WELCOME to Indivisible Scarborough! We are part of a national, non-violent, grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy and defeat the Trump agenda. We:

• Participate in rallies in opposition to the awfulness going on in our country right now.

• Write letters, postcards and emails to our Federal, state and local elected officials supporting legislation that meets our goals and opposing legislation that does not.

• Support candidates at all levels of government who share our values.

• Write letters-to-the-editor.

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​​Things are changing so rapidly, and getting worse by the minute, and it makes all of our heads spin. Staying focused, and acting safely, is critical for all of us.

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ICE began roving the streets on Tuesday, January 20, mostly in Lewiston and Portland but elsewhere, too, finding and detaining people they think might be in the US illegally, and ignoring the 4th Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure, and the 5th Amendment requirement for due process. People of color, people with foreign accents, and people working in “traditional” immigrant settings are particularly vulnerable. By week’s end, ICE claimed to have detained 100 Mainers. ICE has also begun taking pictures and videos of protestors and their vehicles, claiming they will be added to a growing “domestic terrorist database.” In short, ICE is operating outside the law and the Constitution in many ways. The Maine State Bar Association has just condemned, in very strong language, all of this lawlessness, see here for the statement.

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Meanwhile, in Cumberland County, ICE detained a Cumberland County Jail employee, who was an immigrant with no criminal record and working legally in the US. When Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce publicly criticized ICE’s “bush league tactics”, ICE removed all ICE detainees from the Cumberland County Jail, and moved them out of state in violation of a local US District Judge’s orders. ICE also notified Cumberland County they will no longer use the Cumberland County Jail for ICE detainees, although the US Marshall’s Service will continue to use it for non-ICE detainees.

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In response to all of this, hundreds of Mainers rallied and marched at Monument Square on Friday, January 23, and additional rallies are scheduled for Saturday, January 24 in Lewiston, Portland, South Portland and other places despite the record cold temperatures.

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In Washington, up against a January 30 deadline to avoid another shutdown, the US House passed 220 to 207 a bill continuing funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE. This was despite intense objections by most Democrats in the House. The bill now goes to the Senate.

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None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something! Here are opportunities:

 

​Know Your (and Immigrants’) Rights

 

Alicia Rea from ACLU Maine made a great “Immigrant Rights” presentation on January 21 to a crowd of almost 80 people representing Indivisible Scarborough, the Piper Shores Diversity Interest Group, and the broader community. Most rights apply just as much to people who are NOT citizens (like many immigrants) as they do the citizens. Check out ACLU’s summary of yours and immigrants’ rights when encountering ICE here. If you see ICE at work, immediately call the Maine ICE Hotline at 207-544-9989. The hotline receives tips about ICE activity, sends out trained verifiers, and then informs established networks that support vulnerable people in that specific area so they can respond accordingly.  Follow the S.A.L.U.T.E. acronym to gather the concise information you need to provide the hotline:

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• Size: how many agents/vehicles?

• Activity: what are they doing?

• Location: where is it (exact address if possible)

• Unit: what agency/uniform (ICE, Customs Border Patrol, etc.)

• Time: when did you/are you seeing this happen?

• Equipment: vehicle description, clothing, badges, weapons, etc.
   

Call the Washington Offices of Senators Collins & King

 

In your call, please urge them to restrict Border Patrol & ICE funding & activities. ICE and Border Patrol are part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is currently funded only through January 30. The new funding bill has passed the House (see above) and will be voted on in the Senate before January 30. Here’s a script:

• “Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, Maine]. I'm calling to urge Senator [Collins or King] to refuse to vote for any appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security that fails to rein in ICE. Renee Good’s killing on January 7 is part of a broader pattern of unchecked violence, impunity, and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies against our communities. We can't wait around while ICE harms more people. Senator [Collins or King] must push for an appropriations bill that puts serious restrictions on ICE, ends its dragnet raids, and doesn’t add a penny to its already bloated budget.”

• Contact info for Washington, DC (preferred) and Maine (backup)

  • Senator Susan Collins: (202) 224-2523 (DC); (207) 622-8414 (Augusta)

  • Senator Angus King: (202) 224-5344 (DC); (207) 622-8292 (Augusta)
     

Wear Your ICE Emergency Whistle Proudly

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Many of you took red emergency whistles from the ACLU meeting, along with instructions on how to use them. “Whistle Brigades” have proven effective in alerting the community and dissuading ICE all over the country. Wearing your whistle in public shows others you care about the safety of our immigrant neighbors and our community generally. Wear it proudly! If you wish to have a whistle, contact Rod Wendt at info.indivisiblescarborough@gmail.com. (If you are a Piper Shores Resident, please refrain from blowing it on the Piper Shores campus. Piper Shores has its own planned response if ICE shows up.)

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Help Us Cancel the Cumberland County Jail’s Contract with the US Marshall’s Service

 

Working closely with No.ICE.4.ME (see their plan here) and the Indivisible Cumberland County, we are trying to get the contract fully cancelled, even though ICE has “said” they will no longer be using Cumberland County Jail after they were criticized by Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce (see above). That said, the US Marshall’s Service, with whom the contract is written, can still house non-ICE detainees in the Cumberland County Jail. Two important meetings coming up:

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• Tuesday, February 3, 5:30 PM, 27 Northport Drive, Portland – A public hearing (INSIDE) on some proposed changes to the contract, as well as the contract in general. A great opportunity to “have our say” on the contract with the US Marshall’s Service.

• Tuesday, February 17, 5:30 PM, 27 Northport Drive, Portland – the “regular” Cumberland County Commissioners’ meeting night, and the night when they will likely vote on whether to retain, modify, or cancel the Jail contract.​​​Write Postcards to Our County Commissioners and Others
   

The rapidly changing situation both in our community and across the country makes it imperative we give quick feedback to the Cumberland County Commissioners who will soon be taking another vote on keeping or cancelling the ICE contract. We have pre-stamped postcards for you to use – please contact us at info.indivisiblescarborough@gmail.com to request some. As the situation changes, you may decide to send postcards to other officials. Feel free to use the postcards in that way, and update the addressees and messages as you see fit.

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Continue to Attend Rallies – But Do So Safely & Warmly

 

See below for local rally descriptions and locations. With ICE now taking pictures of “protestors” and their cars, you may wish to consider a face-covering and sunglasses. As always, rallies must be peaceful!

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Many of you have asked where you might donate to support immigrant neighbors as they suffer through this ICE invasion of our communities. Here are 3 opportunities that have been vetted by those who know the situation, and all are 501c3 charitable organizations:

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• Maine Solidarity Fund – Check Here for information and to donate online. Scroll down for an explanation of what they do and how they do it. If you prefer to donate by mail, make your check payable to Presente Maine c/o PCSJ (or write Maine Solidarity Fund in the memo line), PO Box 4202, Portland, Maine 04101

• Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project – Check Here for information and to donate online. If you prefer to donate by mail, ILAP's mailing address is: Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, P.O. Box 17917, Portland ME 04112

• Hope Acts – Check Here for information and to donate online. If you prefer to donate by mail, HopeAct's mailing address is: Hope Acts, P.O. Box 7615, Portland, ME 04112.

 

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Look for weekly emails from Rod Wendt on the latest details on these rallies. All rallies are PEACEFUL and JOYOUS. Carpool & BYO signs if possible. The best signs invite people to change their minds, not just express anger. (With ICE now taking pictures of “protestors” and their cars, you may wish to consider a face-covering and sunglasses.)

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• Indivisible South Portland Weekly Rallies – The closest and easiest access rally in our area, especially for people with walkers or wheelchairs. Icy walkways can be a problem, so check with us beforehand. They rally at Erskine Park, Broadway @ Waterman in South Portland, at the traffic light nearest the Casco Bay Bridge, Saturdays from 11:00 am to noon. Park free near Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks or in shopping center behind. Contact us for more information. 

• Greater Portland Weekly Rallies – The largest rally in our area. Their weekly rally is at Monument Square, Congress Street @ Preble Street in Portland, Saturdays from 11:00 am to noon. Parking can be a challenge and is expensive! Contact Indivisible Greater Portland for more information.

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The Greater Portland Interfaith Organizing Group holds multi-faith vigils on Wednesdays from 2:45 to 3:15 pm at Congress Square Park, at the intersection of High & Congress Streets in Portland. Each vigil is a clergy-led, prayerful gathering of solidarity and support for our immigrant neighbors, ICE detainees and all impacted by and involved in this broken system and situation. Signs are provided, or you can bring your own affirming these ideas. More information here.​​​​

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Regular Monthly Meetings

Our next meeting will be at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, February 18. Hope Acts will join us to help us understand what asylum seekers – of whom they support many – are really like. Ask for information on attending here.

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​Steering Committee Meetings

 

The Indivisible Scarborough Steering Committee meets several times per month. Our members are welcome to join us and add their thoughts to our discussions and decisions. Ask for information on attending here.

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Heather Cox Richardson (daily newsletter) – Subscribe Here 

Joyce Vance (former prosecutor, legal analysis) Subscribe Here

Chop Wood, Carry Water, (actions today) – Subscribe Here

5 Calls (actions today) – Subscribe Here

Mobilize in Maine (events you can sign onto) – Sign up Here

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You can donate quickly & easily to support the work of Indivisible Scarborough. Your donation helps with expenses for our poster-making, meeting costs, speakers, get-out-the-vote activities, and more. Please check out our Indivisible Scarborough donation page at ActBlue, where you can donate safely & privately! 

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