On Tuesday, ACLU of MAINE members from all over the
state met at the Welcome Center in Augusta to discuss civil liberties concerns
in Maine, and prepared to
lobby legislators on two of our priority bills: LD 1561, which bans surveillance
cameras and the databases they create, which are currently being used in South
Portland, and LD 1611, which will limit the use of solitary confinement in Maine
prisons.
Members met a few elected officials during
the training. Senator Justin Alfond greeted the group at the beginning of the
day. Representative Jim Schatz, who sponsored LD 1611, also stopped in to answer
questions about his bill.
Emily Posner, an activist working hard in
Augusta to make sure LD 1611 passes, explained the bill to the
group and answered questions about what the bill does and doesn’t do. She also
encouraged members to sign the petition we have online at www.endsolitary.org.
Legal Director Zach Heiden led a great
discussion on surveillance cameras in the state of Maine. Last
year the Legislature banned traffic cameras that are mounted at lights because
of the privacy risk such technology poses. He clarified an important point about
the current bill: the cameras mounted on a cruiser in South Portland aren’t just
problematic because of the images they take, but also because they threaten privacy with the
databases the cameras create – virtual maps of our whereabouts as we travel
about the city.
Former lobbyist for the ACLU of MAINE Joan Sturmthal
shared some lobbying do’s and don’ts – DO share your story, DO follow up with a
thank you, and DON’T make anyone mad. Armed with some fantastic
lobbying tools and a wealth of information about our bills, members went out
into the State House to talk to their elected officials.
All in all the day was a great experience.
We hope you’ll join us for another lobby day on February 23rd – a
People of Conscience Day of Action. To RSVP or for more information, email [email protected].