The following letter was circulated for signatures in November 2016 to organizations, schools and colleges, faith communities, and elected officials in the state of Maine in response to rising acts of racism and xenophobia, anti-immigrant political rhetoric, and the resulting fears and uncertainties faced by immigrant communities. With thanks to the signatories who have pledged to protect civil rights, please circulate, share, and post this letter.
To our immigrant friends, neighbors, colleagues, and fellow community members:
We support and pledge to defend your civil rights and to work toward building communities of compassion, dignity, and safety for all.
إلى المهاجرين الأصدقاء والجيران والزملاء، والزملاء أعضاء الجمعيات.
نحن بفخر ندعم حقوقكم المدنية ونتعهد بالعمل نحو بناء مجتمعات الرحمة والكرامة والسلامة للجميع.
Ku socota: saaxiibadeen, dariskeenna, iyo bulshadeenna oo dhan :
Waxaan taageeraynaa oon xushmad u haynaa xuquuqdiina rayad ahaan waxanan ballan qaadaynaa inaan ka wada shaqaynaynaasidaan u dhisi lahayn bulsho isjecel, is xushmaysa oo amaan ah.
À nos amis immigrants, à nos voisins, à nos collègues, et aux membres des communautés :
Nous soutenons et honorons vos droits civiques et nous nous engageons à travailler pour bâtir des communautés de compassion, de dignité et de sécurité pour tous.
Para nuestros amigos, vecinos, y colegas inmigrantes y para los miembros de la comunidad:
Apoyamos y respetamos a sus derechos civiles y estamos comprometidos a trabajar para construir comunidades llenos de compasión, de dignidad y de seguridad para todos.
Aos nossos amigos, vizinhos e colegas imigrantes e aos membros da comunidade:
Apoiamos e respeitamos dos seus direitos civis e estamos empenhados em trabalhar para construir comunidades cheias de compaixão, dignidade e segurança para todos.
Signed,
Abbey of HOPE (Hands of Peace Extended)
ACLU of Maine
Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church
Angolan Community of Maine
President, Bates College
Catholic Charities of Maine
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Community Financial Literacy
Congolese Community Association of Maine (CoCo Maine)
Congregation Bet Ha’am
Dd Swan Consulting
Education Program, Colby College
Empower the Immigrant Woman
First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist
First Universalist Church of Auburn, Unitarian Universalist
First Universalist Church of Yarmouth
Frannie Peabody Center
Furniture Friends
Greater Portland Family Promise
Greater Portland Health
Harward Center, Bates College
Hispanic Ministry, Portland Diocese
Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine
Hope Acts
HopeGateWay United Methodist Church, Portland
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP)
Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
In Her Presence
Iraqi Community Association of Maine
Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine
Ladder to the Moon Network
Lewiston City Council President Kristen Cloutier
Lewiston City Councilor Jim Lysen
Lewiston School Committee Member Megan Parks
Light Mission Church
Living With Peace
Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN)
Maine Association for New Americans (MANA)
Maine Council of Churches
Maine Equal Justice Partners
Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services (MIRS)
Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition (MIRC)
Maine Migrant Health Program
Maine People’s Alliance
Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows
Mayor Ethan Strimling, City of Portland
Morning Glory Arts Therapy
NAACP Portland Branch
New England Arab American Association
New England Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)
New Mainers Alliance
New Mainers Public Health Initiative
New Mainers Political Action Committee
New Mainers Resource Center
New Mainers Tenants’ Association
Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights, Colby College
Preble Street
Portland Adult Education
Portland City Councilor At Large Jon Hinck
Portland City Councilor Belinda Ray
Portland Public Schools, Xavier Botana, Superintendent
Portland School Board and At Large Portland City Councilor Pious Ali
Rabbi Jared Saks, Congregation Bet Ha’am
Rwandese Community Association
St. Ansgar Lutheran Church
St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center
Saint Joseph’s College
St. Luke’s Cathedral (Episcopalian), Portland
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Portland
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Portland Area
Slim Peace
Somali Bantu Community of Lewiston, Maine
Somali Community Center of Maine
Southern Maine Worker’s Center
State Representative Peggy Rotundo
State Representative Rachel Talbot Ross
Sustainable Livelihoods Relief Organization
Temple Beth El, Portland
Treetop Zen Center
Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco and Biddeford
Dean, University of Maine School of Law
Welcoming Immigrants Network
Welcoming the Stranger
YMCA of Southern Maine
#mainesupportsimmigrants #pledgetoprotect #immigrantrights #strongcommunities
Maine Supports Immigrants 