BIDDEFORD — On Jan. 15, three white men allegedly attacked a black man at his motel room in Biddeford using a baseball bat. In addition to physically beating the victim, Biddeford Police say the men yelled racial slurs. The Maine Attorney General’s Office is considering charging the men with hate crimes.
On Monday, outside of Biddeford City Hall, dozens of citizens braved the 10-degree weather, holding candles, in an effort to send a simple message: The attack at the motel was an anomaly and all are welcome in Biddeford.
Mayor Joanne Twomey and Biddeford High School Principal Britton Wolfe coordinated the event.
Among the speakers at the candlelight vigil were high school students, members of both Biddeford and Saco’s state delegation, the mayors of both cities, a minister, the founder and director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate, and community members.
Referencing the frigid night air, Twomey said, “The cold can only be matched by the warmth in our hearts.”
Quoting civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., she said, “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
“It’s really important that we tell the world that Biddeford is not a hateful place, and we do not tolerate hatred in our community,” said Wolfe.
That sentiment was echoed by speaker after speaker.
“We will not stand for anyone’s civil rights being violated,” said state Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford.
Racism has no place in Biddeford-Saco, said Saco Mayor Ron Michaud.
State Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, and state Rep. Alan Casavant, D-Biddeford, likened the prejudice taking place today to that faced by earlier generations of immigrants to the area: The Irish, French Canadians, Greeks, Italians and others.
Casavant, the grandchild of French Canadian immigrants, said he remembers being a victim of hurtful stereotypes. People think of those who are different as “the other,” said Casavant, and education is needed to teach people about their similarities.
Racism is caused by ignorance, said Andrew Soucy, a junior at BHS and the lead singer with a band that played at Monday’s vigil.
Despite the incident in Biddeford, said Nathan Proctor, a senior at BHS and president of the school’s civil rights group, people are “born kind and caring individuals.”
The purpose of the vigil, he said, was to give a voice to “the real heart of Biddeford.”
Stephen Wessler, the founder and executive director of the Center for Preventing Hate, in Portland, said those at the vigil were speaking not just for those in Biddeford and Saco, but for the entire state of Maine.
He urged people to “Say ”˜no’ to hate.”
The purpose of the candlelight vigil was to show the state that Biddeford is not defined by one instance of racial violence, said Twomey, and that diversity is not only accepted but also appreciated.
“We want to send a message to the state that you’re all welcome here,” she said.
Dale M. Pinkham, 20, of Old Orchard Beach; Darren Crawford, 20, of Biddeford; and Michael Gagne, 18, of Old Orchard Beach, were all charged with aggravated assault in relation to the attack.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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