Here's why judge dismissed civil rights charges as unconstitutional: Letters

Here's why judge dismissed civil rights charges as unconstitutional

June 29 − To the Editor:

White nationalists displayed a sign on Portsmouth’s Stark Street bridge saying “Keep New England White”. They were charged under the NH Civil Rights law. Why did NH Superior Court Judge Ruoff dismiss the case?

Judge Ruoff began his opinion by quoting, in bold print, from two US Supreme Court opinions:

“Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful; but the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express ‘the thought we hate.’”

How did the judge reach this conclusion? The prosecutor argued that simple trespass on public property motivated by race, proven by the words on the sign, brought the N.H. Civil Rights law into play. This law levels a $10,000 fine on trespass, motivated by race. The prosecutor eliminated references to threats and relied solely on simple trespass and racial motivation, which is part of the N.H. Civil Rights Law. The judge held there was trespass on public property.

The state prosecutor’s interpretation was any trespass on public property motivated by race or another protected classification could be fined. The judge said under this interpretation,”The state could prohibit abortion protests on the Statehouse lawn.” Another, the state could fine the use of the public sidewalk to someone “… knocking on doors to spread the message of their religion”. The Judge concluded the state’s interpretation is overbroad and thus, unconstitutional.

Tom Pearson

Rye

Speeding poses an imminent danger in North Hampton

July 2 − To the Editor:

It is 6:20 am.  Sunday morning, July 2, 2023.

I am installing a camera in front of my house. I am concerned about the speed of the traffic between my house and the golfing range, and the corner after my house.

I'm sure you already know that 80-90% of vehicles traveling that stretch are doing so at high rates of speed.   Since the early 1970s, there have been many accidents on this road.  I personally remember the high school kid from Portsmouth that was hit head on at the first mentioned corner. Speed was a factor.  My mother called the police department while I ran up the hill in the dark to Route 1 to flag them down.  At that time, North Road was not populated as it is now. As I had suspected, the cruiser sped right by the road. I was the one put a blanket over the deceased rider. I was not even 15 years old.

And a few years ago, my sons best friend was killed just down the street from me.  On the 4th of July. Motorcycle. Speed.

Now I live in that house that I grew up in.  This morning was the last straw for me after living here over 50 years, and felt compelled to contact you.

The road from Route 1 to West Road, Rye, has no lighting.

I would inquire about the installation of a street light.

I would also like to know about a speed strip/bump/traffic slower.  One that is removable in the winter for plowing.  I have seen strips such as these in other towns and they work incredibly well.

I would like to have a "your speed" sign set up as well.  Either way. East or west. Both directions are equally as bad.

I am appealing to you first.  If there is someone else you wish to direct me to, please let me know.

It worries me to know that our police department is suffering great distress with staffing issues, and I'm concerned about the time lapse between an accident, and the time it might take for the departments to respond.  Taking into consideration the requests I have made, I feel very sure that those additions to North Road East, will help deter, manage, slow down the traffic, and save lives.  The lighting would allow drivers to negotiate the sharp corners, and deterioration of the road conditions.

I don't want to put a blanket on another victim.

Please consider this letter to be of high importance. Critical even.  Time is of the essence.

Jennifer Emery

North Hampton

Loans to the rich forgiven but students must pay

July 1 − To the Editor:

The Supreme Court decided that the Executive Branch overstepped its authority to offer student loan forgiveness as a response to the national emergency caused by the pandemic. Yet, the rich, powerful, and privileged were granted millions of dollars of debt forgiveness for the very same national emergency. This double standard and hypocrisy is astounding.

Ken Cohen

Kensington

When it comes to guns we must do more than simply count the dead

July 2 − To the Editor:

Education does help to sort factual information from emotional reaction. So, unsubstantiated claims of socialism, violence inspiring movies and videos and the virtues of our health care system should be evaluated on factual information not believed because they are the consumable mantras of a political party.

I shall reiterate for those who are interested: proliferating firearms are the source of over 300 mass shootings so far this year. The greatest source of mortality for those under age 25 is gun violence. Rarely is the protection from home invasion validated by gun ownership.

Guns ownership isn’t going to be restricted (I wish it was) but mechanisms for increased safety are available.

Homeowners insurance can be used to enforce a liability rider for owning a weapon. The rates can be reduced by proving you have a trigger locks and a gun safe.  As has been recently noted: this measure is to create a financial incentive to create owner safety behavior not to compensate anyone.

The expansive and expensive tragedy of shootings is only measured by death counts.  As has been noted in this paper recently: hospitals and medical treatments are catastrophically expensive. Never do I see the long term effects (personally and financially ) of the consequences of gun violence. Yes,   Paid family leave could provide “some” help.

Medicare for all, government funded health care?  Am I a socialist? Call me what you want but the greatest factor in personal financial  collapse is overwhelming medial expense and if your body is penetrated by gun fire you are going to need a lot of medical care.

At this time, there is very little that can be done about proliferating access to weapons but there are some things that can be done to increase responsibility.

Age 21 for purchases, fire arm safety training, red flag laws, and many more ideas but to only count the dead is to miss the largest problem of the consequences of surviving and that’s something that is largely ignored.

Steve Little

Portsmouth

Court leaves in place affirmative action for rich white people

July 3 − To the Editor:

The Supreme Court struck down affirmative actions for minorities in college admissions.  It left in place affirmative actions for whites and the wealthy in college admissions.  If you are a child of an alumni, you get preference over someone who is not. Given that many colleges did not accept Blacks and some other minorities for decades or centuries the alumni are disproportionately white.  Given centuries of employment discrimination minorities are less wealthy as well.  Thus, white children and children of the rich are favored for admissions even when they are less qualified.

This is just one more example of a system rigged to favor white and wealthy Americans.

Walter Hamilton

Portsmouth

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Here's why judge ruled civil rights charges unconstitutional: Letters