NH Court Rules on Neo-Nazi Banner Case

The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that the state's attempt to prosecute the neo-Nazi group Nationalist Social Club-131 for hanging a 'Keep New England White' banner without a permit was unconstitutional. The court found the state's interpretation of the Civil Rights Act overly broad, potentially chilling free speech by imposing sanctions on those unintentionally trespassing on public property. The court emphasized that content-based restrictions must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest. The ruling also highlighted that the state's case did not prove the group knowingly trespassed, thus upholding a lower court's dismissal of the charges. The decision has drawn criticism from the Attorney General's office, which stated its commitment to protecting communities from discrimination and hate-motivated threats, while the group's defense attorney expressed satisfaction with the outcome.