Minnesota may be 1,400 miles away from Manchester, but New Hampshire Democrats and their progressive allies are aggressively speaking out about the death of George Floyd and the violent protests that have ensued — sometimes in surprising ways.
For Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, it was a minor moment of political hypocrisy. On Saturday, the Democratic candidate for governor took to Twitter to celebrate the 1,000 Granite Staters who gathered to protest against police violence and alleged racism:
Proud to stand with hundreds of Granite Staters at the Black Lives Matter rally in Manchester. Today, Granite Staters must ask what we can do. There is no excuse for inaction. We must collectively call for accountability when force is used. #blacklivesmatter #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/1ytc8kdz1C
— Andru Volinsky (@AndruVolinsky) May 30, 2020
But just days earlier, he was calling out Gov. Chris Sununu for allowing public, political protests:
A more egregious example is Rep. Sherry Frost (D-Dover), known for her unapologetic progressive politics. She spent the weekend denouncing America’s “racism” and siding with the violent activists of Antifa, a group best known for campus riots, burning buildings and assaulting reporters. As CNN reports:
“Their methods are often violent. Antifa leaders admit they’re willing to physically attack anyone who employs violence against them or who condones racism — as long as force is used in the name of eradicating hatred.”
But that didn’t stop Frost from joining their ranks, repeatedly tweeting out #IAmAntifa.
Apparently, the “president” of the United States is pro-fascist now.
#IAmAntifa https://t.co/86cNSVwQDU
— Sherry Frost ???????? (@frostnhstaterep) May 31, 2020
Frost went on to compare the #Antifa rioters in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and elsewhere to the American soldiers who stormed Normandy on D-Day:
OG Antifa#GreatestGeneration #NaziHunters #MyGrandfather #ItRunsInTheFamily #IAmAntifa pic.twitter.com/1Xs4MRpqhu
— Sherry Frost ???????? (@frostnhstaterep) May 31, 2020
Several of Frost’s fellow Democrats, including NHDem party chairman Ray Buckley and State Rep. Gerald W.R. Ward (D – Portsmouth) denied that Antifa was involved in the weekend’s violence, instead spreading the conspiracy theory that “white nationalists” were responsible for the fires, looting and bloodshed.
She wasn’t alone in attacking the cops, either. The group NextGen America, founded by far-Left billionaire Tom Steyer and extremely active in New Hampshire, sent this message as police officers stood in riot gear on the streets of more than 40 cities across the U.S.:
Defund the police. https://t.co/acL3VpySMA
— NextGen America (@NextGenAmerica) May 31, 2020
It’s a message that resonated with local NextGen NH staffer Ed Taylor, who appeared to endorse violence:
It is our DUTY to FIGHT for our FREEDOM.
— Ed Taylor (@Edward_TaylorII) May 29, 2020
Most New Hampshire Democrats were content to spend the weekend supporting peaceful protests, decrying the behavior of the Minneapolis police and (of course) trashing President Trump.
Interestingly, not one leading Granite State Democrat issued a statement denouncing the violence, looting or riots that have roiled the nation over the past few nights.
Many political leaders argue it’s possible to condemn both the apparent criminal violence of a police officer and the public violence of a looting mob. Thus far, that hasn’t happened in New Hampshire.