Why Honest Sam Dodson reminds me of John Lilburne

[coyote]

"John Lilburne (1614 – 29 August 1657), also known as Freeborn John, was an agitator in England before, during and after the English Civil Wars of 1642–1650.

In his early life he was a Puritan, though towards the end of his life he became a Quaker. His works have been cited in opinions by the United States Supreme Court.

John Lilburne was arrested upon information by an informer acting for The Stationers' Company (for distributing unlicensed pamphlets) and was brought before the Court of Star Chamber.

Instead of being charged with an offense he was asked how he pleaded. John Lilburne demanded to be presented in English with the charges brought against him (much of the written legal work of the time was in Latin).

The Court refused Lilburne's request. The court then threw him in prison and again brought him back to court and demanded a plea. Again, Lilburne demanded to know the charges brought against him.

The authorities then resorted to flogging him with a three-thonged whip on his bare back, as he was dragged by his hands tied to the rear of an ox cart from Fleet Prison to the pillory at Westminster. He was then forced to stoop in the pillory where he STILL managed to campaign against his censors, while distributing more unlicensed literature to the crowds. He was then gagged. Finally he was thrown in prison. He was taken back to the court and again imprisoned.

This began the first in a long series of trials that lasted throughout his life for what John Lilburne called his "freeborn rights". As a result of these trials a growing number of supporters began to call him "Freeborn John" and they even struck a medal in his honour to that effect.

It is this trial that has been cited by constitutional jurists and scholars in the United States of America as being one of the historical foundations of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It is also cited within the 1966 majority opinion of Miranda v. Arizona by the U.S. Supreme Court.

On his release, he married to Elizabeth Dewell (a London merchant's daughter) in September 1641.

Lilburne’s agitation continued, the same year he led a group of armed citizens against a group of Royalist officers, forcing them to retreat."

I hope someday some Judge cites the trial (or lack of one) of Freeborn Sam in defense of the right to remain silent.

[anarchir]

Bad news: Sam has yet to be flogged.
Good news: Sam is totally getting laid when he gets out.

Thats what I got out of this.

Related:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_silence#In_the_United_States
In the U.S., the only way for one to protect one's rights fully is to refuse answering any questions beyond giving one's name and identifying papers if requested and to refuse giving consent to anything (such as a search) prior to one's arrest.[citation needed] Law enforcement officials in the United States rely heavily upon the subtle intimidation of their position and power and the ignorance of citizens to their rights in order to make people incriminate themselves such that they are then able to arrest them. Police do not have to tell civilians the truth on any subject. They can make any promises and claims they like in order to induce a person to incriminate herself or himself or to allow the police to perform a search, and police are not bound by anything they promise to suspects or witnesses (i.e. promises of aid or protection). [3] United States citizens must know their rights in order to avoid losing them by inadvertently giving them away.

[NHArticleTen]

Sam Interviewed On Freedom Watch!
[youtube=425,350]v/lyfscmI1z04[/youtube]