By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Given recent political violence across the country, state Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester, said she objected to a “Dystopian Obituary for NH” which was displayed outside the State House plaza Thursday by the Kent Street Coalition, which included coffins and skeletons representing various groups of individuals.
A handout by the group read that “It is with great sadness that we announce the demise of the traditions and institutions that once made NH such a proud Democracy: Public Education, Healthcare, Immigration, Freedom of Speech, Rule of Law, Voting Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights and Veterans Support. The cause of death was the greed and lack of compassion by the NH GOP, including their overlords: The Free Staters, the Liberty Caucus, the MAGA movement, and Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
“In lieu of flowers, please call your representatives and senators. Ask them to do all they can to keep this dystopian vision from becoming a reality.”
Sullivan said she understands the rights of free speech and public expression but when you have coffins out there signifying dead bodies with skulls and skeletons and the Grim Reaper and in front of it you put “This is What the NH GOP Wants” it just fuels the flames of political violence we have seen across the country.
She noted the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and talk show host who was killed in September at Utah Valley University. A suspect is in custody.
After the Senate session Thursday, Sullivan said she was dismayed by the display.
“I was hoping that people would pull back some of this rhetoric,” she said.
She said the GOP does not want people dead.
“This is insanity to even suggest such a thing. It is very disheartening to see people that will put that message out there to make other people feel like they are somehow targets of ours,” Sullivan said.
Louise Spencer, one of the organizers of Kent Street Coalition, said it is not as Sullivan is interpreting it.
She noted the coffins are not individuals but represent the various categories of aspects of life under attack now in Concord.
The coffins show skeletons with “RIP” over the head and include Healthcare with a skeleton and a hospital johnnie, Veterans Support with a skeleton holding an American flag with a helmet and wearing camouflage and Immigration with a cut out of the Statue of Liberty and flame torch and others. The coffins have a banner at their base reading, “If the NHGOP has their way!!”
The Kent Street Coalition https://kentstreetcoalition.org/ is a grassroots organization which closely follows New Hampshire legislative action.