This week at the ACLU of Maine: May Day march, uncovering immigration enforcement in Wells, protecting voting rights, and more.
Strength in Solidarity May Day March and Rally
We had a great time marching and rallying with hundreds of people in Portland to honor workers' contributions, advocate for our rights, and promote social and economic justice. Read more about it from the AFL-CIO.
With our engagement and education coordinator revamping our involvement in communities throughout Maine, we are excited to be joining communities all over this spring, summer, and fall. Be sure to check out our events page as we confirm more plans. For the latest updates, sign up for emails and follow @ACLUMaine on Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook.
OPEN RECORDS: Wells Police Department Supporting "Mass Deportation" Efforts
Following several requests for public records earlier this month, we recently acquired the agreement between the Town of Wells and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), known as a 287(g) agreement. The documents also include several related correspondences. As Wells considers its next budget, this agreement is likely to increase costs and liabilities, threaten Maine people's constitutional rights, and decrease community safety.
Maine’s local law enforcement agencies should focus on their communities’ needs. Immigration enforcement is often rife with illegal civil rights violations and racial profiling. Agreements to actively enforce federal immigration laws threaten Maine people’s constitutional rights, erode trust in local law enforcement, keep people from reporting crimes and providing witness statements, and expose towns to costly legal liability. We hope Wells will join Monmouth and Winthrop by reversing plans to use community resources for the president’s ‘mass deportation’ agenda.
Save Maine Absentee Voting
This Friday, lawmakers heard public comment on a bill that would upend absentee voting and require voter ID. Let's be clear: this is voter suppression. The proposal will be on Maine voters' ballots this fall, and we must VOTE NO.
Maine's current voting laws are popular because they make voting convenient while keeping our elections safe and secure. We're proud to be part of a coalition of voting rights advocates supporting the Save Maine Absentee Voting campaign. Learn more and take action at SaveAbsentee.me.
Save the date: Join us in Augusta for the campaign kick-off on Saturday, May 10. See more here.
SAVE THE DATE: Legal Update
It’s been a busy start to the year at the ACLU of Maine! Our legal team is excited to share updates on new and ongoing cases, and how we’re pushing back against the Trump administration’s abuses of power.
Join us on Zoom on Thursday, May 15th, at 6 p.m., to meet our legal team and hear what we’ve been working on. With multiple lawsuits underway, a packed legislative session, and ongoing threats to civil liberties, there’s plenty to discuss, and we’d love to have you with us.
Relevant Reads:
WMTW (ABC Channel 8): The evolution of the Maine Human Rights Act
NEWS CENTER Maine: Bangor family shocked after finding racist 'propaganda' hidden in Easter eggs
Bangor Daily News: Putting speed cameras in Maine construction zones opens a rift in the Legislature
