NPR Affiliate Apologizes for Sponsoring Anarchist Event Linked to Attack on ICE Facility
New Hampshire Public Radio stated it 'erred' in sponsoring a book fair that expressed solidarity with defendants prosecuted for a violent attack on a Texas detention center.
New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) has apologized for sponsoring an anarchist book fair that publicly supported individuals prosecuted for a violent assault on a Texas immigration detention facility. The apology came after NHPR acknowledged that its decision to sponsor and host a table at the "New Hampshire Anarchist Book Fair" in Hanover, New Hampshire, violated its journalistic standards.
"NHPR erred in accepting an invitation to sponsor and host a table at the Anarchist Book Festival in Hanover on Saturday," NHPR President and CEO Jim Schachter said in a statement. "Our code of ethics makes clear that we should not compromise the integrity of our journalism by involvement in anything that can be viewed as political."
The station emphasized that no members of its newsroom were aware of or involved in the decision to participate in the event. NHPR also stated it is evaluating its internal processes to prevent similar mistakes.
The controversy stems from promotional materials for the book fair that declared "Solidarity with the Prairieland Defendants." This refers to individuals prosecuted in connection with a July 4, 2025, attack on the Prairieland Detention Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Alvarado, Texas. According to federal prosecutors, a North Texas Antifa group launched a coordinated assault, using fireworks and vandalism to draw law enforcement officers out before participants opened fire. An Alvarado police officer was wounded in the attack.
Federal authorities stated that nine defendants were convicted of federal offenses related to the attack, and seven others pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.
The decision to sponsor the book fair drew criticism from some New Hampshire political figures. The Carroll County Republicans posted on X, formerly Twitter, "NHPR didn't 'err,' they got caught." New Hampshire state Rep. Kristin Noble commented, "NHPR promoting Antifa (shocking, I know)." State Rep. Keith Ammon sarcastically remarked, "Don't feel bad. I thought it was a fair about cookbooks."