The erosion of civil liberties

There are many causes for concern in Thursday’s (Oct. 19) announcement by Governor Sununu and Attorney General John Formella of plans for the creation of the Northern Border Alliance Task Force. These include their ongoing inability or refusal to produce any data that would support their narrative of increased border crossings into New Hampshire; the erosion of civil liberties and increase in racial profiling that are likely to accompany the policing, surveillance and expansion of law enforcement immunity as described in the proposal; the diversion of resources away from real needs in the North Country for investments in public education, broadband access, mental health and recovery supports, and affordable housing; and their use of a narrative of terror and Middle East threats to motivate support for the program.

We urge Governor Sununu to refrain from exploiting the grief and horror people are experiencing in response to the violence in Israel and Palestine to generate support for increased surveillance and militarism in New Hampshire’s North Country.

Our elected officials and law enforcement leaders should never promote dehumanizing stereotypes that contribute to the threats that immigrants, Muslims, Jewish people and BIPOC community members already experience in New Hampshire.

All of this should give NH people pause as to the necessity and motivation for this new task force. Let’s raise our voices against taxpayer-funded political opportunism and fear mongering.

MAGGIE FOGARTY AND GRACE KINDEKE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE – NH PROGRAM