial court of law) it serves only to drive a wedge deeper between those that want accountability and protection and those that want obedience and compliance.

I fear the day is fast approaching when these types of actions will become commonplace. Open hostilities between those that will no longer be subjugated, and those who refuse to relinquish their arbitrary and illegitimate authority, will one day be an everyday occurrence. Anyone who is paying attention can see it ramping up with millions of dollars in military hardware being given to towns and municipalities across this “country.” As the federal government simultaneously moves to prevent the individual from effectively protecting themselves in their own perceived and necessary fashion.

When my daughters fear to go to school, not because of a bully or a bad neighborhood, but because they know and see that their teacher is one of those illegitimate authorities, will they be ostracized by their peers? Will my daughters be charged as terrorists for refusing to say a pledge of allegiance? Will their mother be taken away from them for choosing how to educate them?

For those of you who still believe might makes right, and that laws (arbitrary edicts) passed down by individuals living thousands of miles away from you are legitimate, bear in mind that for you to understand this you will have to glimpse the gun in the room with your own eyes. You will have to experience CPS kidnapping your children. You will have to experience police brutality first hand. You will need to have a loved one extorted. I am torn between my fear and love for you, dear reader, and my hope that you will understand my message. Will you question your own beliefs? Will you strive to better yourself? I hope so.

These questions and more should be topics at every American dinner table.