Excerpt:
Scholars for 911 Truth PANEL DISCUSSION--911 Accountability Conference
1:19:44 - 4 years ago
The Citizen's Advocate video coverage of this panel discussion at the 911 Accountability Conference in Chandler, AZ Feb 23-25, 2007. With Steven E. Jones, Carl Weis, Kevin Barrett and Jim Fetzer
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1cj27_local-news-covers-arizona-9-11-trut_news
I worked with Sham Rao while attending meetings at Kent Knudsen's house and meet-ups on Camerlback and 22 Street. (I found the above video on the 'WE ARE CHANGE' site today while researching) ...cal
http://alanburkhart.blogspot.com/2006/09/nightmare-in-old-west.html
Excerpt:
Saturday, September 16, 2006
A Nightmare in the Old West
By Alan Burkhart
If you’re a regular reader of my column, you may be familiar with the ongoing plight of my good friend, Kent Knudson. There are new developments in the case and I hope you’ll take a moment to read about them. Kent is slowly gaining support in his fight, and that support is coming from both sides of the political fence.
For those unfamiliar with the situation, here’s the short version: When the incident occurred, Kent lived in Snowflake, Arizona. Until she passed away recently, he had cared for his elderly mother, who was an Alzheimer’s patient.
In 2003, Mrs. Knudson suffered a stroke and Kent had to rush her to the hospital. In his haste, he left the gate to his property open. When he returned several days later, approximately 40 head of cattle belonging to rancher Dee Johnson had entered his property. His lawn and garden were destroyed and a sewer line had been broken. After numerous calls to the rancher and unsuccessful attempts at getting the cattle to leave, Kent fired a .22 caliber rifle in the air to frighten them out of his yard.
Whether the bullet ricocheted and hit the cow is unknown, but one of the cows fell over dead in his yard. I personally find it highly unlikely that an animal weighing half a ton could be killed by a random shot from such a small firearm. Nevertheless, the cow was quite dead.
Arizona is a free range state, meaning that cattle may roam freely in and out of their owner’s property. Fences are not required. Hit a cow with your car? You’re liable for the cost of the cow. I’ve come close on a couple of occasions to smashing into a cow on a dark Arizona road. If I should die in such a crash, my estate would be liable for the price of the cow. The ranchers in Arizona have very little responsibility in this regard. And the Powers That Be in Arizona plan to make an example out of Kent Knudson.
Recent Events…
After spending over $40,000 on legal defense, Kent was convicted a few days ago. His sentencing is scheduled for September Twenty-Fifth. For defending his property, Kent could face up to one and half years in a state prison. It’s worth noting here that due to existing fences between his property and that of rancher Dee Johnson, it would be impossible for the cows to reach his gate without a fence being cut or knocked down. And according to Kent, the ballistics test of the bullet in the cow didn’t match his gun. Kent also has bigger guns than the .22. Had he sincerely wished to kill the cow, he had multiple options for weapons.
In court, an obviously biased judged tossed out almost all of the evidence that could have worked in Kent’s favor. No mention of the cut fence on an adjacent property (that allowed the cattle to reach Kent’s property) was permitted. The fact that Kent made repeated attempts to get the owner of the cattle to come and collect them was deemed insignificant.
I’m not an attorney, but my guess is that his only chance of beating this insanity will be during the appeals process. As long as this biased judge holds sway over the proceedings, he has no chance. This is a classic example of how well-connected people with power and wealth can adversely affect the lives of others.
Kent and I disagree on almost everything political, but he is a good and decent human being and is undeserving of the misery being visited upon him. This sort of thing can happen to anyone, including you or me. And it’ll keep happening until people stand up and demand change. Our property rights are fundamental to our freedom as Americans. There are too many instances in which those rights are trampled – either by unscrupulous developers, or as in Kent’s case, by an irresponsible rancher, outdated laws, and a corrupt judge.
If you’re a regular reader of my column, you may be familiar with the ongoing plight of my good friend, Kent Knudson. There are new developments in the case and I hope you’ll take a moment to read about them. Kent is slowly gaining support in his fight, and that support is coming from both sides of the political fence. For those unfamiliar with the situation, here’s the short version: When the incident occurred, Kent lived in Snowflake, Arizona. Until she passed away recently, he had cared for his elderly mother, who was an Alzheimer’s patient.
In 2003, Mrs. Knudson suffered a stroke and Kent had to rush her to the hospital. In his haste, he left the gate to his property open. When he returned several days later, approximately 40 head of cattle belonging to rancher Dee Johnson had entered his property. His lawn and garden were destroyed and a sewer line had been broken. After numerous calls to the rancher and unsuccessful attempts at getting the cattle to leave, Kent fired a .22 caliber rifle in the air to frighten them out of his yard.
Whether the bullet ricocheted and hit the cow is unknown, but one of the cows fell over dead in his yard. I personally find it highly unlikely that an animal weighing half a ton could be killed by a random shot from such a small firearm. Nevertheless, the cow was quite dead.
Arizona is a free range state, meaning that cattle may roam freely in and out of their owner’s property. Fences are not required. Hit a cow with your car? You’re liable for the cost of the cow. I’ve come close on a couple of occasions to smashing into a cow on a dark Arizona road. If I should die in such a crash, my estate would be liable for the price of the cow. The ranchers in Arizona have very little responsibility in this regard. And the Powers That Be in Arizona plan to make an example out of Kent Knudson.
Recent Events…
After spending over $40,000 on legal defense, Kent was convicted a few days ago. His sentencing is scheduled for September Twenty-Fifth. For defending his property, Kent could face up to one and half years in a state prison. It’s worth noting here that due to existing fences between his property and that of rancher Dee Johnson, it would be impossible for the cows to reach his gate without a fence being cut or knocked down. And according to Kent, the ballistics test of the bullet in the cow didn’t match his gun. Kent also has bigger guns than the .22. Had he sincerely wished to kill the cow, he had multiple options for weapons.In court, an obviously biased judged tossed out almost all of the evidence that could have worked in Kent’s favor. No mention of the cut fence on an adjacent property (that allowed the cattle to reach Kent’s property) was permitted. The fact that Kent made repeated attempts to get the owner of the cattle to come and collect them was deemed insignificant.
I’m not an attorney, but my guess is that his only chance of beating this insanity will be during the appeals process. As long as this biased judge holds sway over the proceedings, he has no chance. This is a classic example of how well-connected people with power and wealth can adversely affect the lives of others.
Kent and I disagree on almost everything political, but he is a good and decent human being and is undeserving of the misery being visited upon him. This sort of thing can happen to anyone, including you or me. And it’ll keep happening until people stand up and demand change. Our property rights are fundamental to our freedom as Americans. There are too many instances in which those rights are trampled – either by unscrupulous developers, or as in Kent’s case, by an irresponsible rancher, outdated laws, and a corrupt judge.
(I had to highlight the above sentence as that is exactly how Kent and I were. He was a helluva friend but boy-oh boy could he get under my skin. We disagreed on pert near everything but he was one of those people that made you think and I miss him! Oh, yeah and occassion we laffed heartily together too over our battles. ) ...cal
Excerpt:
Open letter from Kent Knudson
• December 8, 2005
... My case could and will change the Arizona laws (eventually)—I can guarantee that! I will make sure it happens, but it will happen quicker with a little support from organizations like yours. [Does he mean VivaVegie?] Help fill the courtroom with supporters. We can't afford to have the ranchers win another court case when all the facts are against them! All they have is their lies and biased law enforcement to support their abuses! Call me.
kent
cowcrap@cox.net
602-246-4299
(If you don't get into politics, it will get into you.—Ralph Nader)
Arizona Justice! When mom and I returned home from three days in the hospital, we found our property overrun with a herd of over 30 wild cattle. When the rancher was informed that his cattle were trespassing on our fenced property and causing a serious threat, I was told that he could not remove them until the next day. Since my mom, who had Alzheimer's disease, often wandered outside, I knew that I must remove the cattle myself. While dealing with this threat, a cow was unintentionally [See Associated story below.] killed. I informed the rancher and he said he would come and talk with me about it, but instead, the next day officials from the Navajo County Sheriff and Arizona Department of Agriculture showed up and immediately arrested and handcuffed me (in front of my ailing mom) solely on the word of the rancher, without even looking for a dead cow or determining the cause.
I was jailed for a day and later charged with a felony and forced to spend thousands of dollars on legal fees for something that should not be a crime and certainly not a felony. So far, I have spent nearly $30,000 on lawyers. More than one of my lawyers has tried to settle this case and told me that the authorities would not settle but wanted to make an example of me! They have never even given me the opportunity to pay for the cow!
People have told me "if you were a Mormon, none of this would be happening to you". If justice is dispensed based on religious persuasion, then that is another of my rights that is being trampled.
Since this began, nearly 3 years ago, I have written about the injustices of western cattle ranching. If I am being prosecuted for my writings, then my freedom of speech is also being denied!
Our family has lived on 40 acres near Snowflake, Arizona for over 25 years. Some ranchers think their cattle have more rights to our private property than we do. So called open range laws are nothing more than special interest laws that place one group (ranchers) above another group (property owners) and are therefore unconstitutional!
Property rights, civil rights, religious freedom, and freedom of speech—all have been violated in my case! This case is still being prosecuted against me and I am told that I could go to prison for 2.5 years and be fined $150,000, while losing my voting rights! A trial date has finally been set for Dec. 21, 2005 in Holbrook, Arizona.
Is this justice or ranching out of control? Where is the common sense?
For additional information (and there is plenty), send me a message—thanks! Please forward this message widely.
Kent Knudson
602-246-4299
cowcrap@cox.net
(Cage cattle, NOT people!!)
http://weeklyintercept.blogspot.com/2010/10/goodbye-kent-knudsen-and-thanks.html
Excerpt:
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Goodbye, Kent Knudsen and Thanks
I received this unfortunate email today. It appears that Kent Knudsen elected to take his own life. Kent Knudsen went out-of-pocket to host a 9/11 Truth Conference back in 2006, where Professor Steven Jones trounced in a public forum the silly antics of Jim Fetzer, proponent of the "believe in my exotic weapons theory or I will publicly denounce you when you can't defend yourself" tactic. This conference also contained a moving tribute by Luke Rudkowski to Dan Wallace, the New York 9/11 truth activist who lost his father on 9/11. Wallace had passed away days before the event. Sander Hicks, Webster Tarpley, Maria Heller had also attended this event, which was a big sacrifice from Kent Knudsen, who offered a large, unrecoverable cash outlay for this 9/11 Conference entitled "Truth and Accountability". The event received a lot of negative press from New Times, Feathered Bastard seizing the opportunity to equate holocaust denial with 9/11 Truth because the horrible choice to oppoint Eric Williams as organizer of the event. Eric Williams had published a book questioning the numbers at Aushwitz. Despite the bad press, this conference marks a time in history when 9/11 Truth's direction and credibility was in an early, formative stage. At this time, it's interesting to note how Alex Jones backed out of this conference once the New Times "holocaust denial" campaign hit full steam.
Still, Kent Knudsen had the forsight, understanding and will to produce the 9/11 Truth and Accountability Conference, which proved to be a significant milestone for the 9/11 Truth Movement.
Kent, of course, was involved in much more, so I'll relay what those closest to him have sent:
It is with great sadness that I must report to you the news of the passing of my great friend and hero, Kent Knudson. Kent had been suffering from depression over yet another traumatic legal difficulty and facing two felony charges, on top of his "Cowcrap" conviction. The pressures of this latest legal action taken against him, the possibility of 3 years of jail time, and other factors lead him into a depression from which Kent had decided to take matters into his own control, ending his life.
This has been a very difficult time for me and Sarah, and others who were close to Kent. I ask you to come together at Kent's memorial service to reflect and celebrate with us Kent's life, pursuits and achievements.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, October 6th at 7pm, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
Thank You,
Sham Rao
OBITUARY
Kent Randolph Knudson
November 11, 1949 - September 25, 2010
Although schooled in Engineering Mathematics, Kent's greatest contributions are the result of his life long career as an photographer. Having licensed his works to commercial stock agencies, advertisers, and marketing companies, Kent's art has dominated and influenced all of his life's pursuits.
Kent's later life was radically altered as a result of an unfortunate cascading injustice at the hands of the government. During the years that Kent spent caring for his beloved mother who was developing Alzheimer's disease, Kent fell into legal trouble as a result of attempting to safeguard his mother against an invading herd of cattle on their 40 acre ranch near Snowflake, AZ.
Compelled into a new life of social justice and activism, Kent sought to fight the injustices he has suffered as a consequence of his "Cowcrap" ordeal, devoting his activist efforts towards:
1. Repealing Open Range Laws
2. Ending Malicious Prosecution
3. Facilitating Prison Reform, and Inmate Human Rights
4. Promoting Jury Nullification and Court Reform
Among other activist pursuits, Kent is well known for leading the 9/11Truth movement in Phoenix, AZ and hosting a 9/11 Truth and Accountability conference. He also supported various other Peace and Justice causes including: Ending the US military occupations, defending human rights, environmentalism and sustainability.
Kent is survived by his sister Cathy Leavitt, nephews Brent Leavitt & Thomas Leavitt, niece Paula Thompson, companion Sarah Fox, longtime friend Sham Rao, his cat Ewok, and the Social Justice Activist Community.
Kent will be missed mostly for the passion and drive with which he lived and demonstrated throughout his life and art.
SERVICES:
A memorial service will be held at the
Arizona Biltmore Resort
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
Visitation: 7-8pm
Memorial: 8-10pm
Burial:
Snowflake Cemetery
Snowflake, AZ
Saturday, October 9th, 2010 @3pm
For more information:
Sham Rao
harlequin516@styk.net
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