We have all watched in horror the rapid descent into fascism in this country, but do we really know what it is? A local activist group, Monadnock Women for Action have been peacefully and visually showing people. They’ve been holding “Pop Up Signs of Fascism” events in the Monadnock region. These are individual signs verbalizing what fascism is and does. I joined the group one recent day in Troy and was given the sign “Banning Books. This is a sign of fascism.” As I stood on the main road in Troy along with about fifteen other people holding individual "fascism" signs, I began to wonder if this is what has been slowly, insidiously happening in New Hampshire.
What are the signs of fascism?
~Rewriting history
~Glorifying war
~Demanding absolute loyalty
~Threatening political opponents
~Suppressing the vote
~Ignoring the courts
~Prosecuting personal enemies
~Inciting violence
~Undermining elections
~Banning books
~Ignoring science
~Threatening other countries
~Sowing hate & fear
So, let’s explore this possibility with a few of these “signs.”
Banning Books: yes, the Republican Free Stater majority have proposed bills to do just that.
Examples; In 2023 HB 514 was a book banning bill that would also increase the Commissioner of Education’s (Edleblut) power to ban books and other materials.
Last year’s HB 324 was another effort at banning books in school libraries. It’s already illegal to give obscene or harmful sexual materials to minors and schools already have steps in place to address complaints. The bill did pass, but to her credit, the governor vetoed it.
This year it’s the Senate’s turn. SB 434 will allow one parent with a complaint about any book in a public school, have it removed.
Ignoring Science: yes, the Republican Free Stater majority have proposed bills to do just that.
Examples; In 2025, the Republican majority introduced a bill to repeal the NH Vaccine Association.
That same year, Free Stater Rep. Kelley Potenza sponsored a bill to end the requirement of children receiving vaccinations before entering public schools, such as diphtheria, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella, rubeola and tetanus.
Again in 2025 a Free Stater bill meant to phase out required childhood vaccinations for chicken pox, Hepatitis B and influenza type B passed in the House but died in the Senate. When a Senate bill having to do with horse racing came before the House for a vote, Free Stater Rep. Matt Drew added a floor amendment, word for word to the original bill. An amendment to get rid of childhood vaccinations, added to a horse betting bill, got passed again. Those vaccines now come to an end in June.
Last year there were Democrat sponsored bills for creating commissions, one to study the short and long-term impacts of national and regional carbon pricing systems on NH’s citizens, businesses, institutions and environment and one to ascertain the financial costs of climate damage to the state and the best way to recover such costs. Another bill was to establish a climate change and damage division in the Dept. of Environmental Services. All were voted down by the majority party. Even the Chairman of the Science, Technology and Energy Committee, Republican Free Stater Michael Vose spoke against the bills. From a Citizens Count 2024 survey, he wrote, “Should NH government do more to address climate change? NH can do nothing to address climate change, which needs worldwide attention."
In other words, why bother?
This year? Any bill for off shore wind projects was voted down.
Suppressing the vote: yes, the Republican Free Stater majority have proposed bills to do just that.
As far back as 2018, Free Staters have made it harder for out of state college students to vote here by amending the definition of the words “resident” and “residency.”
In 2024, the biggest advocate for voter suppression, Rep. Bob Lynn, proposed a bill requiring a photo ID at the polling place, no exceptions. At that time, a first time voter could confirm identity and residence by filling out an affidavit and had a week to mail the proper documents to the Secretary of State’s office. Failure to do so simply meant their ballot was disqualified from the final count. NH law already exists for voting with a false address or identity and being investigated by the Atty. General’s office. As of this writing, HB 1569 is still being heard in the courts thanks to the ACLU and other voting rights groups.
Last year Free Stater Potenza sponsored a bill to make it harder for students to vote, which did not pass. She wanted to get rid of college ID’s as an acceptable form of identification. Free Staters persevered and this year got HB 323 passed and signed by the governor. College and high school ID’s are now not an acceptable form of identification for students.
To be continued . . .