Guest Post: Zoey Wilson - UNH and Durham turn out for Carleigh

Students and local residents gathered to discuss the pressing issues facing UNH and the Durham community.

I am so pleased to report that Coffee with Carleigh at the Freedom Café was a HUGE success! Both familiar faces and new friends from the Durham/UNH community joined us in our Café takeover in the early afternoon to talk politics and possibilities. What was so encouraging was that all of these people from all different backgrounds came together because they each possessed one common belief: more of the same won’t fix this. 

Carleigh shared her background, plans, and passions with the group as a whole when attendance peaked but spoke with each individual person throughout the afternoon to hear personal concerns, show her support, and try to foster hope for a better future. The most common concerns among attendees were student loan debt, the impossibly high cost of living, and the crumbling of democratic values in Washington — all of which are issues Carleigh directly addresses in her campaign mission and seeks to alleviate with purpose and diligence.

We were joined by a representative from the New Hampshire chapter of Moms Demand Action, a national movement to mitigate gun violence who came to voice her concerns about HB1793. New Hampshire HB1793 is a hot-button bill that implements extreme and dangerous policies. HB1793 would penalize all public universities in New Hampshire for regulating firearms on campus without any exceptions and has become a major concern for the UNH community. Students, faculty, staff, Durham residents, and both university and Durham PD have spoken out against this bill. To learn more about HB1793, click here.  

Most importantly, the event was a chance for connection and community building.

Additionally, Carleigh’s husband Eric and their two awesome kids joined in at the event to support Carleigh’s work and promote her to the Durham community. 

Finally, we’d love to give a big shoutout to Bryan, the cofounder and executive director of the Freedom Café for accommodating our amazing turnout and allowing us to use his wonderful space — we continue to support your mission and give our utmost appreciation of your work to stop exploitation of people and end human trafficking.

Thank you to all who attended! For those who missed it, we hope to see you next time!

Looking to get involved in Carleigh’s campaign for Congress? Sign up to volunteer!