Adam Kokesh Decides To Stay In Jail, Refuses To Give Judge Phone Number And Address

Libertarian radio show host Adam Kokesh, who was arrested on Saturday during a pro-marijuana legalization rally in Philadelphia, refused to give his phone number and address in U.S. District Court yesterday.

The 31-year-old was arrested after he allegedly “assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and interfered" with federal officers at the monthly “Smoke Down Prohibition” meeting. Kokesh told his public defender, James McHugh, that he would rather stay in prison than release his address and phone number. He also refused the bail conditions which prohibited Kokesh from possessing a firearm, the Daily News reports.

“His lawyer put up a vigorous defense of the probable cause in the courtroom today and questioned a number of things the park service said,” one of Kokesh’s staff members said in a press conference Friday, after the hearing.

Kokesh’s supporters call his arrest illegal and point to the video footage that documented Kokesh’s arrest at the rally where the former Marine appears to show no resistance to the officers handling him, Philebrity reports.

“I am being assaulted by an officer of the law who is a clear criminal,” Kokesh said into a microphone as police officers arrest him. “This is a criminal act being committed by a man in a costume.”

Kokesh received media attention when he announced a loaded gun march on July 4 in Washington, D.C. He told Vice.com that more than 4,000 people plan to attend the protest, which is meant to “keep government in check.”

Kokesh received a general discharge from the Marines after he participated in a mock patrol during an anti-war protest while in uniform, Fox News reports. He became a prominent anti-war activist, an active participant for “Iraq Veterans Against the War” and a radio talk show host affiliated with libertarianism.

“Human beings are capable of ruling their own lives and shouldn't have other people exercising authority over them in any way. But, in a situation where the government truly exists at the pleasure of the people, then the government should constantly be in fear of the people and should acknowledge that at any time,” Kokesh told Vice.