Amy Erickson: Belcher should present evidence of threats to police

To The Daily Sun,

Rep. Mike Belcher’s mendacity is only exceeded by his hypocrisy. In his letter “Wolfeboro Dems advocate revolution, which means murder,” is all about theater, political points, and mislabeling nonpartisan local protest as a Democratic “hate session.” He inflates signs into evidence of organized murderous intent, ignoring full well who organizes the demonstrations.

Correct the record: The 8'×2.5' hard-to-miss banner at the weekly gatherings states “Wolfeboro Area Peaceful Protesters” — a nonpartisan group of Democrats, Republicans, and independents exercising First Amendment rights. Calling the events partisan erases many neighbors.

Don’t weaponize metaphor: A sign referencing 1939 Germany and 1789 France is offensive and historically clumsy, but it is not proof of a plotted campaign of executions.

Keep history accurate: The French Revolution began amid severe inequality and fiscal collapse and included both democratic reforms and a later violent phase. Reducing it to a simple call for mass murder is outrageous. Fun facts: the Jacobites were a Scottish-Irish-Welsh movement that resisted the British crown in the earlier 1700's and suffered brutal repercussions — not even close to being part of the 1789 French Revolution.

Call out hypocrisy and projection: Rep. Belcher warns of dangerous rhetoric while engaging in selective outrage. Recently, the New Hampshire House censured Rep. Travis Corcoran 288-54 for saying the Legislature needed a “final solution” for “theater kids” — a phrase inseparably linked to Nazi genocide. Rep. Belcher was among 54 who voted against censure. His letter is full of rhetoric, dehumanizing language, and omits culpability of his or his caucus’s escalating tensions.

If Belcher truly cares about safety and civility, he should present evidence to authorities, work on de-escalation, and look at himself and party in a mirror. The First Amendment protects speech — address misconduct with facts, not fear.

Amy Erickson

Wolfeboro