Letter to the editor: Democracy in action at ACLU Camden talk
On January 26, the Woodstove Alliance sponsored a talk by Alison Beyea, Exec. Dir. of ACLU Maine. It was held at the beautiful High Mountain Hall in Camden and filmed live on FaceBook Live. I watched online and was immediately struck by the size of the crowd. There were at least 150 people there, some of whom stood up in the back or against the walls.
Alison’s remarks were prescient, especially with news coming fast and furiously out of D.C. She said that the ACLU would fight any discrimination directed by the federal government and today the ACLU announced that it was suing Mr. Trump for discriminatory practices regarding his travel ban and anti-immigration stance.
All of us, regardless of our political beliefs, are aware that this is a time of great change. It is heartening to know that our Midcoast community is one that is active and interested in understanding and participating in our democracy.
I am grateful to Anna Sideris and High Mountain Hall for hosting the event; it is a wonderful venue for talks such as this and a beautiful space to bring our community together. I would also like to thank Anneli Skarr for the designing the poster to advertise the event and all of the people who volunteered to distribute it. Many thanks, too, to the set-up and clean-up crew, led by Lisa Breheny.
Meg Barclay did a great job moderating the event and Sarah Baldwin filmed it for FaceBook Live. Many thanks for their work on the Woodstove Alliance’s behalf. And thanks to everyone who came out and listened and asked great questions and participated in the discussion. There were other grassroots activist groups represented there, including Suit Up Action ME, the ME Women’s Collective and OUT Maine. Truly, democracy in action!
FMI about the Woodstove Alliance, please contact Frances Wheeler-Berta, luciferlucyloo@gmail.com.
The group’s Mission Statement states: The Woodstove Alliance is a nonpartisan advocacy group in Midcoast Maine, committed to protecting and promoting civil rights and environmental justice.
Frances Wheeler-Berta lives in Camden
