Above, Anthony Raimondo carries a sign at protest gathering in Newmarket Saturday. SUSAN DROMEY HEETER photo

By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, InDepthNH.org

NEWMARKET – Every Saturday, Newmarket’s downtown is alive with vibrant sign holders from noon to 1:00 p.m.  Saturday’s protesters included Lindsay Garfield, and her husband Andrew Bowen, both of Lee.  According to Garfield, “We are passionate about protecting our democracy.  Our main concern is abolishing ICE and impeaching President Trump.”

When asked why she was out on such a frigid day Cherie Corbett, of Newmarket, responded that her purpose was “having a voice for people who don’t have a voice…and aggravating Trump.”

When asked what one word reflected their intentions for their civic engagement, Regina Byrnes of Newmarket responded, “empathy.”  Lynn Markert, also of Newmarket, said her word was “necessary” and Gerry Bresnahan remarked the word that captured her mindset: “American.”

Anthony Raimondo of Durham stood in the frigid temperature as he stated, “I’m supporting efforts to limit the terrorizing of our people in our country, their methods are more for instilling fear.”

Finally, Amy Nicholson of Newmarket, above, did not hold a sign, rather, shared the red hat she was in the process of knitting, utilizing “craftivism” as her form of expression.  The hat in progress is one gaining in popularity around the country as a form of protest, a hat, according to NPR, is “based on a Norwegian hat used to protest the Nazi occupation of Norway in the 1940s.” Nicholson teaches at Dover’s “Spinning Yarns” knitting store where both yarn and the pattern for the “Melt the ICE hat” are available.  All proceeds collected will be distributed to immigrant aid agencies. 

Protests took place around New Hampshire today and many of the same Newmarket activists will continue their civic engagement tomorrow in Portsmouth from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Market Square.