Unity rallies draw small crowds

LACONIA — A small group of supporters took part in a rally downtown on Friday to support social unity.

In recent weeks, members of the public came to the Laconia Human Relations Committee and requested organizers plan a series of rallies in support of social unity around the city. Motivated in part by a rash of antisemitic and generally intolerant graffiti and signage posted in locations around the city, including on the Democratic party’s headquarters and at the State School property, organizers hoped to send an apolitical message of inclusion.

The group of six individuals met around 4:30 p.m. at City Hall and traveled Main Street, with some standing in the median and others on the corner of Main and Canal streets.

Signs created included messages such as “everyone is welcome in Laconia,” “unite in friendship," “one race human race,” “all are welcome as they are,” “only light can cast out darkness” and “RACE - respect, acceptance, compassion and empathy”. 

Around six demonstrators also rallied Saturday.

Patrick Wood, chair of the Human Relations Committee, said a small crowd gathered downtown on Saturday afternoon and received some positive feedback.

“It went fine, it was interesting,” Wood said. “It’s always fun to be a people-watcher and see how people react. We had a good group of people and some good conversation.”

Community members who happened upon the rally signed their support at times, but many continued on their way without much interaction.

“We didn’t get anybody giving us a hard time, there were some people giving us a thumbs-up and supporting,” Wood said. “It wasn’t an overwhelming response but we had some people who were paying attention to us.”

Leading up to the rallies, organizers Wood and Matt Soza hoped to garner enough participants in order to demonstrate at locations throughout the city. Locations that could be included in future rallies are City Hall, the Main Street intersection near Stewart Park, the library, the intersection of Union Avenue and Elm Street in Lakeport, Busy Corner and another location yet to be determined on the south side. 

Wood said Monday in an interview that upcoming meetings of the Laconia Human Relations Committee will likely spawn more such rallies through the summer. 

“Yes,” he said. “I do expect more to come on that.”