CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Republican Gov. Chris Sununu defended his support Wednesday of the peaceful protests being held around New Hampshire, which remains under a stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Though gatherings of 10 or more people remain banned, thousands of people have attended numerous protests this week following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Sununu praised the protesters Wednesday and pushed back against a reporter who compared the events to other large gatherings, such as high school graduations or stock car racing.

“I’m not here to be judge and jury over one message or another but the George Floyd issue in particular hits home with me and I think it hits home with a lot of people,” he said, while noting that he has not stopped other protests, including some aimed at him. Opponents of the stay-at-home order have staged multiple protests at the Statehouse and next weekend plan to gather at Hampton Beach to oppose rules limiting activity there.

“If people want to protest this or that by all means, I don’t encourage it but I understand it,” Sununu said. “We’re not going to send in the troops to take people off the beach or kick people off the grass at the Statehouse or tell people to go home from a candlelight vigil. That’s crazy.”

Beaches opened June 1 but only for activities such as walking and swimming. Sitting on the sand is prohibited. Members of ReOpenNH plan to defy those rules Saturday by building sandcastles and playing Frisbee.

“Our forefathers were willing to storm the beaches of Normandy under enemy fire to liberate our mother countries overseas and prevent the spread of tyranny to our land," the group’s chairman, Andrew Manuse, said in a statement. "Let us not lose the spirit that made America the envy of the world.”

Other coronavirus developments in New Hampshire:

___

CANDIDATE SIGN-UPS

The filing period to get on the Sept. 8 state primary ballot opened Wednesday with candidates being encouraged to file their paperwork by mail instead of in person because of concerns about spreading the coronavirus.

Safety procedures are in place for in-person filing: Candidates can fill out paperwork at a table outside the Statehouse or go inside, where they will be screened for fevers and asked to wear face masks.

___

ECONOMIC REOPENING

New Hampshire’s largest amusement park wants to reopen July 1, allowing in a limited number of guests by reservation only and requiring everyone age 3 and older to wear face masks.

Officials with Canobie Lake Park in Salem outlined their proposal Wednesday to the governor’s Economic Reopening Task Force. The plan calls for limiting capacity to 25% for the first two weeks, 35% for the following two weeks and then 50% for the rest of the summer. Groups would be spread 6 feet apart while waiting in line and separated by empty rows or seats on all rides.

The task force approved initial plans Wednesday for funeral homes, movie theaters, performing arts venues and other businesses, and began revisiting some of the rules for businesses that have already reopened, including golf courses.

Matt Schmidt of the New Hampshire Golf Association said 54,000 rounds of golf have been played since May 11, compared to 40,000 during the same time last year. He urged the group to allow two people to share a golf cart, reduce the time between tee times and open courses to non-residents.

___

DARTMOUTH ENTRY

Dartmouth College has suspended its SAT requirement for a year for students seeking undergraduate admission because of testing disruptions related to the pandemic.

Dartmouth is among numerous colleges and universities that have made such tests optional for the class of 2025 after virus-related school closures forced the cancellation of spring testing for many high school students.

___

THE NUMBERS

As of Wednesday, 4,795 people had tested positive for the virus in New Hampshire, an increase of 47 from the previous day. Nine deaths were announced, for a total of 265.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.