<.400on saturday representatives of the illinois-based world church creator will be in lewiston holding a rally intended to frighten local residents.>
These people, who call themselves Creators, believe all worthwhile culture and civilization has been created by white people. They are proudly racist, believing strongly in expansion and advancement of the white race. They are also proudly anti-Semitic, “because we oppose the Jews.”
They are also hostile and aggressive and take honor in their violent and riotous tactics.
Every Lewiston police officer will be on duty and on high alert.
Residents will be on edge.
The city’s mayor, Larry Raymond, will be relaxing on vacation in Florida.
He bought his tickets in September and intends to carry on life as usual. “I’m not letting any hate group change my plans,” he said.
He’s certainly entitled to take a vacation, and Florida is quite nice this time of year. Sticking to his vacation schedule regardless of the expected unrest in Lewiston, though, shows again he doesn’t understand his mayoral role. Especially since his open letter to the Somali community – no matter what he intended – invited this infestation of hate.
Mayor Raymond is quite right to care little about the hate groups. But he should care greatly about honoring duty to his constituents, serving in the leadership role voters elected him to fill.
In contrast to Raymond’s decision to be absent, Portland’s mayor and much of its city council plans to attend the Many and One peace rally at Bates College because they believe it’s important for Maine to demonstrate its tolerance for all human beings, regardless of race or religion.
Portland councilors are right to take such a sure stand in solidarity and we encourage Lewiston’s elected representatives to join them at the Bates College event, especially after the Lewiston City Council adopted a resolution encouraging residents “to join them in advocating for unity and harmony and to demonstrate to one and all that Lewiston opposes intolerance and embraces diversity.”
Mayor Raymond is under no official obligation to be here on Saturday. Lewiston’s charter doesn’t require him to be a hands-on manager of city government. All he must do is conduct City Council meetings.
On Tuesday, he did not attend the City Council meeting – a meeting at which councilors were briefed on plans to protect the city and its residents this weekend – opting instead to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Sen. Susan Collins in Washington, D.C.
He has, unlike former mayors Kaileigh Tara, John Jenkins and Jim Howaniec, been uninvolved and invisible. If that’s the leadership pattern he wants to adopt, fine. But he can’t be active and visible sometimes, like issuing his open letter, and then back off when things get tough, like they will this weekend.
Larry Raymond actively spoke on behalf of the city in his October letter. He must now be active in defending the city’s image and people.
jmeyer@sunjournal.com
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