This is an incredibly painful and difficult time for us all. What happened in Charlottesville, Virginia is deeply disturbing and heartrending.
The ACLU of New Hampshire fully supports all First Amendment rights to free speech, to freedom of the press, and to peaceably assemble. Yet violence and loss-of-life are never acceptable means to express those ideas protected by the First Amendment – there is no place for violence in a civilized society. The ACLU of New Hampshire emphatically condemns racism, white nationalism, white supremacy and all forms of bigotry.
We condemn those who perpetrate violence under the guise of exercising their civil liberties. We will work to ensure that law enforcement develops plans to protect people from violence while safeguarding everyone’s right to free expression and assembly.