Attorney General John M. Formella and Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport announce the initiation of an enforcement action by the Civil Rights Unit against Loren Faulkner alleging twenty-two counts of violating the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act. The complaint was filed today in Rockingham County Superior Court.
“Hateful acts that are motivated by intolerance for our fellow citizens have no place in New Hampshire and will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Formella. “The Department of Justice will continue to use every tool at our disposal, including robust enforcement of the State’s Civil Rights Act, to combat hate and ensure that New Hampshire remains a place where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and have the opportunity to live their lives free from discrimination, fear, and intimidation.”
The civil complaint alleges that on Feb. 21, 2023, Mr. Faulkner damaged property at eighteen separate locations, businesses, residences, and houses of worship in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
This vandalism included spray-painting swastikas and other symbols on Temple Israel, Cup of Joe Café, Grim North Tattoo and Piercing, St. John’s Episcopal Church, among other businesses and location.
The vandalism also included defacing a rainbow park bench located at Portsmouth Place Apartments, destroying an LGBTQ+ Pride flag displayed by St. John’s Episcopal Church, defacing a Black Heritage Trail sign, and defacing multiple signs and murals expressing support for and solidarity with communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized communities.
The civil complaint also alleges that over the course of April 20, 2022, and April 21, 2022, Mr. Faulkner damaged property at four additional locations when he stole or attempted to steal LGBTQ+ Pride flags located at a residence and house of worship in Portsmouth, including one displayed by the North Church near Market Square, vandalized the St. John’s Monastic Lodge with antisemitic and homophobic graffiti, and recorded a video of himself burning a stolen Ukrainian flag while denouncing Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and LGBTQ+ people and then sent the video to the sophomore class at Portsmouth High School.
The civil complaint alleges that Mr. Faulkner’s actions were motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin.
Each violation of the Civil Rights Act allows for a maximum civil penalty of $5,000. Violations of the Civil Rights Act also empower the court to restrain the defendant from committing future violations of the Civil Rights Act and other hate-motivated conduct for three years. With its complaint, the Civil Rights Unit has asked the court to implement a preliminary restraining order to protect the victims and the public from Mr. Faulkner.
The complaints and the allegations contained therein are merely accusations that the Civil Rights Unit must prove at a final hearing.
The Civil Rights Unit enforces state civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act and the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination. Anyone who believes their civil rights have been violated may file a complaint at https://www.doj.nh.gov/civil-rights/index.htm or by calling 603-271-3650.
