To The Daily Sun,
I am writing to express my shock, sadness and anger as I was made aware of the events unfolding this summer concerning the fascists' creep. When hateful, violent, Nazi organization came to Kittery, Maine and unfolded a banner, the response of the local businesses was to rally against displays of hate. As a result, these businesses became targets. Afterward, they have been subjected to threats of violence, harassment and vitriol from online trolls; they reached out for help to their known contacts in media and government but to no avail. They have only received support from the community. This is unacceptable.
The sadness that I feel must pale in comparison to how isolating that must have felt, to have been ignored in time of need. New Hampshire’s economy and way of life operates to the hum of small businesses. The minority owned businesses especially are invaluable as they demonstrate New Hampshire’s appreciation for diversity. I am a Black man, a father, and a teacher. I’m using my voice to stand up for these small businesses, here in New Hampshire.
I call on my local representative, Mark Alliegro, my representative in congress, Chris Pappas, my representative in the Senate, Jeanne Shaheen, and my governor, Chris Sununu, to publicly denounce this extremist activity. I also call on the media at NHPR, WMUR, Concord Monitor, The Laconia Daily Sun, The Union Leader, The Portsmouth Herald, and ABC Portland to do better. No businesses should ever feel isolated by hate groups, it is inexcusable to allow minorities to be subjected to racists, antisemetic, homophobic and transphobic abuse.
Please join me in supporting The Hop Knot, Nommunism, Broken Spoon, and Cake Vegan Bakery, and let’s not allow fascist creeps a safe space in our state.
Benjamin Bacote
Campton
(2) comments
Mr. Bacote... When I was 15 years old (1962) I got to spend a summer traveling from NH with my dad, across the deep south. Never having been beyond NYC, I’m certain you will understand the culture shock a kid of Canadian descent felt seeing police dogs attacking demonstrators protesting around the south… it was all totally abhorrent to my Canadian Catholic upbring. One image indelibly etched in my memory… the Red-Hot Truck Stop, Meridian Mississippi. When one entered from the rear parking lot, there were two drinking fountains… one looked as a filthy urinal, the sign read ‘’Colored’’. When I returned home in September, I recognized my New England surroundings in a much different like. I started to realize the hypocrisy in many things I had thought to be true. Ultimately discovering northern racism far more clandestine than the hatred on full display the south during the Summer of ‘’62’’. Sadly, I find no surprise the Southern Poverty Law Office tracks roughly a dozen hate groups in New Hampshire. I find no surprise in a state legislature attempting to turn New Hampshire into the Mississippi of the North. An economics professor once told me back in ‘’71”, the only factor you need to understand, ‘’smart people are having fewer children’’. All we can hope for is to positively effect one life, make one person understand ‘’we all make or none make it’’. Be well!
Steven JP Dionne
Laconia
yeah not going to support a place called "Nommunism" or maybe you forgot how they treat all those vulnerable groups under communism.
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