Add Manchester, NH to the list of communities which have mounted enough resistance to stall the resettlement of African refugees by federal authorities in their towns. This list now includes the entire state of Kansas; Holyoke, Mass; Cayce, South Carolina and Lewiston, Me.

As reported in the Manchester Union Leader:

…the unexpectedly large number of refugees who arrived here last summer exceeded the city’s capacity to serve them, ensure their safety and absorb them into the community.

As usual, the federal government and its contactors

did not give city officials advance notice of the placements”. According the state refugee coordinator “Manchester just got overwhelmed”.

Refugee officials have vowed to place the refugees in other New Hampshire towns such as Laconia and Concord. [“City halts flow of refugees,” by Kathryn Marchocki, December 23, 2004; “Sept 11 tied to surge of NH refugees,” by Kathryn Marchocki, December 24, 2004.]

The national media has ignored what might once have been reported as a major event.

Perhaps they don’t want those other towns to get any ideas!