Derrick J Wins Best Sign
Just about one week after a successful first rally for New Hampshire independence in Manchester, NHexit activists held another one for independence day in Keene. NH1’s Jennifer Currier came out and reported live from the scene for the 5:30 and 6:30 news. She also filed this excellent report. No video available online yet, but here’s the text:
KEENE – A handful of New Hampshire residents gathered outside the Post Office in Keene on Monday evening to show support for NHExit.
The movement started shortly after Britain broke ties with the European Union, in hopes that the Granite State would follow the example and secede from the United States.
“The goal is to pretty much send the message to the feds of we don’t like what you’re doing, knock it off, or we will try to leave,” said Darrel W. Perry, a member of the New Hampshire Liberty Party and one of the protestors.
This was the second peaceful protest organized for the movement in less than two weeks. The first was held in Manchester on June 26.
About a half dozen people were at the Keene protest, which had about half the turnout as the first protest.
Ian Freeman, also of the Liberty Party and a candidate for governor, organized Monday’s gathering. He wasn’t discouraged by the turnout.
NHexit NOW!
“We’ve got a lot of great people who’ve come out today, and we’ve been getting a lot of honks and waves so far,” he said.
The protesters waved to cars and passersby and received many honks or waves in return. However, none of the onlookers joined in.
Organizers said planning a protest for Independence Day was no coincidence.
“It was definitely a strategic move to choose Independence Day because today really is the day that people are celebrating secession,” Freeman said. “If you think about it, the United States seceded from the thirteen colonies, seceded from the king’s rule. So really, we’re just talking about doing that again.”
The main message of the protest was that the NHExit is meant to be a peaceful one.
“A lot of people will look at secession and say, well, that’s a dirty word or secession is violent,” Perry said. “I’ve been an advocate of secession as long as I can remember.”
The next NHExit gathering is planned for later this month in Portsmouth.
