New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Wednesday announced that he is canceling his outdoor inauguration ceremony next month, citing “ongoing public safety concerns” over armed protesters who have gathered outside his home in recent weeks following a mask order he issued last month.
In a series of tweets Wednesday, Sununu said that armed protesters outside his home have become “more aggressive” as they targeted his family. Sununu argued that the outdoor inaugural ceremony originally scheduled next month would “simply bring too much risk.”
For weeks, armed protesters have increasingly become more aggressive, targeting my family, protesting outside my private residence, and trespassing on my property — an outdoor public ceremony simply brings too much risk. 2/
— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) December 30, 2020
Sununu added that the decision wasn’t made lightly and that there will be a small swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 7 attended by leaders of both houses of the Legislature. All other members will virtually attend. Sununu will deliver his inaugural address in the evening.
In consultation with Attorney General MacDonald, Senate President Morse & acting-Speaker Packard, I and the Executive Council will be sworn-in during a small ceremony attended by leaders of both houses of the legislature, and virtually attended by all other members, on 1/7/21. 4/
— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) December 30, 2020
Two days after Sununu issued his order last month requiring masks to be worn in public spaces in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, protesters began gathering outside the New Hampshire governor’s home.
Protests outside of Sununu’s home continued in recent weeks. On Monday, police issued summonses to nine people and arrested one of them under a new anti-picketing ordinance passed by the selectboard in Newfields, the town of the governor’s home, which Sununu’s brother sits on, the AP reported.
Sununu’s spokesperson, Benjamin Vihstadt, denied in a statement that Sununu was involved in the ordinance or in its involvement.
