No human is garbage. No human should ever be treated badly or cast out because of their country of origin. Never. Full stop. I strongly support!
That belief is why I went to the Rally to Support the Somali Community, in Lewiston, curious, open-minded, and interested in what would unfold. Ahead of the event, multiple sources had reached out to say the rally appeared to function largely as a campaign stop for Kieran Majerus Collins, coinciding with the Democratic City Committee caucus immediately afterward. On Friday, Collins had gone to court seeking voting for the same day for unregistered voters. Coincidence? I didn’t think so.
A Credential Check at the Gate
As I entered the public park, I was stopped by a person in a yellow vest—”security”—who asked, “Who are you with?” I joked that I came by myself. “No, you are the media. Who are you with?” I answered plainly and proudly: The Maine Wire. As I walked on, I heard the radio call behind me: “A guy from The Maine Wire is here.”
Near the gazebo, another man stepped in front of me and again demanded to know who I was with. He grabbed my press credential, which was hanging from a lanyard around my neck. “Stay here,” he said.
Standing next to Mayor Carl Sheline, I asked a basic question: Was there a permit for the event? “It’s a public park,” the man replied. I agreed. “So, no permit?” I excused myself and walked toward the gazebo.
That’s when a masked man grabbed my arm and told me I couldn’t be there. I explained I was taking photos in a public park and would be done in a moment. He pushed me toward the exit. I moved to the front of the park, spoke with attendees, and continued photographing.
The Program Begins
“We are Americans. We are citizens, right? He should respect us (President Trump) and protect us and serve us like any other American,” said Safiya Khalid, co-founder of the Community Organizing Alliance and a co-organizer of the rally. “We are no different. There are generations of Somali Mainers who have lived here for decades.”
Khalid, who served as Lewiston’s first Somali American city councilor from 2021-2022, added that the rally was meant to emphasize that “love is greater than hate.”
“Trump should not be targeting one group of people and calling them disgusting names and dehumanizing them and spreading hate and division and putting a huge target on the Somali community’s back,” said Khalid.
Khalid’s remarks were made to the crowd from a gazebo surrounded by signs saying MAGA IS A FASCIST CULT and another saying, resist. Is this love? Is this not name calling?
Moving Inside
After a beautiful rendition of the national anthem was sung by all in attendance, attendees were invited to walk across the street to the former church, now the Agora Grand Event Center, for Somali dance performances, tea, and snacks, a welcome warmth on a cold day.
As the crowd moved, I found myself walking alongside U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner (D) , Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and Iman Osman, the school committee member in Lewiston who is waiting to be seated as a city councilor and was recently indicted on stolen gun charges. It was surreal. Osman, who has refused to say where he lives, which could constitute campaign fraud, was shoulder to shoulder with the state’s chief elections official. We still don’t know what happened to the 250 Amazon ballots in Newburgh, and she didn’t seem to care that the man next to her had unanswered election questions and is under indictment. If this were a Hollywood movie, no one would believe it! Remember, that Osman and his attorney Majerus-Collins have stated that Osman can’t release his address, as his life is in danger, yet he can march with high profile public officials, possibly putting their life in jeopardy, as well?
The group chanted “This Is What Democracy Looks Like” as they entered the building.
Oh, also Platner is a gun control advocate, and he is marching with Osam, who had his gun stolen from his unlocked car a few weeks ago and last week was indicted for stolen gun charges. Once again, a Hollywood movie!
At the door, a smiling volunteer told me, “No press.” I stayed outside, speaking with people in the parking lot, petting dogs, and interviewing Dr. Nirav Shah, the Democratic frontrunner for governor.
“I am here in support of our Somali friends and neighbors in light of recent comments that President Trump made, painting with a broad brush and labeling them as garbage,” Shah said. “And the simple truth of the matter is that no human and no group of people are garbage.”
When other media outlets arrived to interview him, I was told press was now being allowed inside.
Escorted Out
I entered with three other news organizations and set up for the speeches. U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner spoke first, delivering the same campaign speech I’ve covered before. As he wrapped up, a hand came down on my shoulder.
“You need to leave.”
Startled, I asked why. “You have to go.” I asked whether all media were being asked to leave or just me. “Just you.”
As I was escorted out, I asked who had made the decision and whether I could speak with them. “Nope. Private event. Get out.” Meanwhile, the other outlets remained.
The Bigger Picture
I take it as a compliment. The Maine Wire does real journalism. We print what people don’t want in print. We confirm sources and do investigative research. Anything else from the media is just public relations, and we don’t do that. It’s a lost art, but it shouldn’t be.
The crowd today was mostly seniors, predominantly white, well-intentioned people who meant well. Felt very much like the recent No Kings Rallies. Many I spoke with were not from Lewiston; they were from other parts of Maine. In spirit, I agreed with the message: treat everyone with dignity and respect. But that same standard did not apply to me or to The Maine Wire today. I disagree, this is not what democracy looks like. Freedom of the press is the core of democracy. This won’t deter us. This will be proven to be a judgement error, on the part of the “event organizers.”
Election Results
Oh, and Kieran Majerus Collins lost in his bid Saturday. Scott Harriman won the caucus and will be the Democratic candidate against Republican Janet Beaudoin in February for the House District 94 seat.
