Name: Protesters return to Gov. Sununu's home despite town law
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Protesters return to Gov. Sununu's home despite town law

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By Karen Dandurantnews@seacoastonline.comView CommentsNEWFIELDS – State police remained watchful Sunday&nbsp;as groups of citizens who were told last week a new town ordinance prohibited them from picketing in front of Republican Gov. Chris Sununu’s home came back anyway.All remained peaceful Sunday among the protesters, who&nbsp;oppose Sununu's mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions supported by state and federal public health officials. They numbered&nbsp;about 75, gathered at Newfields Town Hall and marched via a pathway running alongside Newfields Country Store to the governor’s home. Once there, they joined hands and prayed before departing, but not before speaking out against the town ordinance.Frank Staples, the founder of Absolute Defiance, said his group has sought legal advice and raised a legal fund.“We will be taking this ordinance to court,” Staples said. “We do not feel the town had the right to make that ordinance and we will fight it. And we will continue to be right here standing for our rights.”Sunday's protest&nbsp;came after a protest outside Sununu's home last week . That was followed by Sununu&nbsp;canceling his outdoor inauguration ceremony, stating he was concerned for the safety of his family and the public, in part, he said, because the protesters have been armed outside his home.State police took no action Sunday, sitting in cars in Sununu’s driveway and standing alongside his home near the public access path. The group had divided themselves into three before they left Town Hall.“Any more than 25 people, we need a parade permit,” said Brennan Christen, one of the organizers from Absolute Defiance, which has been since he ordered a statewide mask mandate in November. “I think that ordinance is not as enforceable as the town would like to think. We are not weaponizing and never have been. I think they need to look to the '60s, at what picketing really means. We have the absolute right to gather quietly and pray. We have the right to have a vigil. Despite what the governor said, we never trespassed on his property, and no one was openly carrying. I don’t think the governor has anything to fear from us. We are just standing up for our constitutional rights.”There were several groups represented at Sunday’s event. The groups’ next action, he said, will be to protest the governor’s inauguration on Thursday, Jan. 7. In a public statement last week, planned for outside the State House and will instead have a small indoor ceremony.&nbsp;More:More:“My first responsibility is ensuring the safety of my family and our citizens” Sununu said last week in a news release. “For weeks, armed protesters have increasingly become more aggressive, targeting my family, protesting outside my private residence, and trespassing on my property — an outdoor public ceremony simply brings too much risk. We do not make this decision lightly, but it is the right thing to do.”“All the statements from the governor are untrue,” said Christen. “No one showed up openly carrying guns. Skylar Bennett was arrested while he was on that public access path. He wasn’t threatening anyone.”“I was arrested, and my rights were violated,” said Skylar Bennett of Concord. “I did nothing wrong and I will not be silenced, I am here today, and I will be in Concord next week for the protest.” Bennett joined the group at the Town Hall Sunday, but said his bail conditions prevented him from marching to Sununu's home.Ben Vihstadt, the governor’s spokesman, said Sunday the governor has nothing to do with the Newfields&nbsp;town ordinance and suggested it should be taken up with town officials. One of those officials, Michael Sununu, the governor's&nbsp;brother, is a member of the Newfields Board of Selectmen. He&nbsp;voted to enact the ordinance.Christen said most of the people taking part in the protests voted for Sununu, but are now losing faith in him.“We will pray for an end to tyranny,” he said. “We will pray for an end to all types of tyranny here in New Hampshire, not just that of one man.”“Sununu is angering Republicans and independent voters who supported him,” said Christen. “He has been acting with supreme authority ever since COVID began. We want him to rescind his executive orders and bring his concerns to the legislature. If the legislature had voted for a mask mandate, we would honor it. But there was no vote, just the governor deciding. I’d ask him and Dr. (Benjamin) Chan (New Hampshire's state epidemiologist)&nbsp;to bring the science to us. Show us why this is needed. They think this is just about masks, but it is about all of it, it’s about an abuse of power.”According to the Centers for Disease Control "face coverings are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19 that could reduce the spread of the disease, particularly when used universally within communities."“We are not defenseless against COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”More:Shannon Russo and Saige Plumer of Chester said they represented&nbsp;NH Uncensored at Sunday's protest.“We believe we have constitutional rights and that they are in danger,” said Plumer. “Being told we cannot protest where we were is an error. We were on public property, a little park in front of the governor’s house.“My voice here and in the courts is the only thing we have left,” said Jeanine LeBlanc, also of Chester. “It is why I am here today, to stand for my rights. We are comfortable and people fought and died so we could be. We can’t forget that, or let it be destroyed.”View Comments

By Karen Dandurantnews@seacoastonline.comView CommentsNEWFIELDS – State police remained watchful Sunday&nbsp;as groups of citizens who were told last week a new town ordinance prohibited them from picketing in front of Republican Gov. Chris Sununu’s home came back anyway.All remained peaceful Sunday among the protesters, who&nbsp;oppose Sununu's mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions supported by state and federal public health officials. They numbered&nbsp;about 75, gathered at Newfields Town Hall and marched via a pathway running alongside Newfields Country Store to the...

Protesters return to Gov. Sununu's home despite town law

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