PORTLAND — Activists in Portland, Maine say the city should suspend its “sister city” relationship with Archangel, Russia, because of anti-gay laws adopted by the Russian city.
The local community groups began a campaign on Monday that includes an online petition to suspend Portland’s relationship with the Russian city of 350,000. Megan LaSala, a member of one of the groups, says in a statement that Portland should “end its official tolerance of the human rights abuses being committed by its sister city.”
The activists’ announcement came at Portland City Hall on a day that coincides with a week-long celebration of Portland’s gay community. The Portland Pride parade is Saturday.
Portland has three other sister cities — Cap-Haitien, Haiti; Mytilene, Greece, and Shinagawa, a section of Tokyo.
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