LEWISTON SENTIMENT

(The following joint resolution was read and adopted by the Maine Legislature Thursday regarding the rally in Lewiston today by white supremacists.)

WHEREAS, on January 11, 2003, the World Church of the Creator, a white supremacist group that promulgates hate, will hold a rally in Lewiston for the stated purpose of protesting Lewiston’s growing Somali population; and

WHEREAS, this planned rally, which is permissible due to America’s long-cherished commitment to freedom of expression, has galvanized many citizens of the great State of Maine to hold a counter rally to support the best ideals of our State and our Nation, including that with the right of free speech comes the right for all people to live with respect, dignity, peace and safety; and

WHEREAS, the people of the State of Maine, those native and those from immigrant heritage themselves, best exemplify the values of the American people by their support of civil rights for all of Maine’s people, by continually rededicating themselves to the principles of equal justice and human dignity and by remaining vigilant against hate, bigotry and tyranny in all forms; and

WHEREAS, We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Legislature, now assembled in the First Regular Session, respect and represent the spectrum of all Maine people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Legislature, now assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to express our solidarity in the belief that hate and bigotry have no place in the great State of Maine, but rather we want all our citizens to live with the ideals of American democracy and to enjoy our freedoms, rights and privileges; and be it further

RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the municipal officials of the City of Lewiston so that it is clear that Maine is firmly supportive of Lewiston’s role in promoting the rights of its citizens to live in dignity, peace and prosperity.

So say we all.