Tell Gov. Mills: fully funding the permanent commission on race and equity can’t wait.

TAKE ACTION

Maine is not immune to systemic racism. People of color, and especially Black people, in Maine are at greater risk of being arrested, charged, sentenced, and incarcerated. Black school children in Maine are disproportionately suspended, expelled, and arrested at school for the same behaviors as their white peers. Black Mainers face some of the highest poverty rates in the nation.

Nationwide, Black people and other people of color are disproportionately bearing the costs of the coronavirus - and Maine has the worst disparities in the country. Black people make up 1.6 percent of Maine’s total population, but over 24 percent of positive COVID-19 tests. This is largely because they disproportionately fill jobs deemed “essential,” yet these jobs come without adequate health care coverage or paid sick time.

Invariably, Black people in Maine face systemic barriers to education, health care, employment and justice. We have a long way to go to end racism in Maine, but there is one concrete step we can take now.

Last year, the Maine legislature established the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations, tasked with studying and addressing the racial disparities that exist within government and state policy. But the legislature only gave the commission $500 to do this essential work.

Tell Governor Mills: Empower this essential body to address the urgent issues we are facing. Fully fund the Permanent Commission now.

We need your help on this important issue.

Please take action now.

Message Recipients: Gov. Mills

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Subject

As you recently acknowledged in your statement on the killing of George Floyd, Maine is “not immune to discrimination, injustice, or inequality.”

In your statement, you asked “what are these inequities, why do they exist, and how do we remedy them?” As you acknowledged, there is already a body ready to take on and answer these questions: the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations. The commission is charged with studying the barriers in our state to historically disadvantaged populations, and making recommendations to the executive and legislative branches for improving opportunities and eliminating disparities.

Message Body

The Commission cannot carry out its urgent and essential mission until it is fully funded by your administration. It is now been a year since you signed legislation making the Commission a reality. Yet without adequate funding and staffing, the commission cannot fully carry out its duties.

We have a long way to go to end racism in Maine, but there is one concrete step we can take now. Please, fully fund the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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Tell Gov. Mills: fully funding the permanent commission on race and equity can’t wait.

TAKE ACTION

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