Boston Raw Milk Rally And Hearing (Guest Post By Max Kane)

By guest blogger Max Kane of Wisconsin

Photos by Alex Lewin

PRE-HEARING EVENTS ERUPT AS RAW MILK SUPPORTERS HAND MILK SUZANNE THE JERSEY COW AS SHE GRAZES PARK GRASS IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON

An affirmative message was sent to food regulators around the U.S. as a raw milk freedom rally, centered at the Boston Common (a park area in downtown Boston), proved that unprocessed food supporters have the courage to stand up for their Rights. A large group of activists, from as far west as California, joined a pure jersey cow named Suzanne to show opposition against the cease-and-desist orders issued by MDAR (Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources) to MA raw milk buying clubs. Suzanne, belonging to a herd owned by popular talk radio host Doug Stephan, stood patiently across the street from the state capitol building while thirsty people lined up to milk her. California's celebrity/rock-star raw dairy farmer Mark McAfee was first in line for the milking.

[left to right in foreground: Doug Stephan, Max Kane, Suzanne, Mark McAfee] 

McAfee did not hesitate to quickly summon Max Kane of Wisconsin to "grab the other side of the bag". McAfee and Kane were squeein' away while giving an oral explanation of milking to the media. A dozen cameras captured the event as the line for fresh warm milk continued to grow. Many others jumped on the "handles" to milk. Signs and banners proclaiming farm freedom and consumer rights circled the event as a hired band provided music. Inspiring speeches led by Mark McAfee, Max Kane, and David Gumpert iced the rally's cake.

The supportive crowd paused for a picture in front of the capitol building, and then continued to march to a scheduled MDAR milk hearing two blocks away. The hearing's purpose was to receive public comment on newly proposed milk regulations in MA. With hopes to avoid getting a good old-fashioned education at their own hearing, MDAR pulled some of the language from the proposed regulations only days before the hearing. The bait-and-switch had no effect, as farm to consumer freedom supporters packed the hearing and overflow rooms anyway. 

[raw milk drinkers provide feedback to Commissioner Soares]

The main room erupted in applause after each testimony. Despite the fact that MDAR removed language, the department still maintained that the buying clubs are illegal. This leaves the issue somewhat unresolved as MDAR has yet to retract the cease-and-desist orders they issued.

[Ed: Max Kane is an outspoken citizen-activist from Wisconsin. He has stood up for his rights on numerous occasions, even at great personal risk. I have blogged about Max and his story here.]

Max Kane, Raw Milk Activist, Wins Important Victory

Justice was served yesterday in Wisconsin—or at least it will be allowed to run its course.

Max Kane, a raw milk activist, was served a court order to provide information about private trade in which he had been involved, trade which is not regulated by the law. He filed a Motion of Appeal, and a Motion for Stay of Order Pending Appeal. The purpose of these orders was to have a higher court consider the case. The state, realizing that Max was not going to roll over for them, decided that Max was an "immediate danger to the public" and filed a Motion to Compel, which would have put him in jail before his appeal could be heard. This is quite unusual for a man whose purported crime was nonviolent had to do with food.

To make things worse, he has two children, his wife is pregnant, they don't have a lot of financial security, and they could all become homeless if he goes to jail.

Yesterday morning, the Court denied the State's Motion to Compel, and granted Max's Motion for Stay of Order Pending Appeal. This doesn't mean that he is off the hook; it merely means that he doesn't have to go to jail while he is appealing his case.

Check out Max's website here, and hear it straight from Max here.

Read what Kimbery Hartke had to say about it here.

Max Kane was interviewed yesterday on the Doug Stephan show. To listen to it, click here, then click on "Doug Stephan's Good Day - 4-20-10 H2". The interview is broken into parts. The parts run from 11:30-14:10, 17:50-21:20, 27:00-43:05.

For previous coverage of Max on this blog, click here.

Max Kane, Raw Milk Activist, Found Guilty

A judge in Wisconsin found that Max Kane would be required to divulge the names of farmers and consumers involved in private transactions.

If not? "You could ultimately go to jail—that certainly is a possibility," the judge said. "A remedial order could be entered that you would go to jail until you answer the questions."

Read more in David Gumpert's blog, The Complete Patient.

For the background behind this case, read my post about it here.

Will Max Kane, Raw Milk Activist, Go To Jail?

Max Kane appears before a judge on Monday to answer charges of contempt of court for not divulging the names of farmers and consumers with whom he was involved in private transactions.

If he loses the case, he could go to jail.

Max originally started drinking raw milk to reverse his "incurable" Crohn's disease. It must have worked pretty well, because he recently biked 3600+ miles across the U.S. to publicize raw milk.

If you would like to support Max, there will be a rally before his hearing. December 21, 9:30AM, at the Viroqua, WI Courthouse.

Speaking at his rally will be a fascinating who's-who of raw milk producers, political thinkers, activists, writers, healers, and film makers including:

• Mark McAfee (http://organicpastures.com) 
• David Gumpert (http://www.thecompletepatient.com/) 
• Michael Badnarik (http://constitutionpreservation.org/) 
• Kathryne Pirtle (http://performancewithoutpain.com/) 
• Michael Schmidt (http://glencoltonfarms.com/) 
• Rob Taylor (http://robtaylorforsenate.com/) 
• Mark Kastel (http://cornucopia.org/)
• Kristin Canty (http://www.ftcldf.org/kudos/canty2.html)
• Ann Marie Michaels (http://cheeseslave.com/)
• Tim Wightman (http://farmtoconsumerfoundation.org/)

For more information about his case and the rally, press clippings, etc., check out Max's blog, his video:



and Kimberly Hartke's posting about him.