Obama, Romney Supporters From Granby, Surrounding Towns Unite To Support Free Speech

In an act of bipartisan unity, local supporters of both incumbent President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney gathered on Granby’s town green Saturday to peacefully support free speech and raise awareness of the recent theft and damage of political yard signs that has affected members and supporters of both parties.

Tannia Hotchkiss, who had a sign supporting Barack Obama stolen from her home on Day Street earlier in October, organized the demonstration to support free speech.

“All citizens should support the candidate of their choice without fear of theft,” Hotchkiss said in a message encouraging people to attend, support their preferred candidate and advocate for free speech and civil discourse.

Laurelyn Keenan was demonstrating on the town green as well, holding up a rumpled sign supporting Republican Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Keenan’s sign had been mangled and left on her lawn.

“I also had my sign and rights violated by having my Romney-Ryan sign not stolen, but even worse, destroyed,” Keenan said about the damage to her property. “I wish the sign had just been stolen and put in the trash or recycling so I wouldn't have to know that there is such an angry person in our neighborhood.”

All the demonstrators on the Granby town green Saturday had dealt with damage or theft of their political yard signs, bumper stickers and other materials.

“I’m tired of having the fringe co-opt freedom of speech,” said Shelley Houlihan, a Simsbury resident who had her political yard signs torn from her lawn and strewn about the woods behind her home.

Look for more reaction from Granby and East Granby residents about the theft of signs and other political materials this week on The Granbys Patch.