Hot on the heels of a riveting Bernie rally in Portland, Maine, Donald Trump decided not to be out done. He announced mid-day yesterday that he was also coming to Maine to stump in advance of the statewide caucuses this weekend. The remarkable dichotomy between the values of the two candidates was reflected directly in their Portland, Maine welcome.
While thousands stood in a line that wrapped around the City’s Congress Street, ready to welcome Bernie Sanders yesterday, Trump was welcomed this morning instead with countless protesters standing up against his bigotry, hatred and blatant racism.
What’s most intriguing is that the protest was organized by both progressives and conservatives. Pious Ali (Democrat), a member of the Portland school board and city council candidate worked closely with conservative Republican blogger, Lance Dutson to stand up to the blatant racism of the “Make America Great” train wreck. Ali was born in Ghana and is the first African American, and first Muslim, to be elected to office in Portland making the protest all the more relevant. People came from all across the state to join them in protesting Trump.
Maine has lived for five years under the rule of a Trump-style Governor whose own racist policies have directly jeopardized the lives and well being of people across the socio-economic spectrum. It’s of little surprise that Gov. LePage endorsed Donald Trump, and of even less surprise that progressives in Portland organized such a huge protest with less than 24 hours notice.
Portland is known as a progressive city, being ahead of the curve on many issues regarding equality, racial justice and economic opportunity. The small city has become a destination location for tourists from across the country seeking its first class cuisine, local shops and welcoming nature.
As an elected leader in the city, I could not be more proud of our people’s decision to stand up against a presidential candidate that is way outside of the mainstream, and whose ideas could undermine the fabric of our society.
FMI see the Portland Press Herald article, “Trump Supporters, Protesters Lining Up for Portland Rally.”