CONCORD, N.H. - Amid breaking news reports that armed law enforcement have deployed to the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and Dartmouth College campuses where they have dismantled protest demonstrations and arrested protestors, the ACLU of New Hampshire issued the following statement.
From Devon Chaffee, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire:
“While the situation is still developing, we are highly concerned that police, many in riot gear, appear to have moved quickly and forcefully into protests at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College campuses. Use of police force against protestors should never be a first resort.
“Freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate are foundational principles of democracy and core constitutional rights. We urge university and government leaders to create environments that safeguard constitutionally protected speech.
“While the ACLU of New Hampshire does not take a position on the conflict in Israel and Palestine, we are committed to ensuring freedom of expression and association, including on college and university campuses in New Hampshire.”