Concord Monitor – Hanover plans public forum to discuss city police role in cracking down on Dartmouth protests

The city will hold a public forum next month to hear feedback from the public on the police’s role in the arrest of numerous pro-Palestinian protesters on Dartmouth College Green on May 1.

The hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Howe Library. Selectboard members said they were scheduling the forum after residents raised concerns at the May 8 town meeting about the department’s actions the night of the demonstration.

Hanover police, with assistance from a state SWAT team and other Upper Valley law enforcement agencies, arrested 89 people, including dozens of Dartmouth students, in response to the college’s trespassing complaints after protesters set up tents.

Critics called the arrests a harsh response to a peaceful protest and questioned whether police should have complied with the college’s request to remove the demonstrators.

Others praised police for bringing a quick end to protests that had spiraled out of control on other campuses across the country in the spring.

“This is an opportunity for the Selectboard to hear from different parties in the community and get their feedback,” Selectboard Chairman Carey Callaghan said in a phone interview Monday.

Forum participants will be divided into five discussion groups, with each group moderated by a Selectboard member, Callaghan said. An overview of each group’s conversations will then be given to the larger group.

Hanover had initially sought a professional organization such as NH Listens to facilitate the forum, but it was not available, Callaghan said. Rather than delay the meeting any longer, the board decided to simplify its plan.

At the start of the forum, Hanover Police Chief Charlie Dennis will present information about the department’s protocol and approach to the May 1 demonstration, Callaghan said. Dennis is not expected to answer questions from attendees directly.

The forum will not offer the option for remote participation, which would be difficult to implement due to the multi-group discussion format, Callaghan said. However, the forum will be open to all.

The timing of the forum may make it difficult for many Dartmouth students to attend, as fall semester classes do not begin until September 16.

“We would have liked to have had this meeting earlier (than mid-August),” Callaghan said. “We know that August 20 may not be ideal (for everyone), but we wanted to hold the forum.”

The last day of Dartmouth’s summer semester is Aug. 21. Callaghan said the board wants to schedule the forum before exams begin.

Almost all 89 people arrested in Hanover on May 1 were initially charged with trespassing.

Last month, Hanover Police Prosecutor Mariana Pastore decided not to press charges against 28 of those arrested.

In addition, it downgraded the charges against 35 of the people arrested on May 1 from misdemeanors to misdemeanors. A misdemeanor does not carry the risk of jail time or a criminal record, but it can result in fines and court costs.

Pastore has until the end of the month to decide what to do with the remaining cases before the last of those arrested go to trial on August 5.

Reach Patrick Adrian at [email protected] or 603-727-3216.