YOUR COMMENTS

@ Brian, Farmington -- Please keep your thugs, first responders and second responders as far away from me as possible. I'll be glad to not pay their ridiculous salaries for harassing people 90% of the time and maybe doing something worthwhile the other 10%. Thanks.
- William, Henniker

If Heika had completely defied the threats of authorities while in jail she would have lost her job, in which case the authoritarians on this board would be criticizing her for not having a job.

Which is it? Are you going to be angry at her for retreating to a defensible position against overwhelming firepower or angry at her for not having a job? You can't have it both ways. She took the path that would keep her gainfully employed and practiced peaceful resistance as far as she could up to that point. Who can genuinely criticize this?
- Former Keene resident, Bedford

Where's the local draft board when you need it?
- Melvin, Keene

Heika Courser:

"I accepted the plea because they would not allow me to communicate with my friends," she wrote. "(My friends) were about to pay the $500 cash bail, but I had no way of knowing that, and after spending one night in (jail), I was not going back! It's as bad as they say!"

Wow, how quickly this loser caves when her protesting meets reality. When the protest is one big party she is all for it. As soon as she actually has to face some consequences for what she has done she caves in. Evidently she and her loser friends weren't bright enough to actually find out what happens once the party is over (by getting arrested) and the reality of what one can face for civil disobedience is.

Like the old saying goes if you aren't willing to do the time, then don't do the crime.

Interesting, that she is finally learning at the age of 26 the actions can have real life consequences. A little slow on the uptake is she? Evidently she killed to many brain cells partying (protesting).
- davetb, Manchester

all these people posting negative comments about her, you know and i know we would both look at her breasts, unless of course you play for "the other team"! boobs are boobs you would look! and so would I! heck im sure all of us have seen better and im sure we have seen worse!
you stay classy keene!
- pablo, nh

she keeps running around topless and soon she'll be able to tie those things off around her ankles...ick

seriously...might be a good time to put our big girl panties on (pun intended) and grow up.
- Marie, Moultonboro

My god man, is there a reasonable person anywhere in this story? You want to protest? Fine. You want to protest and disrupt everyone and everything around you? Not fine. Who the hell is the cop to confiscate a bull-horn arguing it’s evidence? I mean, what? Is there a single cop anywhere on video who actually knows where constitutional rights begin, and there authority ends? Every time I see cops on video, in every state, they are wildly overstepping their authority and acting, some might argue, illegally.

But that's the gist of the story I suppose. A bunch of people who don't know squat about rights, justice, fairness, decency, or how to get along in a civil society clash in Keene. Everyone, the cops included, ought to grow the hell up.
- CD, Manchester

Ya know i wish we had topless beaches. I think i'm gonna go to the beach right now and start protesting. I would deffinately feel more liberated. Maybe that what all of us (society) needs is to feel liberated. We're under so much oppression from the government......why not??

I'm so sick of conservative people.
- emily, manchester

A lot of you people fail to remember that protesting is a freedom that every American should have, the constitution is suppose to protect that freedom.

NH is suppose to be a free state, not a socialist one. Yes may be a lot times these people go over board on some of their actions. But protesting is not a crime in my book.

Down south KKK members are aloud to slur their hate and racial propaganda.

But in NH if you protest the arrest and trail of a friend or family member you can be arrested and charged.

NH is not the "live free or die" state, and has not been for some time. We can thank all the liberal socialist scum from MA who moved to NH.

Their goal is to force their views on every one.
- concerned citizen, Manchester

With so much to protest against, they pick this?
Totally off-topic here, but I just want to clarify. I've read a few comments here that state that if you don't OWN property, that you don't pay taxes. Let me explain this. I pay rent, and the property tax on the property that I rent is paid for with my rent. Just because I don't get a bill every 6 months does not mean I don't pay property taxes. Not to mention all the gasoline I buy, car registration, rooms and meals taxes I pay and highway tolls.

Also as far as the protesters being disrespectful to the police and to "get respect, you have to give respect" mantra; it seems to me the cops disrespected the protesters by threatening them with arrest and felony charges for organizing a peaceful demonstration.

Why respect authority and a government that tramples all over our rights to free speech and assembly? Ask yourselves; who are the real criminals here?

This woman isn't exactly Ghandi or Mandela though is she? One night in the clink and she gives up the cause? No poster-child for martyrdom there.
- J, manchester

@GOD ALMIGHTY, THE WORLD - you sound like a pothead. You're ranting is both senseless and baseless. Perhaps, and hopefully, someday when you're in need of help a policeman or first responder will walk up to you and say " Hey, I'm one of those 'thugs" you despise so much. You got yourself into this predicament, now get yourself out. Catch ya later."
- Brian, Farmington

This is funny stuff. Even funnier how riled up some people have gotten over it. Sometimes you just have to laugh, and laughing is a good thing. Lighten up, everyone!
- Skip M, Ossipee

I've had enough of this group. Even people who are no stangers to the other side of the law and deal with Judge Burke are saying enough is enough. They just WANT to get ahold of them in jail! Also, I'm curious to see how many really own property in Keene to back up their paying tax claims. Lastly, some of them do actually work so I will give credit where credit is due. Heika works at Starbucks and I believe we should all have a protest against her and the Free Keene group outside of the estabilishment. Better yet, perhaps the manager would like to be made aware of the kind of help he hires. He is at risk of her taking her top off and drinking anytime she wants to. And pleading out is for wuss's if this really is a cause dear to her heart. As for her parents, they gave up on her a long time ago.
- Had Enough, Keene

My children stopped throwing tantrums when they did not get their way around the age of 2 or 3.......

I saw the video and even if you do think that the police was wrong in taking you to the station you go peacefully and have your day in court. You are allowed to speak in court. No idiot has the right to resist arrest and have their other idiot followers yell at the cop and surround the police car. The "protecters" acted like like children. At 26 and 41, I would think that they should have matured by now. Like I said, my children stopped throwing fits when they did not get their way when they were 2 or 3.
What ever happened to respect....did anyone ever tell these idiots that in order to get respected you have to be respectful and act like respectful human beings?
GROW UP
- k, hillsboro

???
why is it that the people that you see naked are never the people you want to see naked???
- cool breeze, mantown

oh come on...unless its photoshop, she doesn't look that bad.
- Ed (the 1st Ed - Manchester), Manchester

The whole not standing for the Judge but standing for Rich Paul reminds me of the Manson trial.
- Maria, Manchester, NH

If ever there were a group of people desperately in need of instruction on how to conduct an effective protest and civil disobedience, this crowd is it.

Amateurs!

By the way, I'm all for striking all the blue laws in this state off the books. they cost the state money to maintain and enforce, and don't do anything to really improve living conditions here. If people want the right to bare skin, let them. The consequences are sunburn, mosquitoes, blackflies, deerflies, horseflies, brambles and all manner of other sharp and uncomfortable hazards.

As for the pot smoker vs the alcoholic loving their kids more, consider this. The alcoholic is out of control, and not at the point of being willing to change for the sake of their child. The pot smoker understands the illegality of the act, while showing the child that civil disobedience in the face of irrantional tyrrany carries an acceptable cost, even if it results in separation from loved ones.
- Michael D. Houst, Barrington, NH

I don't want to sound rude but this display of topless women was rather hard on the eyes. You would be better calling the protest bovine like . Thankfully they did not get angry and stamped.Someone could get hurt.
- Lenny, Keene

David Goss: For your information, Murphy's will not serve someone alcohol who is visibly wearing a gun. The owner established that policy after considering all sides of the issue, and he strictly enforces it.
- Jon, Manchester

Get a job!
- Bill, Deerfield

Hey! She says, "I was not going back! It's as bad as they say!"
Wow what a great stategy, make the pokey and the punishment the place where these donkeys don't want to go and they will eventiually leave the state and return to some place where they can be slackers until they are middle age.
- Paul, Derry

I'll have to look into it but I've never heard of an "activist" taking a plea deal.
- Ed, Manchester

Lady, please give us all a break!
- hocus pocus, bedford

How do you know those two hippies dont have jobs? Maybe they are independently wealthy! Maybe they are standing up for freedom! Do you remember when you could drink a beer in public as long as you were not hurting anyone else and the police left you alone? I DO!! I remember when you knew the police officers in your town and surrounding towns because they were our neighbors! Now they import these people from other states through the good ole boy system that has been updated to modern times so they can have a politicaly correct state and a grasp on all the citizens living in it!! F-R-E-E-D-O-M is a GOD given right and as long as you are not harming anyone and defending those rights that U-S-E to be guaranteed under the thing called the BILL OF RIGHTS and THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES you should not have any problems! These things walking around with badges on now a days are nothing more than paid thugs in uniform and you just havent had the chance to see it or find it out yet, your lucky!! Most of them think they have the right to assault any one they arrest and get away with it. They talk to you like you are dirt! 99% of them break laws every day and get away with it! So what ---- planet are you living on?

This is no longer the great state of N.H. live free or die? What a farce!! What the sign should say when you cross into N.H. is "Welcome to New Hampshire - The Socialist Republic of" This used to be a great place to live but it changed starting in the 80's. People be clear about one thing - you need to know who you are putting into office for politicians because there is a "good-ole boy system" and the natives of N.H. are all meal tickets with a price tag! They cant wait to throw you in jail for the money they get! Ya!!! You didn't know!!! The federal Goverment pays the state for inmates one fat check to keep them locked up every year!!! Say what $35,000.00 for every inmate or jail house rat in the system in N.H. WOW!! Someone is really getting rich quick and its not the tax payers as one certain Manchester cop with a big mouth spouted out one day not to long ago, before his partner told him to "shut-up". So there it is but you will probably never read this because the union leader probably wont print it!!!! If they do-COODO's to you for having the G-U-T's.
- GOD ALMIGHTY, THE WORLD

Michael, Manchester, they were protesting the trial of their friend, whose trial was currently in session.
- Jeff, Manchester

paul, manchester writes: "Most Freestaters have jobs. In fact there are tons of them here in Manchester."

The ones hanging around outside of Murphy's, drinking, with their guns on display like children? I'm still dreading the day they have a drunken "oops" and shoot some kid coming out of the Verizon.
- David Goss, Manchester

Free Staters, Free Keeners, all the same vermin to those of us who live here and have to deal with the antics of these jobless cruds every day. They drink, smoke pot, and send their skeevy women to prance about Central Square topless. None of them have jobs. They lay about all day yelling 4 letter words. Here are a couple of 4 letter words for them: W-O-R-K, S-O-A-P, B-A-T-H.
Where is Mel Thomson when we need him most???
- George, Keene

A slight correction, neither Heika nor Rich are members of Free Keene. For a list of Free Keene people, see here, http://freekeene.com/bloggers/

Otherwise, good work on the very fair article.

I have no idea why some people are talking about free staters in the comments but Heika isn't a free stater.
- Keith, Keene

The modern progressive commenters never cease to amaze me. The name calling and voluntary ignorance of the law to state how you THINK the law should be applied to others you disagree with is appalling. Those who have read Sal Alinsky's book will immediately understand that calling people names to identify them as an enemy is a tried and true radical progressive strategy. Limiting free speech is on of the most dangerous insults to the document which is the ultimate law of the land, the one GW Bush called a "god damned piece of paper". Bush certainly helped solidify that there is very LITTLE difference between the donkey and the elephant when he created through decree "free speech zones". To read that a person charged with enforcing the law (police aka law enforcement officers) threatens another citizen with a felony and simply arrests one for talking in a bull horn is merely evidence that many people in the State ironically want a return to the days of when New Hampshire was but a colony of Great Britain. It is ironic because many of the Free Staters (some whom I am lucky enough to call friends, neighbors and/or family) want a return to the personal Liberty enjoyed by all citizens of New Hampshire after the last colonial governor (Wentworth) was chased out of the State.

Fear not people who want to limit free speech. The State, many towns and most certainly the federal turned national government are doing everything they can to grant your wish. GW Bush limited free speech to areas he thought it should exist and Elena Kagan who thinks we should reinstate the alien and sedition acts of 1798 is about to join the Supreme Court. The same first amendment that used to guarantee free speech is being perverted now not to protect freedom of religion, but freedom of worship. If you favor an all powerful government making up law on the spot to suit your whim, then you stand on hollow ground when you want them to cut spending and reduce taxes. If you want a government to make you 'feel comfortable', take out your checkbooks and continue to relinquish your role as ceasar unto the government.
- Michael Layon, Derry

It's okay to be topless in NH? Hey thanks for pointing that out. Now there are some we just don't want to see so there needs to be a law about topless under the age of 18 and no saggy breasts without proper support. Say, who is going to set the saggy standard and who is going to enforce it? We lost the Old Man of the Mountain icon backin 2003, maybe we can become the "topless state". That should help tourism.
- Granite Stater, Exeter

Please don't confuse RealFreeStaters with Keeniacs.

Real FreeStaters don't pull useless stunts like candlelight vigils in front of judges' homes. Keeniacs do.

Real FreeStaters don't feel the need for annoying bullhorns or other attention getting devices. Keeniacs do.

Real FreeStaters have jobs and families, are good neighbors, and most of NH would be proud to call them friends and colleagues. Keeniacs have the free time to attend 4:20 rallies and then spend late evenings at public parks drinking.

If you'd like to learn more about RealFreeStaters, there are plenty all over, just ask around - they are usually very friendly and open to questions and discussion about why they moved to NH, a place already more free than almost everywhere else. Or you can go get told that "You're a statist!" by the Keeniacs when you disagree with them even the tiniest bit.
- Real FreeStater, Everywhere but Keene

26 and topless and protesting outside court houses? You're a bum. I bet your parents are real proud of you.
- jame gumb, keene

@rich

Most Freestaters have jobs. In fact there are tons of them here in Manchester.
- paul, manchester

"I accepted the plea because they would not allow me to communicate with my friends," she wrote. "

I guess she forgot to "jailbreak" her iPhone.
- VC, Derry

???
why is it that the people that you see naked are never the people you want to see naked???
- cool breeze, mantown

Interesting.....she cries about her rights, but quickly waives them and pleads GUILTY. Nice...
- Timmy, Concord

If all these people want is to be left alone to be "free" and not follow any rules, then why move to a populated area like Keene? Find a piece of property in the middle of no where and you can all live as you please and smoke your pot, dance topless and paint eich other all day. But of course if they did this and not out in a town common, they would not cause attention to themselves and feel important.
- Phil, Laconia

It astonishes me that these two hippies are 26 and 41 and apparently have the time to create disturbances and drink booze in the middle of the day. Any chance these morons can get a job like the rest of us and become productive members of society?
- Cliffy, Amherst

I'll make the same point I made in a different article.....Acting like children in dire need of attention.
They like to call this a peaceful protest and argue their rights were infringed upon. Realistically they were infringing on the rights of other persons; the article says the Judge had to stop court because they were so loud and disruptive. What about the rights of the persons who had court that day, their right to have the proceedings recorded, their right to a speedy trial which was delayed because of this?
Seems to me they are hurting their cause more than helping it. I'm glad I don't live in Keene, it seems like the residents there can't go anywhere without wondering if a protest or other public spectacle will pop up which I'm sure is a major inconvenience to say the least.
- Michael, Manchester

1) One night in jail scares you off? You're not much of a protester.
2) What are they protesting? Are they still on the pot issue or are they protesting something new. They can't be protesting topless laws because we don't have any.
3) Sounds like they are being disorderly and interfering with the police. Are they protesting to say they want a society where the police can't enforce the simplest laws and where you can drink in public and block cars whenever you want?
4) candlelight vigil in front of the judges house? why? Now it sounds like you're harassing people.
5) Congrats to the KPD for being so civil about everything and doing their job respectfully. Good for the protesters for reminding us its legal to be topless and for trying to protest some of life's inconveniences, but now you're just being jerks
- J Paige, Manchester City

The free staters are like a social disease, they are the hippies of 2010.

From what I read and see on youtube about them they just want to walk around armed, don't want to get drivers licenses and don't like any governmental controls in plkace for all citizens, sounds like they need to move to Mexcico where they would fit in perfectly.

Hey free staters I have an idea; Pay your taxes, leave other people alone, smoke your dope in your own home and quit bucking the system and no one will pay attention to you idiots.
- Rich, Northfield

The cop sounded VERY heavy handed, and probably lied again...he threatened her with a felony?

Let me guess, a 5'5" cop roided out.
- Steve1, Nashua

Someone explain to me why the paper thinks its important to note she was topless? If its legal in Keene (not to mention elsewhere in NH) and she didn't get arrested for it, then it certainly needs not be headline news. Unless of course the Union Leader thinks there's a problem with women excerising their rights....
- Becky, Manchester

"If she was in fact arrested without being told to stop (being disruptive)," Greabe said, "I'd have to say that's pretty draconian."

- Sounds like Mr.Greabe would like to have these filthy hippes show up with a megaphone in front of his house at 3am. Then we'll see how his definition of "draconian" changes.
- Clarke DeWalt, manchester

"Peacefully" is an interesting term here. Some people just need to explore boundaries.
- Chris K, Strafford

I am moving out of Keene. The town is done. Businesses are also moving out. The Freestaters are trying to take over our town and then move on to the next town . They are like rats. Keene is no longer a go place to raise a family. Open your eyes up people and take back your town from these bums .
- Tony, Keene

It's a sad state of affairs when you can't protest peacefully without getting arrested.

Think twice before you so quickly judge others actions. The Constitution is crumbling fast.
- Charles, Concord

Thirty days in jail would set her straight.
- Ray J., Swanzey

Please, please, PLEASE can we keep these attention-seeking miscreants OFF of the front page! UL, if you must report on their immature behavior, give them a sentence or two buried deep in the back, with no pictures (or video!). Maybe if we stop rewarding them with the attention they crave, they'll just go away.
- Kathy, Mancheter

What a concept, consequences for your actions! Now she can testify that putting someone in jail can rehabilitate them.
- Jake, Concord

Damn hippies.....
- Anthony, Washington