The Persecution of a Pioneer: “Mountain Man” Eustace Conway

Mar19
by Ras Radio on March 19, 2013 at 11:26 am
Posted In: The First 52

Eustace

By: Naithan Cox

whoisnatecok.com

I have no idea how “Mountain Man” Eustace Conway (FB Fan Page here) of Turtle Island Preserve has missed my radar, this man is living my dream! I stumbled upon Eustace Conway this morning after seeing a Daily Mail UK article about the predicament he is in with the local government beauracrats of Boone & Watauga Counties, North Carolina. It’s a real shame there is no Oath Keeping, Constitutional Sheriff’s down there like Richard Mack to come to the aid of Mr. Conway. 

Eustace Conway, his 500 acre preserve and his consistent/ persistent volunteers have never had any issues with the local government in the last 26 years he’s been residing out in the mountains of North Carolina – until of course, he got his own TV Show. As of this writing,  we are still questioning the motives behind the employees of the “Planning and Inspection Department” and “Health Department Safety Specialist” who’ve harassed him over a mandate that his doghouse and outhouse meet a series of absurd regulatory codes. Of course that’s not their only gripes with Eustace, he didn’t get permission from those wise-overlords in the county to construct the buildings on the land that he owns. Eustace didn’t bother to get an arbitrary piece of paper granting him permission to do what he wishes to do with his own property.  It was his property, he owns the property, and was not infringing on anyone else’s life, so why should he need a bureaucrat’s permission slip? What Eustace wished to do was hand build a number of supporting structures on the land that he legally owns.

The initial contact was some time in June of 2012 which was during the heart of Season One. They called him up and said they wanted to visit his property.After coming out there and taking a look, they slammed him with a number of administrative “violations” which restricted Eustace’s ability to use his own property as he saw fit.This blog is not meant to be an entire recap of events since then, it’s about the events that happened, today, and how I/ we can help stand with Eustace.

When reading the article, I wasn’t surprised that government employees were harassing and threatening Eustace over trivialities which undermined Eustace’s right to dispose of his property as he chose to.I was reminded of a similar incident in about a resident in Virginia Beach with chickens in her backyard, facing criminal charges! We saw another example of something much, much similar to Eustace’s situation back in November of 2010, when a man named Dick Thompson was being harassed for “Living to Simply”.  The aggressive action taken by local governments against these peaceful individuals is the opposite of a benevolent government looking out for the needs of its “citizens.”  These harassments are merely the tip of the iceberg: government employees dictate to Americans what types of  light bulbs we can or can’t use, the same with toilets etc and outlaws peaceful behaviours such as the commerce of Raw Milk and Cannabis – between peaceful, consenting adults. Too add insult to injury, these decades old laws remain in effect, despite new research that proves THC not only cures certain cancers, but  inhibits cancer as well (along with the plethora of medicinal, industrial and nutritional value it as also). So what gives? Do we still believe the government keeps our “best interest” in mind?  Do we believe that government employees acting in the name of the people, as if 315 million agree on every particular issue, have a right to deprive the rest of the American population of the choice to

After reading the Daily Mail article about the situation I started YouTubing videos about Eustace and his Preserve. I quickly, very quickly realized how awesome of a person he is. Referred to as some by a living day Henry David Thoreau, or Daniel Boone, that certainly describes Eustace, from what I’ve learned about him over the last 12 hours. I quickly started sharing the article and letting people know to keep this story on their radar. “The Liberty Movement” is often known to come to the aid of fellow individuals who’s rights are being undermined by the thugs of government. I then called the Preserve and left a message for Eustace, not expecting he would actually get it, sure enough he called me back shortly later! We talked for about 56 minutes and I had a big old smile on my face the entire time. We talked about a wide range of things. I gave him my background in a nutshell, and told him I was eager to help out. I explained to him that I may have never seen that article, or heard about the situation if I had not been off of work today because of the weather – and I must say, I do not believe that was a coincidence.
He later told me in our conversation that he believed I was an “answered prayer” – that of course, was quite encouraging to hear.

Eustace explained to me what kind of help he was in need in, lots of computer and internet related help, as he told me he’s like a “cave man” when it comes to that stuff. Since getting out of the Army in 2009, I have done quite a bit of Social Media Marketing and Management for not only myself and the things I’m involved in, but for actual local and non-local businesses as well. I’ve developed a nitch for networking, organizing, facilitating and making things happen, especially when it comes to dealing with government beauracrats. Since I’ve gotten out of the Army, I’ve become activist, and advocate for Freedom and The Non-Aggression Principle. I have a huge network of like-minded folks, all the way from Oregeon to California &  Florida to Maine, seriously, and don’t leave out those amazing Free Staters in New Hampshire whom are consistently doing great things advancing the cause of Freedom in that state! My initial desire was to get down there as soon as next week, that’s how excited and eager I am to help out.

Unfortunately because of my own responsibilities here where I reside, I won’t be able to physically go down there, unless it’s on the weekends, or unless things with his situation get much more imminent. After concluding my exciting conversation with Eustace, I started getting to work online, before I knew it messages and phone calls were flowing in about the matter. Later that afternoon, I spoke with his lead volunteer staffer, Desere, the officer manager, among many other roles. Desere has been the one managing their Facebook Pages, to the best of her abilities – although it sounds like she’d much rather be outside getting her hands dirty and breaking a sweat.

Why do I want to help out these people I’ve never met? For several reasons actually and I’ll explain. For starters, if we the general public, does NOT only start utilizing their individual rights as well as defending them there will be little to no rights to fight for 20 years from now, when are children and grand children are young adolescents. Previous generations have already slipped into the coma called apathy, and the lies, distortions and manipulations of the media. The USA has become a bloated police and surveillance state, while both parties continue to vote away our freedoms and spend money faster than the Federal Reserve can print it out of thin air. It is literally “us vs them”, The State vs “the citizen”, but don’t call me that because I’m no-one’s slave or subject. Just to highlight two reasons, a second reason I’m eager to help out is due to the fact that, this man, these people, are living my dream!
It’s my goal to create enough wealth for me to purchase some land some day and self-sustain, homestead and live off the grid, maybe not to the primitive degree that is taking place on Turtle Island Preserve, but close to it!

I’ve been following pioneers like Will Powers of “Growing Power”, Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, and others for several years now, and it’s my goal to mimic men like these, including Eustace one day. This will be my third year growing my own food, and I’m hoping to get a half dozen chickens or so this spring. I strongly believe in the principles this country was founded on, which was a free society, maximizing liberty, freedom of choice, etc. I strongly agree and respect Ron Paul’s answers in this video with Pete Eyre where they discuss things like Jury Nullification, civil disobedience, self-government and more. Paul says concerning self-government that he thinks it’s “Great, I’m fine with it, that’s really what my goal is… You know, if we had a libertarian society (free society), we would have no qualms with enclaves of people governing themselves how they choose” and he uses the Amish as one example.

So this is my beginning, in standing with Eustace and his volunteers & essetially the principles that I stand for and that the majority of the public stood for 150-200 years ago, which the tiredless minority are fighting for today. I hope you will join me in my efforts in standing for freedom, standing for peace, standing up for our neighbors and resisting tyranny, even when disguised  in suits toting badges and weaponry. If you want to help me and my efforts to help them, please contact me. If you want to help them, please email them at mail@turtleislandpreserve.com. Without a doubt, please continue to raise awareness about this situation, as it seems like on a daily basis our freedoms our under attack from people who claim it’s for our own good.  Embrace Voluntaryism, The non-aggression principle and do all things in and with love.

Things YOU can immediately do to help:

  • Call, email, fax the local beauracrats whom are making the threats. POLITELY ask them to cease and desist in their threats to comply. Let them know the world is watching and they will be held accountable for their actions.
  • Consider making donations to Turtle Island Preserve. Eustace told me straight up he doesn’t like asking people from money, and because of that he has two small loans out to cover operation expenses. LETS CHANGE THAT and give him a surplus! He will likely also need money for a Legal Defense Fund, so please donate whatever you are able to!
  • SHARE SHARE SHARE – not only only this blog, but other articles about his situation. We need to get this story VIRAL! Tell your friends, neighbors and let the media know!
  • Consider chipping in for my gas and travel expenses as I plan to periodically make the 5 hour (one way) drive to the Preserve to help with things on the weekends
  • If you have a skill set that you’re willing to utilize, like myself, at a pro-bono rate, contact me or Desere (at the email address above).

 

Lastly, if you, like myself, have not been following Eustace Conway and the Turtle Island Preserve Get caught up to speed! Below are links to articles and videos: