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Somalis complain of mistreatment by Lewiston police
By Associated Press, 1/8/2003 10:59
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) At a meeting held in advance of a rally by white supremacists, Somali residents voiced complaints about treatment by police.

The meeting was held Tuesday in anticipation of this weekend's visit by the Illinois-based World Church of the Creator. The meeting, organized by a pro-diversity coalition, was meant to serve as a forum to discuss violence and harassment.

Law enforcement officials stressed that any incidents of harassment need to be reported.

But many Somalis at the meeting complained that police themselves had been the perpetrators of harassment.

One woman said her brother was arrested and beaten in a case that police say is now under investigation.

Some people said police have disregarded complaints and others said they were afraid of police.

''No one in this room needs to be afraid of the police,'' Deputy Police Chief Michael Bussier said. ''We are here to help you. If you have a complaint, you need to call us so that we can investigate it.''

Attorney General Steven Rowe and other officials from his office were present.

Tom Harnett, the head of the civil rights division, called the testimony troubling and said that the perception of misconduct must be investigated.

The World Church event is being held Saturday at the National Guard building.

A celebration of diversity organized by a group called the Many and One Coalition is being held at Bates College.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/008/region/Somalis_complain_of_mistreatme:.shtml

I wonder how many people showing up to this mess are actually from Lewiston, my guess about 20.

Baldacci, Rowe to speak at pro-diversity rally
By Associated Press, 1/8/2003 02:17
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) Gov. John Baldacci and Attorney General Steven Rowe are among the scheduled speakers at a pro-diversity rally Saturday, and Muhammad Ali is expected to send a letter of support to be read at the event, organizers say.

The Many & One Rally at the Bates College gym was organized in reaction to an anti-Somali rally that a neo-Nazi group plans to hold elsewhere in the city at the same time.

The World Church of the Creator scheduled its rally after Mayor Laurier Raymond wrote a letter last October to Somali elders asking that they stem the flow of Somali immigrants to Lewiston.

More than 1,100 Somalis have moved to Lewiston since February 2001, prompting Raymond to claim that the city was ''maxed-out financially, physically and emotionally.''

Baldacci is expected to speak briefly at the pro-diversity rally, taking time away from a previously scheduled event at the Blaine House, said Linda Sherwood, a member of the coalition organizing the event.

Former Lewiston mayor John Jenkins will be the master of ceremonies, and former mayor Kaileigh Tara also will speak. Raymond is on vacation in Florida, so he isn't expected to attend, Sherwood said.

The coalition tried to get Ali, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King III to speak, said Mark Schlotterbeck, leader of the Many & One Coalition. He said Jackson and King were unavailable, but Ali is expected to send a letter of support.

The main speaker at the anti-Somali rally, to be held at the Maine Army National Guard building, is expected to be Matthew Hale, leader of the World Church of the Creator, but it was unclear whether he will be able to attend.

Hale is scheduled to be in federal court Thursday to answer contempt-of-court charges related to a trademark battle over his group's name. The group has refused to comply with a judge's ruling to relinquish its Internet domain name and turn over all group documents to be destroyed.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/008/region/Baldacci_Rowe_to_speak_at_pro_:.shtml

The Neo-nazi's may not even show up.