Gov. Sununu’s Hometown Bans Picketing At Residences Following Protests

NH Journal

By Christopher Maidment

Newfields’ select board passed an ordinance last week prohibiting picketing at private residences. The move follows weeks of peaceful mask protests outside the home of Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who lives in Newfields.

“It is unlawful for any person to engage in picketing on or about the residence or dwelling of any individual in the Town of Newfields,” the signed ordinance reads. Violators will be subject to fines up to $100 for each offense. Chris Sununu’s brother, Michael, is a select board member in Newfields and appears on the signed ordinance.

Chief Nathan Liebenow of the Newfields Police Department explained to the select board in a Dec. 8 meeting that enforcement efforts would be “aggressive in nature,” but that violators would first be warned and asked to comply. Non-compliant protestors could then be subject to arrest for disorderly conduct.

According to the minutes from that meeting, the chief explained that “the intention of this ordinance is not to suppress or violate anyone’s Constitutional Right to Free Speech. It is an effort to balance the peoples’ right to live without disturbance and harassment in their own homes.”

Commissioner Robert Quinn, who leads the Department of Safety in New Hampshire, attended the select board meeting and “respectfully requested the Board support and grant Chief Liebenow’s ordinance request.” Quinn cited unsustainable costs of protecting the governor’s home with State Police resources.

Select board member Jamie Thompson noted that “he believes it to be Constitutional as long as people are allowed to march instead of concentrating on a particular neighborhood.”

Newfields’ ordinance prohibiting picketing are private residences and dwellings (click to enlarge).

For the past several weeks, protestors have gathered across the street from the home of the governor with signs and bullhorns, protesting against a mask mandate implemented by Sununu in November. Noise complaints prompted the State Police to threaten disorderly conduct arrests for use of the bullhorn recently, after which protests returned to a quiet and peaceful picket.

This is a developing story and will be updated…

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.