Happy Monday, everyone! Here’s hoping this week starts off a little less unhinged than last week. To that end, we have some exciting news to share! Indivisible Bangor has officially decided to endorse Graham Platner as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate!
For anyone that has been living under an oyster and does not know who Graham Platner is – he is a Marine and U.S. Army veteran, oyster farmer, and chair of the Sullivan Planning board. Before running for U.S. Senate, Graham was involved in community organizing with several of IB’s friends over at Maine People’s Alliance, Food AND Medicine, and Acadia Action. Unlike Susan Collins, who has refused to hold a town hall in over twenty five years, Graham has now held OVER 50 in less than a year! Graham is running to represent the working class. Head over to his website to learn more about his platform here.
The campaign is holding a social event this coming Saturday (4/18) to watch the Kenduskeag Stream Race. If you’re interested in learning more about how to volunteer with the campaign or just to enjoy the race you can register here. Keep your eyes peeled on the events page to see more upcoming Graham activities in the area when they’re available!
The Hancock Dems have a number of great ways to get involved – check out Action 222 to learn more! Once again, Mary Ann Larson’s letter to the editor was published in BDN! Indivisible Bangor has not decided to endorse a candidate for the C.D.2 House of Representatives race, but read her letter to see her thoughts on Matt Dunlap here. We have added some new events to check out this week!
Last but certainly not least, the Bangor City Council is meeting TONIGHT at 7:00pm! If you are in the area, I strongly encourage you to attend as there will be a couple of items up for discussion –
- Ordinance “Employee Authority In Immigration Matters”
- Ordinance “Require Licenses to Occupy, Block, or Obstruct a Sidewalk, Esplanade or Street”
- Ordinance “Moratorium Ordinance on Data Centers in the City of Bangor”
- Public comment period on Councilor Wayne Mallar’s extremely inappropriate comments about Bangor students – Read the section below for more details.
The first ordinance addresses how the city of Bangor will (not) work with Federal immigration enforcement officers and ICE. The second ordinance honestly feels like a way to further estrange the unhoused population and potentially infringe on future protests. The third aims to enact a moratorium on building any data centers within the city for a period of time.
Lastly, we have the issue of Councilor Wayne Mallar’s comments. This is not an agenda item, but it is the first public forum wherein you can tell Councilor Mallar what you think of his comments. Personally I will be calling again for his resignation – and I honestly encourage you to do the same. Bangor students should not have to deal with such cruelty – and someone who holds these beliefs should not be in a place to make policy that affects all of our residents. We deserve better and we should demand it!
I’ll be leaving this section up until after the upcoming City Council meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026. That’s NEXT MONDAY! If you haven’t watched the video or read the details of this event, please take the time to do so! Please also contact City Council down below to share your concerns!
I have publicly called for Councilor Mallar to resign in my Letter to the Editor posted on BDN. You can read it here.
But not to be outdone by the Collins-Trump wombo-combo, Councilor Wayne Mallar was caught on a hot mic during an ethics committee hearing — where he himself was the subject. Big yikes – and that irony is not lost on me. You can watch for yourself over at WABI.
They can’t speak English, read English, or write English — it’s not a disability… They’re probably all illegals anyway.
He was talking about children. Kids in our schools. That felt gross just writing it here. And when BDN reached out for comment, he didn’t walk it back. He doubled down, saying he doesn’t think our teachers should teach English as a second language and that the city spends too much time on “the homeless and the illegals.” I can only imagine what other beliefs the Councilor holds. Someone who talks that way about children doesn’t have shame in the first place.
Here’s the thing — he was wrong on the facts and wrong on the law. He claimed the school department was requesting a 10 percent budget increase. The actual number is 6.43%. School Committee Chair Timothy Surrette called his comments “false, hateful, and deeply harmful to our multilingual learners and their families here in Bangor.” Vice Chair Katie Brydon put it plainly: “This is not just a matter of values — it is the law.”
Mallar’s only complaint was that the conversation was broadcast at all. He told BDN it “shouldn’t have been.” He’s not sorry for what he said. He’s sorry he got caught. Oh, and that same night? The Board of Ethics found he had violated the city’s ethics code when he tried to influence the commission’s decision on a slate roof replacement.
These comments call into question every vote he has ever cast on social issues in this city. Since taking his seat in 2024, Mallar has voted against the ICE cooperation resolve, voted against limiting city cooperation with immigration enforcement, voted against early compliance with the state ICE law, and voted to eliminate the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights. That’s four votes in five months. Hmmm, I wonder why?
Bangor deserves better.
Councilor Mallar has no business being on City Council with such abhorrent beliefs. At a time when this country is more divided than ever, we need to be taking every measure to build a stronger Bangor TOGETHER – not punching down at literal children.
I strongly encourage you to email city council at councilors@bangormaine.gov. Better yet, on Monday, April 13th come to town hall and tell Councilor Mallar exactly how you feel in person. This is our city and we get to decide what we stand for!
❗The War on Terror-era legislation that authorized decades of civil liberties-eroding mass surveillance is set to expire on April 19. Congress should let it die. Tell Congress to say no to warrant-less AI Mass surveillance here.
❗The ACLU has created a form to tell Congress NOT to authorize any additional funds here.
❗Head over to take action on our site, or visiting 5calls.org to demand Congress take action NOW!
❗While you’re at it, ask your state reps to vote NO on the repeal of the ERPO (recently enacted red flag law), and NO on the repeal of the 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases!
Check out the Susan Collins Empty Chair Townhall!
NOTICE:
Any cars parked in The Penquis parking lot near the federal building without their permit stickers will be ticketed and towed!
Click on links below to jump to that section. You can still scroll down to access all other content. These links may not work in the email version of this newsletter and may require going to the actual post to navigate.
Do you want to become more involved? Would you like to help with the website and communications? Help organize events like rallies and visibility actions? Or do you just want to keep up with what we’re doing? Sign up to volunteer with Indivisible Bangor — your level of involvement is up to you!
Weekly member meetings are on Zoom, with in-person meetings on the first Wednesday of the month. As always, check out our Bluesky and Instagram for the latest info.
NEWS
Bondi won’t testify next week in House Epstein probe; lawmakers push to reschedule
The Justice Department has told the House Oversight Committee that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear before the committee next week to answer questions about the department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
“The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” a spokeswoman for the House panel said in a statement Wednesday. “The Committee will contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”
Read the entire article here.
Trump criticizes NATO as alliance chief describes meeting as ‘very frank’
Donald Trump has again attacked Nato for not supporting the US in the Iran war, following a private meeting with its Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House.
In a post shared to Truth Social after the meeting, the US President said: “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.”
Read the entire article here.
Collins ties herself to Paul LePage, leans into Trump rhetoric
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has long benefited from her public reputation as a moderate; but this past weekend, she solidified her support for former Maine governor and MAGA-backed Paul LePage, as well as leaned into extremist rhetoric that critics warn the far right has been using to vilify and incite violence against Democrats.
Along with Collins, John Fetherson of the Maine Wire, the media arm of the far-right Maine Policy Institute, was a speaker at the Penobscot Republican Committee’s Lincoln Day dinner in Brewer on Saturday, March 28. He later reported that Collins urged attendees to vote for LePage, who is running for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat, because she “need[s] some help.”
Read’s full article here.
Susan Collins supports “Save America Act”
Despite Mainers voting overwhelmingly to reject the voter suppression measures list in Question 1 last November, Senator Collins has decided that she supports even stricter voter suppression measures.The bill recently passed in the House and will be up for vote in the Senate soon. From Bangor Daily News:
Trump has framed the bill as a national voter ID push, although it is slightly different than that. Democrats have argued it could still bar millions of people from voting, with the liberal Brennan Center for Justice saying 21 million Americans lack ready access to the documents that would be required to prove citizenship. Noncitizens are barred from voting in federal elections.
Read the entire article here.
ACTIONS
Event: Attend an event!
Events are easy to attend and only require a small amount of time investment – some you can even attend from the comfort of your own couch! Take a look at the upcoming events below and register.
Petition: Sign “Iran War Concerns” Petition
As United States citizens from various political perspectives, we have serious concerns about the current war in Iran and the justification that was used for initiating it.
Petition: Sign “A Winning Democratic Strategy” Petition
This petition lists a number of items that Democrats should pledge to do.
Contact: Oppose the SAVE Act, MEGA Act, and Save America Act
Take action on the SAVE Act, the MEGA Act, and the Save America Act. These anti-democratic bills could be fast-tracked through Congress, with the Save America Act passed in the U.S. House last week (SAVE Act passed in the House last year). These laws would require voters to prove their citizenship by showing a passport or birth certificate in order to register to vote — a requirement that would disenfranchise millions of voters. According to the Brennan Center, “21 million American citizens don’t have these documents readily available.”
This bill would especially burden military voters, tribal voters, rural voters, and survivors of natural disasters. Plus, are you someone who’s married and changed your name? Or just someone who’s changed your name? You, too, could be affected. This could also affect Mainers living near the border who might have been born at a Canadian hospital to U.S. parents.
The MEGA Act would prohibit the use of mail-in voting (like absentee voting) and Ranked Choice Voting. The bill promotes voter roll purges and criminalizes clerical errors by election workers. It’s a package of terrible ideas built upon false, debunked theories that our elections are not secure. Maine has the right to conduct our elections, which are already fair, transparent, and accessible. Let’s reject this federal intervention.
Letter: Tell Senate Democrats: Not a penny more for ICE and Border Patrol terror
Across the country, millions of us have held the line for months demanding an end to the violence and terror of ICE and Border Patrol. As reports are circulating that Democrats are open to considering a deal being floated by the White House, it’s time to remind them that our demands have not changed: The only way ICE and Border Patrol get so much as a single penny more is if Democrats fail to lead.
If reports about the proposal are true, this “offer” would constitute a blank check to Border Patrol and add to ICE’s already bloated budget, merely separating out “deportation operations” to be funded later. And this funding could very well come without any guardrails to curb ICE brutality and terror operations. Your Democratic Senators need to hear from you today: Any vote for this proposal is a vote to support ICE and Border Patrol’s terror, violence, and the authoritarian Trump agenda.
Letter: Support childcare funding
Next week, our legislators will be considering a number of bills that will make Maine’s childcare system stronger.
This includes LD 1955, which will provide $15 million in ongoing funding for the Child Care Affordability Program. This will provide immediate relief to children and families who are currently on waitlists, while also ensuring future families can access affordable childcare without delays as they work, pursue education, or engage in job training.
LD 2066 will make the Child Care Affordability Program Educator Employment Award permanent. This will ensure that current employees at licensed childcare programs receive tuition support and will help to both recruit and retain qualified staff. And lastly, LD 1414 will increase infant and toddler payment rates through the Child Care Affordability Program for eligible families—making it easier for providers to offer affordable care for the youngest kids.
This action is sponsored by our friends over at Maine People’s Alliance.
Letter: Tell Congress: Stop President Trump’s illegal boat strikes
The Trump administration is murdering civilians in international waters. We need answers so we can stop the killing.
Since September, the Trump administration has ordered dozens of lethal strikes on civilian boats near Venezuela, killing over 150 people in clear violation of domestic and international law. For weeks, the Trump administration has promoted unsubstantiated, fear-mongering claims about the people being targeted, even though investigations show that the strikes killed fishermen who were simply trying to make a living for their families. The administration is reportedly relying on a secret legal memo that wrongly claims these killings are lawful and that anyone involved in the strikes would somehow be immune from prosecution for murder or other crimes, yet they refuse to make the memo public.
Letter: Reject the Deportation & Detention Agenda
The Big Ugly Bill funneled enough money for ICE and Border Patrol to fund their terror for years to come. We have already seen how dangerous this is in communities across the country. Now the administration is trying to use this money to do a massive expansion in detention facilities across the country. They have been buying up properties, and sometimes actually converting warehouses into camps that will hold human beings, often in dangerous and horrifying conditions.
We have a chance to stop this expansion in its tracks, in partnership with experts across the country, by speaking up and demanding our elected officials speak up too. This is already working – and even some Republicans are criticizing the warehouses – from Pennsylvania, to Tennessee, and beyond. So let’s keep up the pressure.
Letter: Write a letter to the editor
Letters to the editor are published regularly in the local newspapers from Mainers who support the brutal tactics of the authoritarian Trump regime. Write a letter to set the record straight. Click the button to go to the Bangor Daily News “Submit a letter or column” page, the Portland Press Herald “Letters to the editor” page, and the “Letter to the Editor” page at the Ellsworth American.
Contact: Call or email your legislators
If you want an easy way to actually do something, check out 5calls.org. You enter your location, pick an issue you care about, and it gives you your representatives’ phone numbers and a script. That’s it. Calling your elected officials is one of the most effective forms of civic engagement there is!
If you are more comfortable with sending emails to our Maine congressional delegation in Washington, click the links/buttons. This is a good option if you have lengthy comments or questions.
Boycott: Pressure companies to stop working with ICE
Vote with your wallet and boycott companies and services that work with ICE! Check out the full list here.
Donate: Give to a food bank
Please DONATE to a local food pantry- food, personal items, and even cash. Faith Linking in Action maintains a database of all food pantries and free meals– organized by both location and day of the week– in the Bangor area. Check it out here.
ActivateMaine has created a site, SNAP Into Action: “a statewide effort to help those who are affected by the freezing of benefits due to the Government shut down.” If you know of any food drives that are happening, please visit this site to add it to the database!
Legislator Contact Info
The names of our senators and representatives listed below are links that go right to their official congressional contact form pages. The telephone numbers are links that should open your phone app to call that number. It’s that easy!
Senator Angus King
DC: (202) 224-5344
Augusta: (207) 622-8292
Senator Susan Collins
DC: (202) 224-2523
Augusta: (207) 622-8414
Bangor: (207) 945-0417
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
DC: (202) 225-6116
Portland: (207) 774-5019
Waterville: (207) 873-5713
Congressman Jared Golden
DC: (202) 225-6306
Bangor: (207) 249-7400
Caribou: (207) 492-6009
Lewiston: (207) 241-6767
Find your State Representative:
By name: Here
By district: Here
Find your State Senator:
By name: Here
By district: Here
Our government in Augusta:
Governor Janet Mills
Email Governor Mills
Call (207) 287-3531
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows
Contact Secretary Bellows
Call (207)626-8400
Attorney General Aaron M. Frey
Contact Mr. Frey
Call (207) 626-8800
Questions or comments? Contact George!
