Indivisible Bangor

Author: George Lincoln

  • Visibility Brigade

    Visibility Brigade

    Bangor Visibility Brigade

    The BVB currently meets on Friday afternoons at the Essex Street overpass at 3:30.

    The Visibility Brigade movement was born in 2020 on an overpass in Paramus, NJ out of a frustration due to the lack of physical messaging in the real world about the existential crisis that we face as a nation. There are now multiple brigades across the country with new ones forming every day!

    We believe that people need “social proof” to inform them how best to respond to this crisis, and we deliver inspiration weekly with new messages commenting on the issues of our time. Our goal is to remind neighbors of our nation’s emergency and to suggest simple actions they can take and encourage support of pro-democratic state and national political candidates. We literally stand over our messages, waving at passing cars, reminding everyday people that they are not alone in these unprecedented times.

    Click here to visit the website –> Visibility Brigade

  • Bystander Intervention & De-escalation Training

    Bystander Intervention & De-escalation Training

    From our friends at Indivisible Cumberland County:

    Bystander Intervention & De-escalation Training:

    TUESDAY, JULY 15TH | 6-8 PM
    Register Here

    Recognize bias, harassment, or targeting before it escalates — and build your confidence to step in safely as an effective ally.

    What happens when law enforcement — the very people sworn to protect us — break that trust by questioning or detaining someone for no clear reason? 

    What would you do if you saw someone being unfairly singled out in public, or a tense situation starting to spiral? 
    When do you step forward instead of stepping back?

    Join Indivisible Cumberland County online on Tuesday, July 15th at 6 PM for an immersive Active Bystander Intervention & De-escalation Training with Prevention. Action. Change. (PAC). This two-hour online session will help you recognize bias, harassment, or targeting before it escalates — and build your confidence to step in safely as an effective ally.

    Exercises will depend on group size but typically include small group interactions, role-play, and movement-based scenarios. You’ll learn and practice de-escalation techniques to assess risk, defuse tension with words and body language, and protect yourself if things become unsafe. The training also includes techniques for managing adrenaline and recovering after difficult encounters. Walk away with real-world skills you can use immediately to support others and help keep public spaces safe for everyone.

    Indivisible Cumberland County is hiring professionals to conduct the training and is requesting that participants donate $20 to take part. On the registration page you will be directed to ICC’s ActBlue page to make a donation.
    Register Here

  • Maine MultiCultural Center Immigrant Resources

    Maine MultiCultural Center Immigrant Resources

    The Maine Multicultural Center in Brewer has a list of resources for immigrants on their website here. The Maine MultiCultural Center welcomes & champions diversity as essential to the economic and social vitality of Maine. Click the following for MMCC Immigrant Resource Guides in PDF format in English, Spanish, and Arabic.

  • Become an Ambassador to Protect Absentee Voting! July 9, 2025

    Become an Ambassador to Protect Absentee Voting! July 9, 2025

    Your voting rights are under attack

    Become an Ambassador to Protect Absentee Voting
    This November, a ballot question will ask voters if they want to make big changes to Maine’s elections that attack our voting rights and absentee voting. The Save Maine Absentee Voting campaign, of which the League is a member, is working hard to inform our fellow Mainers about this bad legislation and encourage them to vote no. Want to learn more about the campaign and become an ambassador? There are several upcoming training sessions.

    Register below:
    Wednesday, July 9 at 3 p.m.

    Fair, secure, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. But a referendum question coming to Maine voters in November 2025 takes aim at Maine’s safe and secure voting system, including absentee voting. This referendum would make it harder for people across the state to vote – especially seniors, Mainers with a disability, and Mainers without reliable transportation.

    On May 5, the office of the Secretary of State released finalized language for the referendum as it will appear on the November ballot. The question reads:

    “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

    It takes away local control by:

    • Limiting the number of secure ballot drop-off boxes a town may offer
    • Second-guessing town clerks, requiring a two-person, bipartisan team to check ballot boxes, instead of the clerk or a trusted member of their staff. This restriction will place undue pressure on town clerks, and will lead to many towns simply getting rid of their secure drop boxes.
    • Prohibiting towns from including return postage on absentee ballots, even if taxpayers vote to fund it.
    • Preventing you from calling your town clerk to request a ballot, making it harder for those without reliable transportation or internet to request an absentee ballot.
    • It eliminates ongoing absentee ballots, even though this has been a boon for Maine seniors and Mainers with disabilities.
    • It shortens the time period for early absentee voting by two days – two of the most popular days for early absentee voting.

    This measure isn’t right for Maine. We all want our elections to be as secure as possible. Instead of making it harder for Maine citizens to vote and tying the hands of our town clerks, we should focus on giving state and local elections officials the resources they need.

    Learn More at Save Maine Absentee Voting

  • Join Us for the Weekly Orono Protest- Wednesdays at Noon

    Join Us for the Weekly Orono Protest- Wednesdays at Noon

    Come join us for our weekly protest on the corner of Main Street and Bennoch in Orono.  Drop in anytime between 12 pm and 1 pm.  Bring signs!  Bring flags!

    THEME OF THE WEEK:

    “THREE YEARS SINCE AMERICAN WOMEN LOST THEIR RIGHTS

    TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH”

    OR

    WHICHEVER ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY OUTRAGES YOU MOST THIS WEEK!

    DONATIONS OF NONPERISHABLES OR CASH FOR LOCAL FOOD CUPBOARD GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED EACH WEEK

    HOSTED BY M.D.F. KNITTERS AND ORONO DEMOCRATS

  • All Hands On Deck! Call Collins to Ask Her to Vote NO on the Budget Bill

    All Hands On Deck! Call Collins to Ask Her to Vote NO on the Budget Bill

    Action Tuesday July 1st – Call Collins to Ask Her to Vote NO on the Budget Bill + Email Pingree + Golden to vote No When it Returns to the House

    From our friend, Emanuel Pariser in the Mid- Maine region:

    Hi Folks, 

    Good morning everyone. This truly is an all hands on deck moment. If you have 5 minutes free today, do one thing. Call Senator Collins’ office to tell her you want her to vote NO on this Budget Bill. The Senate has been up all night and apparently the Republicans don’t have the votes locked in yet. Collins is Key to the passage of this bill, if she votes no the chances of it going down go up dramatically.

    The Bill if passed in the Senate goes back to the House, where it has to be reconciled. Ask Pingree and Golden to vote against it. They did last time. If a couple of Republicans defect in the house on the basis of a 3.3 – 5 trillion debt increase price tag, the bill won’t pass in the House if all Dems stick together.

    From Last Week and Still Relevant

    Trump is nominating Emile Bove for a life-time appointment to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. As is almost a pre-requisite these days, the man is corrupt to the core. Read Abbie Mcmillen’s attachment below for details. Call or email Collins and King to vote NO on Bove’s appointment.

    There is talk that Janet Mills will be vetoing LD 1971. Please contact her office to oppose her vetoing this bill. She could just not sign the bill and it would become law, 90 days after the session ends. LD 1971 protects our Law Enforcement from doing ICE work, not getting paid for it, and running the risk of their towns getting sued for incorrect actions on the part of police acting as immigration agents.
    ***(There is an update to this as of July 2, 2025 from WGME: Gov. Mills will delay decision on limiting Maine police cooperation with ICE. “Mills will hold the measure from Rep. Deqa Dhalac, D-South Portland, until the next legislative session, spokesperson Ben Goodman said Tuesday. Under the Maine Constitution, the governor will have three days at the start of the next session expected to start in January to either veto the bill or let it become law without her signature.”)

    TODAY’S ACTION (s)

    • Call or email Susan Collins to Vote NO on the Budget Bill: This is an All Hands on Deck moment. Her contact information is below. The New York Times has a minute by minute update on this bill. Indivisible has a great piece (attached) on actions to take NOW. If you can’t get through on the Phone – Email her Here. If you have the bandwidth volunteer today to phonebook others to call their Senators Here. It DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU HAVE ALREADY CALLED HER ON THIS. PRESSURE NOW MATTERS. (Sorry for shouting, but if you have a moment more call your friends, family, relations to ask them to do the same – Call Collins to vote NO!!)
    • Call or email Pingree and Golden to vote No on the Budget Bill: The cuts in the Senate version are even worse than the House version. They voted NO last time and we need them to vote NO when this bill returns.
    • Write or Call Janet Mills: Ask her not to veto LD 1971, restricting cooperation between Maine Law Enforcement and ICE, and the Ranked Choice Voting- (LD1666) for Maine Elections bills. You can write an email through her website or call her at 207-287-3531, or write her snail mail at 1 State House Station, Augusta, Maine, 04333.
    • Call, or email Collins and King to vote NO on Emile Bove: He Attempted to dismiss the public corruption case of NYC Mayor Eric Adams after Adams agreed to help with mass deportations; Ordered January 6 prosecutors fired and was behind the firing of FBI agents; Signed off on a memo to try to force state and local law enforcement to carry out Trump’s mass deportation plans.  

    Statewide Actions This Week:

    • Buy some American Flags for your next Demo (Reny’s in Bangor has a good selection of affordable flags – Dave).
    • Prepare for July 17th “Good Trouble Lives On” National Protests in honor of John Lewis -signt up for Third Act training on this here.
    • Check the Activate Maine Calendar for events every week, and send them your event if you are designing one.

    Angus King             DC (202) 224-5344 Augusta (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         DC(202) 2242523 Augusta(207) 622-8414 (207) Bangor 207 945-0417  

    Chellie Pingree      DC (202) 225-6116 Portland (207) 774-5019  Waterville (207) 873-5713  

    Jared Golden         DC: (202) 225-6306 Bangor: (207) 249-7400 Caribou: (207) 492-6009 Lewiston: (207) 241-6767

    Find Your State Senator: Here

    Find your State Representative: Here – (by name), By District: Here,

    LOCAL ACTIONS: Join Mid Maine Indivisible(Kennebec and Somerset Counties) Please join us if you are in the Mid Maine area.  To sign up: go here. We are celebrating Juneteenth today at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Waterville.

    Are you interested in helping New Mainers learn/improve their English? To sign up for English tutoring or any of our other volunteer opportunities, please visit: Capital Area New Mainers Project (CANMP) to fill out a volunteer interest survey. 

    Tuesday, July 1st: 12:00-1:00 (and every Tuesday)  Stand against Tesla/Musk and the Federal Budget Bill in Waterville    around the Tesla Charging Station Elm Plaza on Main Street, Waterville. 

    Wednesday, July 2nd: (and every Wednesday) 12:00-1:00 Waterville, Maine. Corner of Main and Chaplin St. Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights, GRR! demonstrates every Wednesday across from Resolve, the local anti-abortion center. Please join us in assuring all Mainers have access to safe, legal, shame-free reproductive health care including abortions and contraceptive care. For more info please contact Elayne Richard  at recordconnection@gmail.com. 

    Thursday, 3d: 4 – 5 pm, Fairfield/Benton Bridge,  Stop the Coup + Save Democracy. 

    Thursday, July 3d:  (and every Thursday) Small demonstration at Waterville Farmer’s Market – contact Elizabeth Leonard if you wish to participate (edleonar@colby.edu)

    Thursday, July 3d: One time only!  12-1:30, UU Church Waterville, 69 Silver Street, When in the Course of Human Events…Resisting Tyranny is as American as Apple Pie, a non political (leave your signs home) gathering to celebrate the writings that inspired our revolution and our resistance in the years that followed. Short readings, apples and apple pie and some singing too. Sponsored by Mid Maine Indivisible. (Questions? check with edleonar@colby.edu)

    Register by July 5th  for The Art of Resistance Saturday, July 26, from 4-8pm, at the Winslow Congregational Church; 

    This event is meant to bring us together and remind us of what enlivens us and keeps us moving forward day after day: 

    Reaffirming our connections with one another. 

    Sharing our creative inspiration. 

    Expressing joy and laughter.  Send an email to 

    Lyn Rowden, singhawk26@gmail.com 

    Include the following information in your email: Name, phone number, title of work, brief description, 

    number of performers or artworks. Call Lyn at (207) 314-4730 with questions.

    Saturday, July 5th: at 2:30 pm (and every Saturday)-Somerset Stands Up Rallies-Margaret Chase Smith Bridge, downtown Skowhegan. Bring your signs, American flags, your voice, your friends, families and neighbors for this peaceful gathering of concerned residents of Somerset County. 

    Sunday, July 6th: at 1:00 (and every Sunday): Stand with us against Trump/Stephen Miller; For Peace in the Middle East, For Ukraine, Stop the War in Iran, etc. on the Bridge by CVS in Waterville. 

    MORE ACTIONS

    *If you haven’t yet, write your letter to Governor Mills thanking her for her stand against Trump, and asking her to run against Collins. SHE IS STILL THINKING ABOUT THIS! Hand written if possible.  Mail to: State House Station 1, Augusta, Maine, 04333. 

    *If you would like to join Maine People’s Alliance Federal Lobby Group, please contact Jim Parakilas at jamesparakilas@gmail.com. We meet Mondays at 2 pm. Consider joining the MPA for trainings in June and July on resistance strategy, lobbying, and other areas. Contact Jim on this.

    With great appreciation for all the engagement everywhere! 

    As always, throw a little sand in their gears! 

    Emanuel

    ps. Please let me know if you don’t wish to get these Action Alerts, and please feel free to pass all or parts of these alerts on to others you know. 

    “We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us.” ~ John Lewis

  • Celebrate Freedom! Ignite Your Rebellion! July 4th Cookout!

    Celebrate Freedom! Ignite Your Rebellion! July 4th Cookout!

    Friday, July 4th, 2025, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the Eastern Maine Labor Council Solidarity Center located at 20 Ivers St., Brewer, Maine, 04412.

    Independence Day is about the fight for freedom. The American Revolution was a stand against tyranny and kings. That same spirit has lived on—from the Boston Tea Party to the Underground Railroad, from Stonewall to the Civil Rights Movement.

    America is in crisis. Real democracy feels out of reach. Freedom is in trouble.

    This July 4th, while the U.S. marks Independence Day, we’ll gather at the Eastern Maine Labor Council Solidarity Center to talk, listen, and learn from one other.   Join Food AND Medicine, the Eastern Maine Labor Council and Indivisible Bangor in a community building event designed to bring us together to meet, eat, unite, and strategize to protect the freedoms that the American colonists fought hard for to free us from a tyrannical government. 

    We’ll have hotdogs and hamburgers, speakers, and an opportunity for anyone who wants to share on uniting together to continue the work protecting our democracy; time limit is 3 minutes each. 

    The event starts at 6pm and will end at 8pm.   Everyone is welcome to stay afterwards to watch the Bangor fireworks from atop the hill, one of the best viewing spots in the City of Brewer.  

    They want us scared, divided, and alone. They don’t want us to dream about freedom, but that’s exactly what we must do.

    This Fourth of July, we will come together with words of freedom and joy. The dream of American freedom belongs to all of us, and we will not stop in our pursuit of its promise, now or ever. 

    I’ll be there on July 4th!

    Food & Medicine is a grassroots member-based organization in Brewer, ME that aims to address the root causes of poverty by empowering and involving those directly affected. They prioritize people’s ability to form a union, have access to affordable healthy food, utilize public transportation, and earn a living wage through a combination of direct service and grassroots organizing.

    With over 500 annual members, Food & Medicine is a diverse coalition of union members, workers, farmers, low-income community members, and individuals from various faith and political beliefs. Their mission is to build a multiracial, multiethnic movement that transcends class lines and works towards creating a community where no one has to choose between food, medicine, and other basic necessities.

    The EASTERN MAINE LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO is one of nearly 500 state and local labor councils of the AFL-CIO and are the heart of the labor movement. We are democratically elected bodies dedicated to represent the interests of working people at the state and local level. We mobilize our members and community partners to advocate for social and economic justice and we strive daily to vanquish oppression and make our communities better for all people—regardless of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.

    Indivisible Bangor informs, encourages, and organizes our members and community to take regular actions to resist the GOP’s extremist agenda, elect Democrats, and fight for progressive policies and voting rights.

    Our actions include legislative advocacy, electoral politics and voter outreach and advocacy.  We always strive to educate our members and voters on critical issues.

    Join us by signing up to volunteer and to join our mailing list for more info. You’ll be first to know when we announce meetings and put out calls to action!



  • Protect Maine Absentee Voting

    Protect Maine Absentee Voting

    Maine MAGA activists are working hard to suppress voting in our state.

    Fair, secure, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. But a referendum question coming to Maine voters in November 2025 takes aim at Maine’s safe and secure voting system, including absentee voting. This referendum would make it harder for people across the state to vote – especially seniors, Mainers with a disability, and Mainers without reliable transportation.

    Your vote matters. Help us to protect Maine’s strong voting tradition and Save Maine Absentee Voting.

    • If this referendum becomes law, you’d no longer be able to pick up or drop off a ballot for your elderly parent who lives in another town.
    • Your disabled neighbor wouldn’t be able to just pick up the phone and request a ballot from their town office – even though they’ve done just that for years.
    • Local town and city clerks wouldn’t be able to check their own drop-off boxes, meaning many would simply opt to not have a drop-off box.
    • People who need to work all day on Election Day – health care workers, direct care workers, delivery drivers – would effectively lose access to absentee voting.

    Learn More at Save Maine Absentee Voting

    Become an Ambassador to Protect Absentee Voting
    This November, a ballot question will ask voters if they want to make big changes to Maine’s elections that attack our voting rights and absentee voting. The Save Maine Absentee Voting campaign, of which the League is a member, is working hard to inform our fellow Mainers about this bad legislation and encourage them to vote no. Want to learn more about the campaign and become an ambassador? There are several upcoming training sessions.

    Register below:
    Wednesday, July 9 at 3 p.m.

  • Contact Senator Collins – the BBB vote is today!

    Contact Senator Collins – the BBB vote is today!

    Urgent message from our friends at Food and Medicine and the AFL-CIO:

    Below is an important message from our friends at the Maine AFL-CIO, and we need to spread the word. If you can make one call this today, please call Senator Collins – there is a lot at stake and the vote is today! Passage of this bill could be devastating for Mainers in many ways, and we have a chance to impact Senator Collins’ vote.

    Will you give her office a call? The information and phone numbers are below. 

    -Food AND Medicine 

    The U.S. Senate will soon vote on its Big Budget Bill that slashes funding to our rural hospitals, kicks people off health insurance and cuts workers’ pensions to deliver tax cuts to the very rich. We need you to call Senator Susan Collins.

    Call Senator Susan Collins right now at 202-224-2523 & ask her to oppose the Senate Budget Bill! Or call Senator Collins locally

    Augusta  (207) 622-8414  Bangor  (207) 945-0417

    Biddeford  (207) 283-1101  Caribou  (207) 493-7873

    Lewiston  (207) 784-6969  Portland  (207) 618-5560

    This Big Budget Bill will harm working classer Mainers by:

    • Cutting taxes for the rich and making the rest of us pay for it. On average the top 1% in Maine will receive a nearly $37,000 tax cut while the majority of working people will lose out from the cuts in this bill.
    • Harming federal workers and their retirements. The Senate Republican version of the bill raids federal workers pension to pay for tax cuts for the rich. New hires would be required to pay 15.6% of their pay toward retirement – an 11% increase from current employees.
    • Harming rural hospitals, raising healthcare costs and causing 13 – 16 million people to lose health insurance. Medicaid funding cuts would cause hospitals, clinics and nursing homes to close or downsize, especially in rural communities. Estimates are that 13 – 16 million people would lose health insurance. A new analysis by the AFL-CIO finds that the bill would raise health care costs for everyone, including an estimation of up to $485 a year for the 179 million people with employment-based insurance.
    • Banning states from passing or enforcing laws protecting workers from the threats artificial intelligence (AI) poses to our rights, jobs and safety. The bill would put a 10 year ban on states passing any laws related to AI.
    • Increasing federal deficit by $4 – 5 trillion. The bill will explode the federal deficit, undermining economic stability and causing future cuts.

    Please tell Senator Collins to VOTE NO on the Senate budget reconciliation bill: 202-224-2523!

    Augusta  (207) 622-8414  Bangor  (207) 945-0417

    Biddeford  (207) 283-1101  Caribou  (207) 493-7873

    Lewiston  (207) 784-6969  Portland  (207) 618-5560

    We need a budget that puts workers first, not billionaires.

    In Solidarity,

    Matt Schlobohm, Executive Director of the Maine AFL-CIO

    PS: Can you get five other people to call Senator Collins? We need as many Mainers as possible to tell our Senator to VOTE NO on the Budget bill

  • Call Janet Mills – LD 1971

    Call Janet Mills – LD 1971


    ME LD1971

    An Act to Protect Workers in This State by Clarifying the Relationship of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies with Federal Immigration Authorities

    This bill is on Janet Mills’ desk now!

    Call her and urge her to sign it!

    Call Governor Janet Mills 207-287-353
    Email Governor Janet Mills

    Among other related things, this bill “enacts provisions to clarify the relationship of state and local law enforcement agencies, including correctional facilities, and state employees with federal immigration authorities. The bill: 1. Prohibits a law enforcement agency from stopping, investigating, interrogating, arresting or detaining a person for immigration enforcement purposes, including in response to a hold request, immigration detainer or administrative warrant issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or allowing the United States Department of Homeland Security access to inmates or inmate information or providing law enforcement agency resources or personnel to assist immigration enforcement activities.”

    LD 1971 includes common-sense guardrails to protect the rights and safety of Maine’s immigrants, and all of us. It ensures that state and local law enforcement aren’t stepping outside of their official duties to assist the federal government with mass deportation.