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Good evening. I will call the Tuesday, July 21, 2026, city council meeting to order.

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All council members are present. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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Thank you.

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This will be an irregular meeting this evening. I want to thank you all for joining us.

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Yesterday marked exactly one week since the fatal shooting of Johann Sebastian Duran Guerrero.

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I met with Johann's beloved partner, Carolina, and his sister, Daniella, at the site of Johann's death and memorial yesterday where they grieved this unimaginable loss.

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They asked for justice. Justice for the senseless killing of Johann was a father, a son, a brother, and a beloved partner.

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And I'll ask that we please stand for a moment of silence.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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On the morning of July 13th, our neighbor, Johann Sebastian Duran Guerrero, left his home

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to go to work.

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He pulled out of his own driveway, his car, the way he had on so many ordinary mornings.

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He never came home.

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I'd like to say his name again, so it's in this room and in this record.

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Johann Sebastian Duran Guerrero.

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Johann's life was not so different from yours or mine.

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He lived here.

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He worked hard to make sure the people he loved had what they needed.

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He held down multiple jobs, all of them above board.

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He and his daughter played in the same parks that our children's play in.

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Johann spent many afternoons with his daughter, Dulce,

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at the new playground of the J. Richard Martin Community Center.

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laughing and playing like so many parents do with their own kids.

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He shopped in the same stores we shop in.

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He walked the same streets that we walk every day.

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He brushed his daughter's teeth at night, held her hand until she fell asleep.

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He was, by every account, the devoted father.

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Our own government had reviewed his paperwork, approved it,

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given him a permit to work, and given him a social security number.

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Our government knew exactly who he was, and still one of its agents shot and killed him

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on a peaceful summer morning on a Vettiford Street with no camera recording what happened.

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I'd like to be clear about why we're here tonight, because I don't want anyone to mistake it.

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We're not here because of where Johann was born.

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We're not here to make a political point.

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We're here because Johann was a member of this community,

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our community.

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And because of what we were doing tonight for him,

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what we were asking for him,

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we would ask for any person who died in this way

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on the streets of Bedouford.

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Anyone.

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That's what it means to be a community.

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When one of us is taken like this,

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we do not look away.

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We do not stay quiet.

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it. So what are we asking for? Two simple things, justice and truth.

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The truth of what happened

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to Johann that morning, a full, honest, transparent accounting with nothing hidden and no one

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shielded from it. And justice for Johann, for Carolina and for Dulce and Daniella.

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And this grief that they feel transcends Bideford. Tonight and across Maine, their

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immigrant families carrying a fear that the rest of us are not asked to carry, a fear

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of driving to work, of taking their children to the park, that fear is paralyzing.

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And in our city, we will not pretend otherwise, we'll not look past the people who have to

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live with it.

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So to our immigrant neighbors, you belong here, you are part of who Bideford is, and

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you should not have to carry this weight alone.

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And you are not alone.

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I want to recognize some of the organizations that have stood with Johann's family from

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the very first days, the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, and present a Maine who are doing

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the difficult, deeply human work of supporting this family and this community through a

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grief that never should have been theirs to bear.

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The city is grateful for you and I stand with you.

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Carolina, Dulce, Daniela, and Johann's friends and family, I promise you that

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I see you, our city grieves with you, and our city will not let Johann's name be forgotten

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or his death be treated as one more cost of a broken system because we cannot allow the

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death to become acceptable collateral for enforcement.

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And justice for Johann.

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When I spoke with Carolina, what she asked for was remarkably simple.

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She wants justice for what she described as an unjust and senseless killing.

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She wants the truth about what happened that morning.

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Every family deserves those answers.

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And the greatest tribute we can offer Johann is not simply to remember his life,

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but to pursue the truth about how it ended and ensure his family is not left to carry this burden alone.

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So I ask you to hold Johann's family in your thoughts.

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I will now read the following proclamation into the official record.

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demanding justice and accountability for the fatal shooting of Johann Sebastian

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Duran Guerrero and calling for humane immigration reform. Whereas Johann

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Sebastian Duran Guerrero was a resident of Bideford and whereas Johann had

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submitted an application to the United States citizenship and immigration

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services for permission to work which was reviewed and approved and whereas

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the Department of Homeland Security had issued Johann an employment

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authorization document and whereas the United States government had issued

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a Social Security number.

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And whereas, because Johann was following correct procedures,

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the United States government knew who he was, knew where he lived,

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had authorized him to work, knew he was working multiple jobs to provide for his family,

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and knew he was paying state and federal taxes as a result of his employment.

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And whereas, the same federal government that reviewed his application,

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documented his presence, issued him a federal work permit,

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and gave him a Social Security number,

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had one of its agents shoot and kill Johann Sebastian Duran Guerrero on July 13,

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2026 in the streets of Bideford, Maine.

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And whereas, Johann's violent and senseless death has caused a measurable grief for Carolina,

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who has lost her life partner and the father of her young daughter,

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for Dulce, who must now grow up without her father,

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and for Johann's family, friends, loved ones, and the entire Bideford community.

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And whereas the circumstances that led to Johann's death at the hands of the United States

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government require a thorough, impartial, independent and transparent investigation with the full involvement

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and cooperation of main law enforcement authorities and all relevant evidence, including recordings,

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communications, reports, dispatch information, physical evidence, personnel records, training

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materials and other documentation must be preserved and disclosed to the fullest extent

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permitted by law.

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And whereas the BDF Police Department employs only highly trained officers and equips its

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officers with body worn cameras because this fundamental public safety and accountability

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tool is simple, reasonable, and so easily achievable.

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And whereas the enforcement agents of the United States government fell far short

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of the professional standards routinely upheld

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by local police departments throughout Maine,

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including unrelenting attention to safety,

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restrained use of force, and deescalation training.

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And that this failure by agents of the United States

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government to meet these basic standards

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led to the senseless use of deadly force on

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Bitterford streets by an agent not equipped

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with a body-worn camera resulting in an unrecorded

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death that further destroys the public's faith

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in the transparency, integrity, and accountability

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of federal immigration enforcement.

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And whereas Bideford is widely acknowledged throughout the United States

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as a community built by generations of immigrants,

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and to this day remains a city where people from many backgrounds

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have found opportunity, belonging, and a place to call home.

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And every person in Maine is entitled to dignity,

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safety, due process, and equal protection under the law,

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and the fundamental right to be treated humanely.

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Now, therefore, I, Liam LaFountain, Mayor of the City of Bideford, do hereby proclaim and resolve to do everything within the city's lawful authority and available resources to support Carolina Rojas Alvarez and her daughter Dulce during this time of profound grief, despair, uncertainty and need.

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call for a thorough and partial independent and transparent investigation into Johann's death,

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conducted with the full involvement and cooperation of main law enforcement,

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and for the United States government to cease its painfully reckless and deadly enforcement activities in Bideford,

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demand that Congress and the executive branch reform the nation's decade-old broken and inhumane immigration system,

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system, a system that has separated families, subjected people, including children, to prolonged

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and degrading detention, denied meaningful due process, and caused immeasurable suffering

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and preventable death, and replace it with a just and humane system grounded in dignity,

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family unity, accountability, respect for human life, and bring an end to immigration

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enforcement that operates without accountability and without regard for human life. Refuse

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to accept the death of any member of this community as acceptable collateral for immigration

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enforcement in Bideford or any community, and reaffirm that all people who live in Bideford

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are an essential part of Bideford's identity, history, strength, and future, and that every

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person who lives, works, studies, worships, or raises a family in this city deserves

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to feel safe and to be treated with such dignity.

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Thank you.

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Now,

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as we do at many council meetings, we allow for public comment addressing the council.

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I understand there are a lot of folks interested in speaking tonight on such a topic as we have in front of us.

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I do want to remind folks of the rules for such communication with the council, which I will read here.

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City of Bideford's elected representatives welcome the public input.

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We also recognize that many issues beyond the city, such as state and national issues, affect the city of Bideford and its citizens.

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We understand and appreciate that there are many diverse and different opinions held by our citizens.

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However, the city will not tolerate any comment that is hateful, exhibits intolerance for any group or groups of people,

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contains derogatory characterizations of any group or groups of people, contains profanity or otherwise exceeds the boundaries of common decency.

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Generally, the purpose of public participation at council meetings is to allow Bideford's

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residents to express their opinions on issues that are within the mayor and council's jurisdiction,

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and comments should be germane to matters over which the city may act.

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However, the fatal shooting of Johann Sebastian Duran Guerrero occurred within the city

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of Bideford.

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Without any involvement of the Bideford Police Department or any city officials, we recognize

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that this fatal shooting by an agent of immigration and customer's enforcement

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creates the need for citizens to express their feelings.

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Please note that the rules of the City Council, Rule 3, Q6,

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the presiding officer may limit or cut off any commentary that we determine is not germane

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or that is discourteous, slanderous, abusive, or not in accord with good order or decorum.

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Thank you for your understanding.

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At this time, if there are any folks who would like to provide public comment,

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there is a three-minute limit.

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We have a timer, our city clerk, police award who'll be providing that timer and a warning for when those three minutes are up.

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And if you, when you could come up to the podium, state your full name.

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And if you are resident of Bitterford, you can state your award, otherwise the city in which you reside.

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Thank you.

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All righty.

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My name is Kelsey Cummings.

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I am a renter.

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I'm a business owner right on Main Street.

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And I live on health.

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I have been emailing everyone with a government position or title since January. I have met with multiple mayors in November.

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My business owners haven't been able to open. We had an underground grocery system. It's not cute to do that. It's dangerous.

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I don't understand why that wasn't the trigger and why that wasn't serious enough where someone had to lose their life.

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Our community has stepped up too much. We have been put on too much construction, taxes, unhoused situation, city manager, new mayors. It has been too much. You are asking too much of us.

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You all need to expect more of these people. If they can't do anything, then we're out of luck. Then we should just go home now.

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If there's nothing that these people can do, then what's the point of all of this? Why are we here?

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Please look around the room for one second, please.

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This is not representative of Bitterford.

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We are diverse.

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Asian, black, Muslim, white, old. We are the oldest downtown with the youngest median age.

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We cannot afford to be here. We are losing money.

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Thank you. People ask me to step up. I am here for you. I will always be here for

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you and I will step up and I am gonna keep fighting because if not then what's

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the point? Thank you.

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Hi my name is Amy Kearns and I live in Ward 5 and I'm just

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gonna read so it's easier I'm a little intimidated. We don't and we shouldn't

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have to choose a political side to want what is best for our people and our

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community. Transparency, accountability, and compassion are not partisan values. They are

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community values. I don't pretend to have all the answers. What I do know is that our children

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are watching. They are learning from how we respond in a moment of crisis, how we treat

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one another when emotions run high and whether we choose understanding over division. They

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deserve the very best of all of us. This community has faced their adversity before, but nothing

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could have fully prepared us for what we experienced this past week. The grief and uncertainty have

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been profound, and we will never forget Juan Sebastian Guerrero or the life he was building

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for his family. His life mattered, and his family deserves to know that their loss

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will not be forgotten. My hope is that in the days, months, and years ahead, we remember

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not only this tragedy, but also the compassion, courage, and unity this community displayed

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in seeking transparency, accountability, and justice for one of our neighbors. What gives

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me hope is how Bideford responded. We were unexpectedly thrusted international spotlight,

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attention we did not sought or wanted, yet we show the country that Bideford is far

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more than a small coastal city in Maine. We are a community that stands together.

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We embrace the diversity that has shaped us, value every person who calls this city home,

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and understand that dignity and respect should never depend on someone's background,

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believes a political affiliation. At a time when our nation often feels divided,

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this community demonstrated that we demanded a transparency and

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accountability while still treating one another with humanity. We show that

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disagreement does not have to become disrespect and that compassion is not

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a sign of weakness. It is a reflection of our character. I am grateful to the

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men and women who served our community under extraordinary pressure, and to the

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residents who supported one another, checked on their neighbors, and

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reminded us that community is built through kindness, especially during

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difficult times. I am proud to call Bitterford home. No community is perfect,

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but this past week reminded me of who we are at our core. We are resilient, we

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care deeply, we show up for one another. And my hope is that we carry those values forward,

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continuing to seek truth, continuing to listen, and continuing building a community where every

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person feels seen, respected, and valued. This, this is the Bideford I know, this is the Bideford

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I believe in, and this is the Bideford we need to continue to strive to be.

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Good

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evening. My name is Tophie Thorn and I'm here on behalf of Presente Mane as

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the mayor alluded to over the past week. We have been supporting the family

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through this traumatizing series of events. But tonight we are not here to

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talk about paperwork, we're not here to debate work permits or

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court dates or immigration status because the truth is none of that

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matters. No piece of paper determines whether a human being deserves to live

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or to die.

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Yohann Sebastian Adiron Guerrero was a father, a partner, a worker, a neighbor, and a human

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being.

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And last Monday, as we all know on July 13th, he was shot and killed in cold blood on the

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streets of this city.

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But this is bigger than one shooting.

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This is bigger than Bitterford.

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It's bigger than Maine.

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We have been watching a pattern of state-sanctioned violence unfold against our communities

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across the entire country.

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Lorenzo Salgado, Arajo and Houston, of course, Alex Pretti and Nicole, Renee and Nicole Good

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in Minneapolis, the 22 individuals who have died in ICE custody just this year alone.

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These are the ones that we know of.

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And now of course, Yohan Sebastian here in our streets, countless families destroyed

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and one agency responsible every single time.

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This violence of criminalization is not new to us.

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In January, our communities lived through an ice occupation that never truly ended.

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At the time, we warned publicly at presenté that in meetings with local officials, in statements

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just like this one, that the longer ice remained embedded in our communities, the more likely

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it was that someone was going to die.

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A community member, a legal observer, someone.

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And here we are, six months later, standing here, proven right in the worst possible

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way.

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And when asked about this violence, what did we hear from those in charge?

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I saw an interview last week, a Tom Homan, one of the architects of this administration's immigration enforcement,

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called these deaths not even a bump in the road, not even a pause worth taking seriously.

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That is how little our lives are worth to those in charge of running this operation.

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This family will carry this loss for the rest of their lives.

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Their three-year-old daughter grew up without her father.

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That is not a bump in the road.

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That is a lifetime of grief that this administration both created and dismissed in the very same

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breath.

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So when we say no more, we mean it.

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Not another statement.

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Not another investigation of ICE controls.

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We are not here to ask for the review of use of force policy or wait for a report.

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And we are not here to ask for more training or a view of ICE's procedures and their

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tactics.

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We have to make sure that this time is actually different, that the family's grief and a daughter

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growing up without her father means something beyond the headline that we are already seeing

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fade in a week.

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That there is justice.

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There are no other families added to this very same list.

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So we are here to say today that ICE has no business in our communities, not in

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our jails, not in our schools, not in our poll sites, and not in our streets.

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May I finish, may I have a few more?

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If you want safe communities, ICE cannot be a part of them, full stop.

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Every single dollar, every agreement, and every ounce of cooperation that any city and state

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gives this agency makes all of us less safe, full stop, and we will accept nothing less

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than the total dismantling of this lawless criminal agency.

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So we refuse once again to grieve quietly and wait for change, not when our very

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survival is on the line.

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Our communities today are actively under attack, not hypothetically, not some day, but right now.

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So we are asking this council to stand with us with actions and not statements.

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So you must continue to block the deputization of local law enforcement to participate in mass detention and deportation

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and also break collaboration between ICE and CBP and DHS and FBI and local law enforcement.

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We must continue to advance transnational cultures of care, belonging, invitation, accountability,

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and interdependence, and even and especially under pressure, building relationships with

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those who have experienced the violence of incarceration, detention, and deportation

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firsthand.

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So please, protect this community because until you do, none of us are truly safe

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and no family is protected from becoming the next name on this list.

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Thank you.

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Good

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evening, Sam Peacore, award seven.

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Strange to be saying that in this room, instead of city council chambers.

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I'm curious, by a show of hands, who among you was truly surprised

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that Johann Sebastian Geron Guerrero was shot and killed by federal

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immigration enforcement officers last Monday?

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Anyone? I won't pretend that your silence is an answer, but

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either answer raises a question this council must confront. You weren't

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surprise than the danger was known. If you were surprised then the warnings the

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city had already documented weren't taken seriously or followed with the

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urgency they required. 250 years ago this month the continental Congress adopted

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the Declaration of Independence. We hold these truths to be self-evident that

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all men are created equal, that they're endowed by their creator with

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certain unalienable rights that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit

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of happiness. That to secure these rights governments are instituted

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among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

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On Thursday I took the same oath that binds each of you, to support the constitutions

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of the United States, in Maine, and faithfully discharge the duties of office.

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Last week, Johann Sebastian Guerrero was deprived of his life and his liberty.

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The oath you took does not give you command over ICE, but it does require more than

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reciting what municipal government cannot do.

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It requires you to identify and use every lawful power of your office to defend the constitutional

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rights of your constituents.

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That is where you failed him.

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I do not fault this council for lacking federal authority.

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I fault it for failing to publicly examine, debate, and exercise municipal authority.

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By January, the city had already described and recognized the local harm.

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Across the country, we watched Americans killed by federal immigration officers.

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We watched people abducted from their homes, were places, and streets by mass agents in unmarked vehicles, sometimes without warrants, probable cause, or even lawful authority.

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Torn away from their families and the lies they had built.

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And here in Bitterford, the city admitted that the harm was real and happening here.

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Yet the public response remains chiefly administrative.

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After January 28th, the public record I reviewed goes quiet until Johan was killed.

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Your values were published, the safeguards were not.

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The mayor's statements have been necessary,

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and tonight's proclamation may properly honor Johann,

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but statements and ceremony will not make us safe.

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They do not answer the question before us.

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What do this council and this mayor intend to do?

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When it comes to responsibility,

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I'm not claiming that anyone here is responsible for Johann's death,

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but political responsibility includes what governing bodies do

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after recognizing a danger,

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a danger that we recognize in January.

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limited power is not no power. You cannot control ICE, but you can govern

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Bitterford. It's your job to use every lawful municipal power to defend

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constitutional government within these borders. The danger before us demands

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leadership in the full exercise of local authority. Publish the Bitterford

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Police Department's policy. Order a public legal review of the city's

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federal agreements and available municipal safeguards, but binding action

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before this council. If you believe that the city lacks the authority,

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published legal analysis. If you possess the authority but refuse to use it, say so plainly.

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Statements and proclamations tell us what you believe but they don't make us safe. If this

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council chooses continued passivity, I will organize petition and work openly to replace

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those of you at the ballot box.

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Fifteen percent of the last gubernatorial election is suitable

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for recalling the mayor and at-large counselors.

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That's 1,300 people.

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For counselors, it's about 300.

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I think we can do that if we have to.

353
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Good evening.

354
00:28:54,140 --> 00:28:55,980
My name is Matt Haas, Board 1.

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I want to thank the council for your leadership.

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You didn't create this situation, but you do have to deal with it.

357
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I've been at the park every night since this happened,

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and I've been with the kids in the neighborhood,

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and it's not easy for anyone.

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The proclamation you need tonight was the truth, every word.

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But I ask you, what do we do while the proclamation works its way through the system?

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My father taught me that all politics is local, and it seems to me that a simple solution

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is that ICE doesn't come into this town without registering with the Bitterford Police.

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Let our police decide what the community needs to do to help monitor and ensure

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the laws are upheld.

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We have demonstrated that we as a local community know what is right and are committed to watching

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out for each other.

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Then maybe Sokka would join us and Alfred, but no matter what, we must remain united

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in protecting each other.

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Thank you.

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00:30:03,860 --> 00:30:11,440
Good evening. My name is Nelty No Way. I live in Kennebunkport, just down a few miles down from

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Poole Road and Hill Street that I spend to every day to pay respect to Sebastian.

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I am a zero generation American and I chose to become a naturalized citizen just so that I can vote.

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I only have a simple suggestion for City of Bitterford today tonight, which is to protect the last DNA evidence,

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the bloodstain on the curved side that I saw so many people, especially media, who

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planted their tripod on his bloodstain where many of us started protecting that

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curve. And I think it would be easy for you just have to find a money and I'll

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be happy to donate the first dollar, a hundred dollars, a thousand dollars,

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whatever it's going to take to create a permanent stone flower bed because those

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flowers right now as I drove by to come here is dying. It's not being reflushed

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and it's going to be within next a week, months, a year. This whole thing will be

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We forgot unless we create a memorial that symbolizes what happened here to aspiring somebody

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that wants to become an American like me who had a 50 years more great life here.

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And I was so struck that so many people came out, but that's going to fade away.

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and it will I'll be done in a minute because I don't have a prepared remarks

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this is purely from my heart please find the finding source and I'll be

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happy to give you my address and I'll be the first person to donate thank you

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my

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00:32:37,980 --> 00:32:43,060
name is Evan Lockwood I'm not from Bitterford I'm not even from Maine

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originally but I wear this I wear this sweatshirt because I'm proud to live

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here and I'm proud to have as many diverse neighbors and diverse friends as I do. I can't help but sit

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there and think that you knew that this would happen. This was a long time coming and that's

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00:33:03,300 --> 00:33:11,720
sad to say. We've been contacting you. We've been emailing you about this, about the ice presence

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in this, not only in this state but in this city and it's sad that it had to come to this

395
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point

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saying that there's not much that we can do that just isn't enough it's

397
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just not it's it's there has to be something if you're not emailing if

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you're not calling then what are we doing why are we here why are we the

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00:33:38,290 --> 00:33:41,450
one speaking on this why aren't you they

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00:33:44,170 --> 00:33:45,990
are they're supposed to be they're

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not right now they are now because somebody's dead but they weren't

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before.

403
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And I hope you hold that with you. And I hope that whatever takes going forward

404
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that you're out there, you're doing something because there's not much we can do isn't enough.

405
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These are the people that sat there and clapped for a city manager who quit on us, who quit

406
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on this city. They stood there and clapped for her. And now what? Now look where we

407
00:34:17,740 --> 00:34:23,890
are it's not enough you got to do more thank you

408
00:34:34,830 --> 00:34:38,450
my name is Katherine Crowley and

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I am a Mainer I've lived in Biddeford for over ten years now and I'm proud to be

410
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from this community this is kind of an unprecedented time I think in a lot of

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our lives and I find myself really wondering what I can do to make a

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difference feels like a couple times a year we vote and a couple times a

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We might show up to these.

414
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This is my first in-person city council meeting,

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which may be a shame on me, but I'm happy to be here.

416
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And it took a lot to be here because I work.

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And so I had to have a lot of people cover for me to be here,

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which is another barrier to why I think there are not so many people here today

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because they have to do what they have to do.

420
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We're not given the grace to speak for ourselves in person to the people that can listen, that can make a difference.

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So I'm really grateful to be here today.

422
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I have been out in our community every single day since Monday's tragedy happened.

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I've met more neighbors in the past week than I have my entire life living here.

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I've been protesting going to the memorial, replacing those flowers, because they are eventually going to wilt away.

425
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I don't want to forget what happened.

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I want to thank the police department and all of City Works for keeping us safe this week while we do protesting grief.

427
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But this leaves a lot of questions for me that maybe I should know the answers to, but I don't.

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The police department, have they been cooperating and helping ICE since January when the shameful

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name of Catch of the Day is just laughing in our faces as they terrorize our neighbors?

430
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Is Bitterford Police going to continue to cooperate with ICE if they come back?

431
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Because they're here.

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I live off Hubert Street where there's viral video of my neighbor being harassed saying

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that if you don't comply we're gonna come back and we're gonna take all of your

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family. That was two doors down for me. And now this has happened on Poole and

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Hill and I, to our neighbor, to Sebastian, to someone that meant something to so

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many people. I just, I don't know that anything I'm saying is profound. I just,

437
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I want to be heard. I want you all to know that we care so much about

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each other and we need to stand up for each other and I hope that you hear us

439
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today and you do turn action, words into action. I had the happenstance of

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meeting the mayor and his wife on my way home from the vigil and I got to

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shake both of your hands and from all this time or all of these influencers

442
00:37:26,220 --> 00:37:30,560
and all of these politicians and these candidates are coming and rats on our

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streets getting publicity. It felt really good to have faith in somebody that was actually there

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on the streets. I want to thank you for showing up and caring about our community. And I hope that I

445
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can aspire a little hope that maybe if we just believe in our government and we show up for them

446
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and we stand up, we will help if you tell us how to help. Thank you.

447
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Good evening. My name is

448
00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:08,120
Jonathan Haynes, I live at Hills Beach now. I was born in Bangor, raised in Biddiford on

449
00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:11,000
and Havy Avenue, Grant Street, which no longer exists.

450
00:38:12,380 --> 00:38:17,080
And what I want to say is I feel responsible.

451
00:38:17,700 --> 00:38:18,620
I didn't do enough.

452
00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:22,360
And it's easy enough to say city council didn't do enough,

453
00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:23,920
but also I didn't do enough.

454
00:38:24,420 --> 00:38:25,680
I've been on Ice Watch Committee,

455
00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:27,480
but Ice Watch Committee wasn't there.

456
00:38:27,860 --> 00:38:30,520
We didn't alert anyone the day that Johan was killed

457
00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:32,120
because we don't have enough people

458
00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:33,400
in that Ice Watch Committee.

459
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:35,900
And we need more people in that Ice Watch Committee.

460
00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:42,740
We need to have, in Bitterford, we need leaders that say, like Mayor Drapo did 100 years ago,

461
00:38:43,180 --> 00:38:46,580
we're drawing the line at the bridge. We do not want these people here.

462
00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:51,220
Because Johann wasn't killed just by an individual.

463
00:38:52,260 --> 00:38:55,340
And there's been a lot of information about the individual that killed him.

464
00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:58,920
But Johann wasn't killed by an individual. He wasn't just killed by ICE.

465
00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:04,720
I'm a member of Maine People's Alliance, and we went to Senator Collins' office last January

466
00:39:04,720 --> 00:39:09,440
worry and we delivered a bag of ice melt and we said we don't want ice in our

467
00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:13,960
community. After we did that and we also went to Senator King's office but after

468
00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:18,000
we did that Senator Collins went ahead and voted for billions more dollars for

469
00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:24,980
ice so we need to be more firm in who we are. Stand at the bridge if we need

470
00:39:24,980 --> 00:39:31,080
to. How can we literally stand at the bridge and keep ice out? Because the

471
00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:36,760
final point I want to make is also, John was not killed by an individual. He was killed

472
00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:43,360
by racism. He was killed by greed. He was killed by the profit motive. He was killed because

473
00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:50,680
ICE agents get paid a bounty basically. They have a quota. And why do they have a quota?

474
00:39:50,860 --> 00:39:55,600
They have a quota because millions and millions and millions of dollars have been invested

475
00:39:55,600 --> 00:40:01,260
in these detention facilities, it's a money-making game for these people.

476
00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:07,080
It's not a game for us here in Bideford when somebody gets killed, but it's a money-making game,

477
00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:10,680
and that's why they do it. Why do we have so many detention facilities?

478
00:40:11,140 --> 00:40:13,240
How many billions of dollars? Check it out.

479
00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:22,360
The two major corporations that house people that are abducted by ICE make billions of dollars.

480
00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:27,940
We don't have a city budget that's billions of dollars, but we need to also, we need to band together,

481
00:40:28,300 --> 00:40:34,080
understand what we're really fighting against and what it really will take for us to change this system.

482
00:40:34,660 --> 00:40:37,740
Back in the days of slavery, in Maine there was a big debate.

483
00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:40,340
There was a lot of people that said we need to reform slavery.

484
00:40:40,780 --> 00:40:42,680
There are other people that said we need abolition.

485
00:40:43,300 --> 00:40:47,960
There was a strong abolitionist movement here in the state of Maine before the Civil War.

486
00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:53,020
war. If that abolitionist movement had won in the United States, we would not have had

487
00:40:53,020 --> 00:40:57,860
to have a civil war because we wouldn't have had to fight about slavery. But we did have

488
00:40:57,860 --> 00:41:03,980
a civil war here, and many people died because we didn't have a strong enough abolitionist

489
00:41:03,980 --> 00:41:08,760
movement. We need a strong abolitionist movement that says, we are going to get rid of ice

490
00:41:08,760 --> 00:41:12,300
and we're going to get rid of the whole system that upholds ice. Thank you.

491
00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:13,220
Good

492
00:41:22,780 --> 00:41:27,820
evening members of the City Council and audience. My name is Victor

493
00:41:27,820 --> 00:41:34,460
Fosley and I live at 16 Baybury Road in Bidafit. I've been a full-time resident

494
00:41:34,460 --> 00:41:40,900
of Bidafit for the last eight years. I'm very pleased with what I see and what

495
00:41:40,900 --> 00:41:47,740
I've found in Bidafit. Now, Bidafit unfortunately is no longer unique in the

496
00:41:47,740 --> 00:41:56,780
fact that it has been has avoided violence that we've seen over the last week and it's

497
00:41:56,780 --> 00:42:03,160
happening too often and you're all witnesses to it and I think adopting your proclamation

498
00:42:03,160 --> 00:42:09,560
tonight is a strong stance against what has been going on but I'd like to direct

499
00:42:09,560 --> 00:42:16,760
my comment to mayor. There are other cities that have faced this terrible

500
00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:22,980
situation. They are mayors and concerned as to whether or not you've been working

501
00:42:22,980 --> 00:42:29,160
with them to see how they're attacking this problem that we're facing and if

502
00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:34,660
you could give us a report on that I don't know that this is the forum to do

503
00:42:34,660 --> 00:42:40,740
that now, but that's what I would like to see some upgrading of the information that

504
00:42:40,740 --> 00:42:49,440
we've received. I see the memorials, the flowers are wilting. I hope the spirit of the people

505
00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:55,560
and benefit isn't wilting and I want to think that the mayor is going to maintain that

506
00:42:55,560 --> 00:43:01,940
spirit on getting this matter resolved one way or another. That's what I'm looking

507
00:43:01,940 --> 00:43:08,340
forward to seeing, and I do want to say one other thing. I want to congratulate the city council

508
00:43:09,700 --> 00:43:13,860
because I've listened to every single one of the people who spoke here tonight,

509
00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:19,820
whether they agreed with you or not, you should be proud of the way they're willing to stand up

510
00:43:19,820 --> 00:43:22,560
for the city of benefit. Thank you very much.

511
00:43:32,350 --> 00:43:35,130
Good evening. My name is Sam Bullock. I live

512
00:43:35,130 --> 00:43:42,010
Ward 4. I live at Foss and Pool. Yon was my neighbor. I wasn't planning to speak

513
00:43:42,010 --> 00:43:44,690
tonight but felt compelled to as somebody who lives so close to what

514
00:43:44,690 --> 00:43:49,770
happened and I want to say I want to be I want to let everybody know what the

515
00:43:49,770 --> 00:43:54,410
situation has been like in Ward 4 this year. ICE has been very present in our

516
00:43:54,410 --> 00:43:59,830
community and unfortunately for me as a resident what happened on Monday was a

517
00:43:59,830 --> 00:44:06,030
an incredibly tragic inevitability and I want to just be able to speak for the

518
00:44:06,030 --> 00:44:10,510
members of my community who after Monday told me how frightened they were and how

519
00:44:10,510 --> 00:44:14,690
frightened they have been since January of February. The bus stops are right

520
00:44:14,690 --> 00:44:19,930
outside of my house and ICE has been surveilling them for months. Obviously

521
00:44:19,930 --> 00:44:23,170
school is out now but when school is in session I've seen my immigrant

522
00:44:23,170 --> 00:44:26,430
neighbors pull their kids out of school. I've seen my immigrant neighbors be

523
00:44:26,430 --> 00:44:30,930
pulled out of cars by ICE in front of the children who are at the bus stops.

524
00:44:31,410 --> 00:44:32,210
It has been horrific.

525
00:44:33,110 --> 00:44:34,590
The parents are terrified.

526
00:44:35,050 --> 00:44:36,130
The children are terrified.

527
00:44:36,690 --> 00:44:40,770
I've done what I can as a community member and this is my very first time being here

528
00:44:40,770 --> 00:44:44,070
at the city council meeting and it won't be my last and I'm sad that it is because

529
00:44:44,070 --> 00:44:50,050
I feel so very let down by my elected officials that this was allowed to happen for so

530
00:44:50,050 --> 00:44:50,330
long.

531
00:44:50,810 --> 00:44:51,230
Thank you.

532
00:45:00,180 --> 00:45:03,880
Good evening, John Collins, Ward 6, a block from here.

533
00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:07,920
No time

534
00:45:10,320 --> 00:45:12,580
for

535
00:45:16,540 --> 00:45:18,580
love if they come in the morning.

536
00:45:20,570 --> 00:45:27,390
No time to show fears or tears in the morning. No time for goodbye, no time to ask why.

537
00:45:28,530 --> 00:45:31,510
And the sound of the siren is the cry of the morning.

538
00:45:33,050 --> 00:45:36,890
Moving hearts, written 50 years ago. Nothing's changed.

539
00:45:38,590 --> 00:45:48,490
Oh, Bitterford really stepped up after that horrific event.

540
00:45:52,050 --> 00:45:55,490
But, you know, for Carolina

541
00:45:55,490 --> 00:46:02,010
and Dulce, all the chants and flowers, candles, they're not going to bring Ohan back.

542
00:46:10,050 --> 00:46:10,810
They're

543
00:46:10,810 --> 00:46:14,350
The only thing that's going to do that is accountability, justice.

544
00:46:18,020 --> 00:46:23,180
If ICE agents knew they were going to face accountability, maybe they'd think twice or

545
00:46:23,180 --> 00:46:25,600
maybe three times before they pulled the trigger.

546
00:46:29,110 --> 00:46:33,910
But the question, that's been said hundreds of hundred times in Minneapolis and Houston

547
00:46:34,670 --> 00:46:36,350
and Portland and Chicago.

548
00:46:38,410 --> 00:46:40,010
The question is how do you achieve that?

549
00:46:40,870 --> 00:46:51,190
29 shootings, six deaths, zero arrests. Zero is a pretty small number. So why? Why is because these

550
00:46:51,190 --> 00:47:01,030
supposed sham investigations carried out by Homeland Security are just a pretext for a cover-up.

551
00:47:01,910 --> 00:47:08,170
Two images that concerned me last Monday. One was within a couple hours. The crime scene

552
00:47:08,170 --> 00:47:16,010
was secured and it was crawling with people wearing FBI shirts and DHS shirts.

553
00:47:17,770 --> 00:47:26,430
Bideford PD and state police know where to be seen. How did that happen? The other

554
00:47:26,430 --> 00:47:31,330
one that concerns me is if you look at the horrific video of Yon being pulled

555
00:47:31,330 --> 00:47:38,950
out of the car. 18 seconds after he's pulled out, figure appears from the left side of

556
00:47:38,950 --> 00:47:39,710
the video I saw.

557
00:47:41,810 --> 00:47:45,710
I don't know whether it's at ICE or DHS, it was an agent, not with

558
00:47:45,710 --> 00:47:52,390
all the puffed up, looked like a supervisor, I'm assuming that, came sprinting in, went

559
00:47:52,390 --> 00:47:58,450
to the, we now know the killer was hovering over the body and pulled him away off

560
00:47:58,450 --> 00:48:02,590
to the side. And then you can see a little bit longer before the video quits. He's not

561
00:48:02,590 --> 00:48:09,650
comforting him. He's instructing him. I suggest that that's when the cover-up began. Get the

562
00:48:09,650 --> 00:48:14,810
story straight and stick to it. But then when the story fell apart, when the video evidence

563
00:48:14,810 --> 00:48:19,430
came out about the weaponized vehicle, change the story. Stick to the news story.

564
00:48:27,530 --> 00:48:28,050
Oh, all

565
00:48:28,050 --> 00:48:31,270
have to reveal the cover-up. Transparency is what it's all about.

566
00:48:31,930 --> 00:48:40,650
Dearergo, I lead, let Bideford, let Maine be the one to stop at the bridge.

567
00:48:41,870 --> 00:48:47,170
Tell us what you're getting access to and not getting access to. Tell us what

568
00:48:47,170 --> 00:48:52,290
happened that morning that excluded the local and state police from the crime

569
00:48:53,570 --> 00:48:58,790
be transparent be partners in this we're on the same side I hope to get

570
00:48:58,790 --> 00:49:02,730
transparency accountability and ultimately justice thank you.

571
00:49:11,660 --> 00:49:12,620
Hi my name is

572
00:49:12,620 --> 00:49:17,820
Elena Betz I live on Graham Street I've lived in Bedouford all 26 years of my

573
00:49:17,820 --> 00:49:25,840
life I grew up in three different streets and three different wards I am

574
00:49:25,840 --> 00:49:34,800
and so just unsettled by what happened I you know you always hear you never

575
00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:39,560
think it would happen here and I truly never thought it would. Bitterford has

576
00:49:39,560 --> 00:49:49,380
been my home and it has been such a place of safety for me but also seeing the

577
00:49:49,380 --> 00:49:54,480
community we have you would think it would never happen to somebody in the

578
00:49:54,480 --> 00:50:02,600
community whether they are here legally or not. They are still a human being. They still deserve

579
00:50:02,600 --> 00:50:11,100
the right to do process. They still deserve the right to be here and talk to their family whether

580
00:50:11,100 --> 00:50:20,020
that be at home or just wherever. It's just it's an unfortunate event and I was a teacher

581
00:50:20,020 --> 00:50:26,520
for two years one of those years was up in Lewiston and that was right when all of

582
00:50:26,520 --> 00:50:33,840
the ice raids started to happen really aggressively and I taught a lot of

583
00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:41,040
students from other countries either coming here newly or they've been here

584
00:50:41,040 --> 00:50:45,380
for their entire lives and their families were the first ones to come over and

585
00:50:45,380 --> 00:50:52,900
And they were horrified. They were so scared. And I know Lewiston is in Bideford, but it still felt

586
00:50:53,860 --> 00:50:56,460
statewide. So seeing

587
00:50:57,520 --> 00:50:59,680
this effect happening here

588
00:51:00,460 --> 00:51:01,020
really

589
00:51:02,090 --> 00:51:04,620
truly has shocked me to the core because

590
00:51:06,160 --> 00:51:11,980
I've been out with the protesters and they have been so peaceful and so welcoming and

591
00:51:11,980 --> 00:51:17,760
And to everyone, whether that be somebody driving by, yelling at us, or somebody walking

592
00:51:17,760 --> 00:51:21,820
by in the morning and offering them, we have free water, we have free snacks, you know,

593
00:51:21,940 --> 00:51:24,780
you're just, you're on a walk, you're in the neighborhood, would you like a water?

594
00:51:24,800 --> 00:51:26,600
As you walk by, it's a hot day out.

595
00:51:27,200 --> 00:51:32,400
You know, all we're trying to do is get our voices heard, and we don't feel that

596
00:51:32,400 --> 00:51:40,580
any of it was fair in this situation, and we feel that Johann deserves to get more

597
00:51:40,580 --> 00:51:46,800
respect than what he was given and we deserve some dignity and his killer

598
00:51:46,800 --> 00:51:51,840
deserves to be held accountable whether that's from you as a council member or

599
00:51:51,840 --> 00:51:58,000
from the state I hope from the state or from federal honestly because this did

600
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:00,340
not need to happen thank you

601
00:52:08,090 --> 00:52:13,990
my name is Matt Gile and I live in Ward 3 I was

602
00:52:13,990 --> 00:52:22,450
Because I was in Kittery when the name of the city that I love, I heard on the radio.

603
00:52:23,470 --> 00:52:30,290
And when that happens, it can make a person feel so small, and I am under no illusion.

604
00:52:30,630 --> 00:52:35,830
The color of my skin means that I don't have to feel as small as other people do.

605
00:52:35,830 --> 00:52:48,310
you. When my taxpayer dollars, when our taxpayer dollars sponsor the murder of any one member

606
00:52:48,310 --> 00:52:58,560
of our community, nobody's rights are safe. And so I felt so disillusioned and small.

607
00:52:58,560 --> 00:53:10,950
Well, when I drove home into the city, that feeling shrunk when I saw the amount of people

608
00:53:11,700 --> 00:53:20,290
who came out, the amount of people who united in the name of love and who drew the line

609
00:53:20,290 --> 00:53:21,250
in the sand.

610
00:53:21,470 --> 00:53:23,110
This message is for you, Bitterford.

611
00:53:23,350 --> 00:53:24,770
I am so proud.

612
00:53:25,910 --> 00:53:28,810
I'm so proud of this place.

613
00:53:28,810 --> 00:53:36,610
And I know the work is not done, and many of us are wondering what our place is, what we can do.

614
00:53:39,370 --> 00:53:44,590
I don't know the answer, but I know it looks like it did on Monday,

615
00:53:44,890 --> 00:53:47,410
and it has sense for

616
00:53:49,430 --> 00:53:55,950
the people who showed up in protest against love and unification.

617
00:53:55,950 --> 00:53:57,270
Well,

618
00:54:00,020 --> 00:54:10,320
I know that the membership of love has far more people than the memberships of hate

619
00:54:10,320 --> 00:54:17,260
and bigotry and intolerance and senselessness.

620
00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:23,440
And that makes me proud and gives me hope, and there is more to be done.

621
00:54:24,260 --> 00:54:37,140
There is more to be done, but I know the picture of what that is, it looks like Bitterford.

622
00:54:38,060 --> 00:54:43,800
So thank you, thank all of you, and let's keep up that good work.

623
00:54:43,940 --> 00:54:46,680
Let's not relent, we can't afford to.

624
00:54:47,870 --> 00:54:48,400
Thank you.

625
00:54:56,740 --> 00:54:57,280
Good evening.

626
00:54:57,600 --> 00:54:58,700
My name is Abigail Felix.

627
00:54:59,300 --> 00:55:00,860
I live on Main Street in Bitterford.

628
00:55:00,860 --> 00:55:02,400
I have for four years now.

629
00:55:03,460 --> 00:55:05,540
A couple things about me, I hate public speaking,

630
00:55:05,840 --> 00:55:08,840
but I love my community, and that's why I'm up here today.

631
00:55:10,020 --> 00:55:12,580
I have been recovering from surgery for the last month,

632
00:55:12,880 --> 00:55:16,680
and one of the first things that I did was go out and protest on Monday morning.

633
00:55:17,680 --> 00:55:20,960
Then two days later, my friend and I were walking to another protest,

634
00:55:21,240 --> 00:55:24,920
and we had a drink thrown at us on Alfred Street.

635
00:55:26,920 --> 00:55:30,100
And when things like that happen, it really rattles you,

636
00:55:30,100 --> 00:55:34,020
because we were there for our neighbor, for our friend,

637
00:55:34,440 --> 00:55:35,760
for someone in our community,

638
00:55:36,100 --> 00:55:38,060
and this is how other people repay us.

639
00:55:39,280 --> 00:55:42,140
And I think that everything you have said tonight

640
00:55:42,140 --> 00:55:43,900
with your proclamation is a great start,

641
00:55:44,340 --> 00:55:45,360
but we need action.

642
00:55:46,340 --> 00:55:48,420
If people are willing to be on the street

643
00:55:48,420 --> 00:55:49,480
and do something heinous,

644
00:55:49,600 --> 00:55:50,820
why can't we do something great

645
00:55:50,820 --> 00:55:52,340
for the people of our community?

646
00:55:53,020 --> 00:55:54,480
People are here talking to you

647
00:55:54,480 --> 00:55:56,260
because we need something to happen.

648
00:55:56,260 --> 00:55:59,780
This is not just something we saw on the news.

649
00:56:00,160 --> 00:56:02,440
This is something that happened on our streets.

650
00:56:03,320 --> 00:56:04,940
Again, our streets.

651
00:56:05,860 --> 00:56:12,660
My mom lives in Hawaii, and she found out later in the day by seeing it on Instagram Reels.

652
00:56:13,360 --> 00:56:20,780
Getting a call from your mom asking why you were at a protest that she saw on Instagram Reels is an insane moment

653
00:56:20,780 --> 00:56:24,460
and something I never want anyone to have to experience again.

654
00:56:26,500 --> 00:56:31,140
We just want you to do something instead of just saying something.

655
00:56:31,480 --> 00:56:32,260
Thank you.

656
00:56:40,880 --> 00:56:41,600
Hi, everyone.

657
00:56:41,800 --> 00:56:43,820
My name is Brandy Rogers and I'm in Ward 6.

658
00:56:45,060 --> 00:56:48,920
I want to start by quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said,

659
00:56:49,320 --> 00:56:51,040
darkness cannot drive out darkness.

660
00:56:51,420 --> 00:56:52,660
Only light can do that.

661
00:56:53,260 --> 00:56:54,460
Hate cannot drive out hate.

662
00:56:54,580 --> 00:56:55,760
Only love can do that.

663
00:56:56,440 --> 00:56:58,880
And I appreciate so many of my community members,

664
00:56:59,080 --> 00:57:02,480
as many people have said this coming up here this evening.

665
00:57:02,480 --> 00:57:07,060
I think it's been a beautiful tribute to our city, how we've responded, and I really appreciate

666
00:57:07,900 --> 00:57:12,600
being part of it and everything that I've seen in our city, or much of what I've seen

667
00:57:12,600 --> 00:57:15,980
in our city the last week or so, given this tragic event.

668
00:57:17,760 --> 00:57:22,240
Another thing I'd like to mention is my teacher, Marty Burgess, who lives in Kennebunk.

669
00:57:22,840 --> 00:57:24,120
Many of you may know him.

670
00:57:24,720 --> 00:57:26,180
I taught with him for many years.

671
00:57:26,340 --> 00:57:30,020
We taught peace skills to those who had committed domestic violence or who at least

672
00:57:30,020 --> 00:57:36,260
had been caught with doing domestic violence and I have to remind myself of this and I

673
00:57:36,260 --> 00:57:39,140
just want to share it because I don't know if everyone else knows this idea but it's

674
00:57:39,140 --> 00:57:44,440
very simple and it's called the 3Ds and so whenever there's anything tense going on or

675
00:57:44,440 --> 00:57:47,720
even if you're just having a tough day you have to have a tough conversation with

676
00:57:47,720 --> 00:57:48,160
your partner.

677
00:57:48,940 --> 00:57:54,900
The most dangerous thing that we have to do is listen and so anyway a quick and

678
00:57:54,900 --> 00:57:58,380
dirty option for that when we're having a hard time or just need to think about

679
00:57:58,380 --> 00:58:04,640
this stuff and how can we be peaceful are the three D's sit down hands down voice down and so if I

680
00:58:04,640 --> 00:58:10,700
can remember that everyone around me it's a lot safer and so any of us who are in a position to

681
00:58:10,700 --> 00:58:14,560
participate in any de-escalation trainings throughout all of this I encourage it and I hope to

682
00:58:14,560 --> 00:58:19,980
participate in even more and the main point of why I'm here right now and I'll be very brief

683
00:58:20,560 --> 00:58:24,960
is I would like to find out the answer to this question and I'd love an answer back by phone

684
00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:29,900
or by email, however that can be coordinated. But I'd just like to go on the record and have this

685
00:58:29,900 --> 00:58:36,400
question answered. How frequently do Bitterford law enforcement find the need to shoot into vehicles

686
00:58:36,400 --> 00:58:42,580
to keep our community safe? I'd like to know of all time, I'd like to know this week, this year,

687
00:58:43,340 --> 00:58:46,880
and I'll look for those answers as soon as possible. Thank you.

688
00:58:55,040 --> 00:58:56,980
Hello, Kayla Lewis, Ward 3.

689
00:58:59,640 --> 00:59:02,020
You know, there's not much to say about this, so I'm

690
00:59:02,020 --> 00:59:07,600
gonna keep it pretty brief, to some extent. I'm not gonna play coy with you

691
00:59:07,600 --> 00:59:11,840
guys. We've done our part as a community. We'll continue to do our part now. It is

692
00:59:11,840 --> 00:59:15,680
your turn to do what you need to do. And what does that look like? If you're

693
00:59:15,680 --> 00:59:20,040
really unsure, I can give you a couple of ideas. You can form a network with

694
00:59:20,040 --> 00:59:26,980
Sanford-Saco, Lewiston, communities that look like ours form a coalition and start

695
00:59:26,980 --> 00:59:31,240
to mobilize and have conversations and actually come up with an actual plan and

696
00:59:31,660 --> 00:59:37,680
talk to our representatives to advocate for action steps. At the state level, that

697
00:59:37,680 --> 00:59:42,360
way, you know, our communities that have, you know, BIPOC community members are

698
00:59:42,360 --> 00:59:47,000
actually seeing action happen in a larger way. It can't just stay in

699
00:59:47,000 --> 00:59:52,740
We have to look at other communities that look like us and start collaborating and working together, okay?

700
00:59:53,060 --> 00:59:59,840
That's one one idea. Okay, and I have some contacts in Sanford if you need help. Okay, so I

701
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:06,700
I'm here. A tool that you guys know you have. You can form an ad hoc committee to start looking

702
01:00:06,700 --> 01:00:12,140
at actual action steps, like forming a coalition or a network of communities that look like ours

703
01:00:12,140 --> 01:00:18,660
to actually start getting plans into place, to start brainstorming what we can actually do

704
01:00:18,660 --> 01:00:22,680
and what it can look like in our community, but also in other communities that's well within

705
01:00:22,680 --> 01:00:28,780
your wheelhouse. Another thing that you have at your disposal, you have a DEI committee.

706
01:00:29,480 --> 01:00:35,880
That's what they're there for, okay? So you can mobilize them, have them be a part of the ad hoc group.

707
01:00:36,080 --> 01:00:40,980
You have, you know, a public arts commission, okay? You can bring them into the conversation.

708
01:00:41,180 --> 01:00:45,240
We're talking about preserving the memorial site. That's what they're there for as well.

709
01:00:45,520 --> 01:00:50,000
We have community members who will most likely probably donate to help build something, okay?

710
01:00:50,280 --> 01:00:56,460
So these are some of the basic things that I just came up with by sitting down and listening to my fellow community members.

711
01:00:56,460 --> 01:01:00,340
I came up with those ideas, okay, and I'm not even an elected official.

712
01:01:00,900 --> 01:01:04,960
So I know if you gave us some thought, you can probably come up with some really great

713
01:01:04,960 --> 01:01:05,860
ideas as well.

714
01:01:06,540 --> 01:01:10,020
First things you should probably do is form that ad hoc committee and get on the phone

715
01:01:10,020 --> 01:01:12,140
with Samford, Sacco and Lewiston.

716
01:01:12,360 --> 01:01:13,160
That's what I would do.

717
01:01:13,840 --> 01:01:14,360
Thank you.

718
01:01:14,580 --> 01:01:16,220
Oh, and let's not play coy.

719
01:01:16,600 --> 01:01:18,160
Let's actually move to action.

720
01:01:18,500 --> 01:01:19,080
Thank you.

721
01:01:19,080 --> 01:01:19,940
My

722
01:01:28,930 --> 01:01:30,130
name is Remy Lindeman.

723
01:01:30,630 --> 01:01:36,210
I live right around the corner from where the execution occurred.

724
01:01:36,970 --> 01:01:40,250
I've lived in Bideford as a homeowner for 10 years.

725
01:01:40,790 --> 01:01:43,410
I'm a business owner downtown for five.

726
01:01:44,170 --> 01:01:50,670
And I speak to your residents and your constituents every day in my business.

727
01:01:51,350 --> 01:01:53,570
They talk about how scared they are.

728
01:01:53,570 --> 01:02:00,510
They talk about how they wonder if their kids are going to come home from school or if they're going to get snatched up.

729
01:02:00,830 --> 01:02:06,650
Our neighborhood where we live is very diverse with minorities and immigrants.

730
01:02:07,530 --> 01:02:15,970
We love our neighbors. We feel safe with our neighbors. We have not felt safe ever since ICE came into town.

731
01:02:15,970 --> 01:02:22,770
and along a long enough timeline, this was honestly an inevitability and there

732
01:02:22,770 --> 01:02:29,290
is nothing to stop them from doing it again. My question to you all is what

733
01:02:29,290 --> 01:02:32,130
are you going to do to keep us all safe?

734
01:02:34,690 --> 01:02:38,490
That's that's my question and we love

735
01:02:38,490 --> 01:02:44,250
our community. My wife and I have lived in Memphis in Detroit in New York in

736
01:02:44,250 --> 01:02:48,170
in Las Vegas, but we have never felt as unsafe

737
01:02:48,170 --> 01:02:49,710
for ourselves and our neighbors

738
01:02:50,210 --> 01:02:51,690
as we have in the last week.

739
01:02:52,950 --> 01:02:54,790
And words are not enough.

740
01:02:55,150 --> 01:02:58,290
We need action, and we need to know

741
01:02:58,290 --> 01:03:00,570
that you're going to keep the city

742
01:03:00,570 --> 01:03:02,090
and its inhabitants safe.

743
01:03:04,050 --> 01:03:05,430
That's all I have to say.

744
01:03:16,940 --> 01:03:17,280
Hello.

745
01:03:18,360 --> 01:03:20,020
My name is Alex Stikowski.

746
01:03:20,020 --> 01:03:29,380
I live on Pool Street about six houses down from where Sebastian was murdered at the hands of our tax dollars.

747
01:03:30,160 --> 01:03:34,040
My wife and I first moved to Bittiford in 2018.

748
01:03:34,640 --> 01:03:36,060
It was a desolate place.

749
01:03:36,580 --> 01:03:39,500
Empty storefronts would boarded up windows lined Main Street.

750
01:03:40,140 --> 01:03:43,160
My neighborhood was loud, rambunctious, and hardly diverse.

751
01:03:43,920 --> 01:03:51,760
Now the empty storefronts are filled with small businesses that care about their community from business owners of diverse backgrounds.

752
01:03:52,720 --> 01:03:56,780
My neighborhood is filled with diverse families and I've never felt safer.

753
01:03:58,200 --> 01:04:05,480
Johan was my neighbor and I felt strongly that I could not sit idly by while innocent blood stains my street.

754
01:04:06,920 --> 01:04:10,260
Immigrants are part of our community and they always have been.

755
01:04:10,260 --> 01:04:17,840
The proclamation was a great start. It's unfortunate that it came too late to save a life.

756
01:04:19,620 --> 01:04:25,440
Bravery is not the absence of fear. It's the persistence in spite of fear's presence.

757
01:04:26,240 --> 01:04:30,360
I ask those of you elected officials to be brave in the face of tyranny

758
01:04:30,360 --> 01:04:34,140
and publicly denounce ICE's presence in the city of Bideford

759
01:04:34,140 --> 01:04:38,100
or make room for someone who will be brave on our behalf.

760
01:04:38,100 --> 01:04:39,680
Thank you.

761
01:04:49,460 --> 01:04:50,260
Good evening.

762
01:04:51,040 --> 01:04:52,480
My name is Jeremy Sims.

763
01:04:53,420 --> 01:04:55,160
I live in Ward 5.

764
01:04:56,200 --> 01:04:57,780
I might be the most

765
01:04:58,100 --> 01:04:59,120
recent member,

766
01:04:59,520 --> 01:05:01,400
new member of Ward 5

767
01:05:01,400 --> 01:05:01,960
here tonight.

768
01:05:03,900 --> 01:05:05,740
I was moving into my new

769
01:05:06,740 --> 01:05:09,160
residence on July 4th

770
01:05:09,160 --> 01:05:10,040
this month.

771
01:05:10,420 --> 01:05:10,440
I

772
01:05:13,320 --> 01:05:15,240
was feeling very happy about

773
01:05:15,240 --> 01:05:17,800
my new found freedom in this state

774
01:05:17,800 --> 01:05:18,880
in Bideford.

775
01:05:19,960 --> 01:05:27,280
Immediately I noticed the friendliness and welcome feeling from all of the people in the town.

776
01:05:27,640 --> 01:05:38,390
Especially having moved from a place full of 287G programs where, if you're not familiar with them,

777
01:05:38,530 --> 01:05:46,870
this is where local law enforcement like deputies and sheriffs basically become deputized ICE agents.

778
01:05:48,230 --> 01:05:54,010
full access to the ICE systems and then they make ICE arrests. That's not how it

779
01:05:54,010 --> 01:05:54,610
was here.

780
01:05:57,590 --> 01:06:02,790
And then on July 13th it was suddenly and I looked around and I could

781
01:06:02,790 --> 01:06:09,860
see on the faces of everybody looks like I remembered from where I came from.

782
01:06:11,840 --> 01:06:18,700
But I have a question that shouldn't be a theoretical legal question. It

783
01:06:18,700 --> 01:06:21,640
It should be a theoretical legal question, but tonight it isn't.

784
01:06:22,080 --> 01:06:23,300
It's a question for you,

785
01:06:26,070 --> 01:06:33,590
when local law enforcement has been provided objective, reasonable evidence

786
01:06:33,930 --> 01:06:42,510
to believe that there is probable cause, that there is an imminent threat to the people

787
01:06:42,510 --> 01:06:45,030
that they swear to protect.

788
01:06:45,030 --> 01:06:53,510
What is their responsibility? To turn their gaze outward to the source of the threat.

789
01:06:54,490 --> 01:07:02,170
To take physical defensive action to use their authority and arms, if necessary,

790
01:07:02,850 --> 01:07:10,690
to protect its residents from lethally dangerous roving possees on hunting expeditions,

791
01:07:10,690 --> 01:07:17,010
carrying out summary executions and vigilante injustice.

792
01:07:19,050 --> 01:07:22,670
As a city council, you should consider this question.

793
01:07:23,550 --> 01:07:26,870
You should ask your residents what they think about it.

794
01:07:27,330 --> 01:07:33,010
And then you should ask yourself if you are willing to take action

795
01:07:33,330 --> 01:07:37,150
based on what your constituents want you to do.

796
01:07:37,150 --> 01:07:45,590
you. You can choose to be on the bright side of history as a new manor that I feel like

797
01:07:45,590 --> 01:07:52,650
I am proud of and want to continue to be proud of. I ask you, what does a dearer Joe look

798
01:07:52,650 --> 01:07:55,530
like? What does it look like?

799
01:08:08,260 --> 01:08:11,780
Good evening. I'm Holly Kulichin. I live in Ward 6.

800
01:08:15,040 --> 01:08:15,600
This

801
01:08:15,600 --> 01:08:17,140
This tragedy should never have happened.

802
01:08:18,380 --> 01:08:19,060
We all know that.

803
01:08:21,680 --> 01:08:30,180
I was very, on Monday, though, after he had been killed, I was just amazed by the amount

804
01:08:30,180 --> 01:08:39,220
of people that turned out in Mechanics Park in solidarity to mourn his death and also

805
01:08:39,220 --> 01:08:43,990
So just be there for each other.

806
01:08:46,250 --> 01:08:52,150
And I think we all realize that in order to get anything done, you have to start working

807
01:08:52,150 --> 01:08:52,430
together.

808
01:08:56,570 --> 01:08:59,730
And I'm sorry, I'm having a little bit of a hard time right now.

809
01:09:07,400 --> 01:09:09,540
I run Bitterford Community Gardens.

810
01:09:09,780 --> 01:09:14,640
We have four gardens in town, and I want to invite people to come to the garden

811
01:09:15,320 --> 01:09:20,040
to clear your head, to soothe your soul, to nourish yourself.

812
01:09:20,940 --> 01:09:24,680
And you can best bet that if Vice shows up at one of our gardens, I'm going to tell him to get the hell out.

813
01:09:26,800 --> 01:09:27,320
I

814
01:09:30,620 --> 01:09:37,260
also want to invite the community to come to Youthful Mains food distributions this week,

815
01:09:38,000 --> 01:09:41,500
tomorrow at the 22nd of July from 4-7.

816
01:09:41,860 --> 01:09:45,960
They are going to be in Mechanics Park with Music in the Park and Bitterford Public Market.

817
01:09:45,960 --> 01:09:49,000
They're going to be in the Mission Hill Garden and the St.

818
01:09:49,080 --> 01:09:52,880
Andre's parking lot, they're going to be in Williams Court, they're going to be in

819
01:09:52,880 --> 01:09:56,720
Clifford Park and at the J. Richard Martin Community Center. So bring your

820
01:09:56,720 --> 01:10:00,740
family, if you need to pick up vegetables or groceries for your

821
01:10:00,740 --> 01:10:05,160
neighbor, they'll be there from four to seven at all of these locations. So I'd

822
01:10:05,160 --> 01:10:10,380
like to bring these up to you guys if I may. Okay, and just be good to each

823
01:10:10,380 --> 01:10:10,560
other.

824
01:10:51,020 --> 01:10:55,840
Hey there, my name is Steph Mantis. I'm from Ward 4. I grew up in

825
01:10:55,840 --> 01:11:02,340
I went to Biddaford High, I left and I came back during COVID and I've been here for the

826
01:11:02,340 --> 01:11:05,780
last six years, not full time but heavily.

827
01:11:07,060 --> 01:11:14,120
And I live on Alfred Street and I look at the post office every day when I'm here.

828
01:11:14,360 --> 01:11:18,560
In the last week, the flag has been at half mass and I know why.

829
01:11:19,400 --> 01:11:25,060
And it's different when you see it half mass and it's something different and distant.

830
01:11:25,060 --> 01:11:31,480
This is visceral. This is hitting. And I don't feel like I have much to say that hasn't been said here tonight.

831
01:11:31,560 --> 01:11:37,620
And I'm not here to embass anyone or criticize because at this point that doesn't do anything for Yohan,

832
01:11:37,700 --> 01:11:41,720
that doesn't do anything for anyone that is unprotected in the future.

833
01:11:41,880 --> 01:11:48,660
And I really am here more so to, you know, just reiterate some of what my neighbors have already said tonight,

834
01:11:48,780 --> 01:11:53,340
which is that we have to be more proactive. We have to be looking at different solutions.

835
01:11:53,340 --> 01:12:00,660
If the format of government and city – like this meeting, for example, if people can't make it to this meeting, we need to have some satellite meetings.

836
01:12:00,900 --> 01:12:03,980
We need to have different days, different times. It can be bite-sized.

837
01:12:04,620 --> 01:12:07,600
Like, we are a tight-knit community. I run a restaurant here.

838
01:12:08,140 --> 01:12:12,660
I've been talking to restaurant owners about all the ways we can coordinate support.

839
01:12:13,000 --> 01:12:14,620
What does that look like as business owners?

840
01:12:15,320 --> 01:12:18,500
If we have space to offer, can we have a meeting in a restaurant?

841
01:12:19,340 --> 01:12:21,280
You know, how do we do things apolitically?

842
01:12:21,280 --> 01:12:26,360
When a neighbor is murdered, there shouldn't be politics. This isn't a political thing.

843
01:12:27,580 --> 01:12:34,780
And whether or not this is a coordinated or uncoordinated agenda from the federal level,

844
01:12:34,940 --> 01:12:42,500
it is incompetent no matter what. And we cannot continue to be reactive to incompetence at this level.

845
01:12:42,700 --> 01:12:47,840
We must be proactive. We must find ways to strengthen the connections we have together.

846
01:12:47,840 --> 01:12:55,960
And I don't think it's this big formal thing. I think it is small connected moments, daily actions.

847
01:12:56,980 --> 01:13:00,820
And I think, you know, to Kayla's point, like, we should be talking to other cities.

848
01:13:00,980 --> 01:13:07,480
We should be coordinating and expanding networks and borrowing tools that are being tried and, you know,

849
01:13:08,060 --> 01:13:12,960
tested in unfortunate circumstances. But we know where to look, unfortunately, in this country.

850
01:13:12,960 --> 01:13:20,380
and I really implore that we do so so if there's anything that the business

851
01:13:20,380 --> 01:13:24,880
community can offer like maybe there's an ad hoc committee that we can start to

852
01:13:24,880 --> 01:13:28,900
kind of funnel into the council I volunteer to help coordinate that and

853
01:13:28,900 --> 01:13:33,440
I just it's rather shocking to be standing here today and I I pray that

854
01:13:33,440 --> 01:13:37,840
no one else in our community in Maine and in this country abroad has to do

855
01:13:37,840 --> 01:13:38,860
the same. So thank you.

856
01:13:54,140 --> 01:14:02,120
Cab Bates, word five. There has been a lot of talk tonight about action rather than words.

857
01:14:03,420 --> 01:14:12,000
I appreciate that sentiment. I'd like to bring up a few ideas to encourage outside of the

858
01:14:12,000 --> 01:14:16,600
box thinking about how we might address this. I don't think any of these or all

859
01:14:16,600 --> 01:14:22,120
of them are enough, but some things to get the ball rolling, at least for consideration.

860
01:14:25,570 --> 01:14:31,210
Bidford Police should be looking out for vehicles without agency markings or appropriate plates

861
01:14:31,930 --> 01:14:35,810
and pulling them over. If the police can't,

862
01:14:42,840 --> 01:14:45,340
I do not in general, promote that kind of

863
01:14:45,340 --> 01:14:50,620
aggressive policing, and I think leniency should be encouraged if something like

864
01:14:50,620 --> 01:14:57,180
that were to be enacted, but I do think it's a good idea, even if the Bidford Police Department

865
01:14:57,180 --> 01:14:59,980
can't make an arrest in an instance like that, at least you are slow.

866
01:15:00,960 --> 01:15:12,860
That's a good thing. Another thing that could be done on the local level would be to enact a policy forbidding law enforcement of any agency from wearing a mask and requiring uniform insignia.

867
01:15:13,240 --> 01:15:19,300
I loosely understand this being looked at at least the federal or state level, but it could happen here in the local level first.

868
01:15:19,300 --> 01:15:31,040
If the police department sees, quote, agents not following said procedures act on the assumption, they are kidnapping someone, that it is an abduction in progress.

869
01:15:38,950 --> 01:15:39,590
Intervene.

870
01:15:41,840 --> 01:15:54,200
My understanding is that in emergency situations, the enactment of ordinances can be expedited, and this is certainly such a situation, so that kind of a policy could be put into effect.

871
01:15:54,200 --> 01:16:08,860
The last thing on the list here would be to encourage the community to report presumed abductions to the police and encourage the police to take such reports seriously and intervene promptly.

872
01:16:09,340 --> 01:16:22,580
Even if the police is to learn that the operation is illegal, ensure the information on the federal officers present is recorded for local law enforcement purposes.

873
01:16:23,320 --> 01:16:33,520
anything that we can do to slow this BS down is good. It's not enough, but like

874
01:16:33,520 --> 01:16:34,440
let's do something. Thank you.

875
01:16:45,780 --> 01:16:49,160
Hi, my name is Alan Dutremble. I was born in

876
01:16:49,160 --> 01:16:55,620
Bedford 74 years ago, born and raised in Ward 5 and now I live in Ward 6. First

877
01:16:55,620 --> 01:16:59,360
I want to say that the mayor and city council it's not your fault.

878
01:17:02,800 --> 01:17:03,280
There's

879
01:17:03,280 --> 01:17:08,660
prevented this from happening. The problem now is in Washington, D.C. with President

880
01:17:08,660 --> 01:17:13,200
Trump having the green light to do anything he wants and he knows it.

881
01:17:15,750 --> 01:17:17,310
I never knew my

882
01:17:17,310 --> 01:17:24,830
grandfather. He emigrated here from Canada to try to find a better life. He was an immigrant

883
01:17:24,830 --> 01:17:29,490
and he was a police officer here shot and killed on duty when my father was nine years

884
01:17:29,490 --> 01:17:33,530
old. So I wish I could have met the man. All I know about him is what my father

885
01:17:33,530 --> 01:17:37,410
told me, but he was an immigrant. We're a city of immigrants.

886
01:17:39,860 --> 01:17:40,800
I work in Booth Bay

887
01:17:40,800 --> 01:17:45,540
Harbor in the summertime. I'm a 43 year old teacher here in

888
01:17:45,540 --> 01:17:50,020
Bitterford. I work in Booth Bay Harbor in the summer when my boss let me come

889
01:17:50,020 --> 01:17:51,460
here to speak tonight.

890
01:17:53,580 --> 01:17:58,240
I work with a lot of Republicans and MAGA people up

891
01:17:58,240 --> 01:18:06,640
there. And I asked them about who's that guy that West, that young guy who was killed during

892
01:18:06,640 --> 01:18:12,160
his speech last year, and they said, Oh, Charlie Kirk. I asked him about the senator that

893
01:18:12,160 --> 01:18:17,840
would just passed away. Oh, Lindsey Graham. So I said, Okay, who were the two people

894
01:18:17,840 --> 01:18:25,460
in Minneapolis that were killed by ICE? They didn't know. You didn't know Alex

895
01:18:25,460 --> 01:18:31,040
pretty and Renee good I said how about the fellow in Houston that was just

896
01:18:31,040 --> 01:18:35,820
killed last week last week oh they didn't know about Lorenzo Salgado

897
01:18:36,400 --> 01:18:39,940
couldn't come up with the name and I said okay well how about someone in your

898
01:18:39,940 --> 01:18:44,380
own state now how about the young man that was killed in Bideford this last

899
01:18:44,380 --> 01:18:50,000
week they couldn't come up with his name either and you know what I asked

900
01:18:50,000 --> 01:18:58,740
the next day and they didn't know it then. They don't care. Really the reality of the situation

901
01:19:00,260 --> 01:19:07,260
is Donald Trump has so much power in Washington right now. He's like a monarch. And the only way

902
01:19:07,260 --> 01:19:14,580
we can change this is to make sure we have a change in the majority and the House of Representatives

903
01:19:14,580 --> 01:19:16,700
and the Senate this November.

904
01:19:23,090 --> 01:19:25,850
So we can point fingers as much as we want here,

905
01:19:25,910 --> 01:19:28,490
but we've got to get involved in the next election

906
01:19:28,490 --> 01:19:33,370
and make sure independence and, you know, some Republicans,

907
01:19:33,670 --> 01:19:35,990
but really, really independence and Democrats,

908
01:19:36,770 --> 01:19:38,570
we've got to make sure that they go out there

909
01:19:38,570 --> 01:19:40,830
and vote, you know, for Democrats no matter what.

910
01:19:40,990 --> 01:19:44,190
I don't know who the candidate's going to be.

911
01:19:44,370 --> 01:19:45,850
It looks like it could be Troy Jackson,

912
01:19:45,850 --> 01:19:51,350
But whoever it is, that person's got my vote because we've got to make sure we get a Democrat from Maine.

913
01:20:07,380 --> 01:20:14,380
Good evening. My name is Mufalo and I'm the Executive Director for the Maine Winger Rights Coalition.

914
01:20:19,970 --> 01:20:20,670
I'm exhausted.

915
01:20:25,930 --> 01:20:27,910
Our organization is exhausted.

916
01:20:33,420 --> 01:20:40,670
When something this big happens and it happens on your watch as a leader,

917
01:20:42,190 --> 01:20:43,030
history.

918
01:20:47,280 --> 01:20:54,070
History is going to remember you. What did you do?

919
01:20:59,260 --> 01:21:01,320
There's been so much pain

920
01:21:01,920 --> 01:21:05,200
that's come from the community and it keeps coming.

921
01:21:07,660 --> 01:21:09,820
But it's on your watch. It's

922
01:21:12,510 --> 01:21:13,050
on your

923
01:21:13,050 --> 01:21:15,110
watch as leaders.

924
01:21:19,820 --> 01:21:21,920
When the lights are turned off today,

925
01:21:25,140 --> 01:21:26,500
on your watch,

926
01:21:29,280 --> 01:21:30,440
we're always asked

927
01:21:30,440 --> 01:21:34,320
as an organization, tell us what to do.

928
01:21:36,840 --> 01:21:41,700
We're tired of telling you what to do as an organization.

929
01:21:44,180 --> 01:21:49,240
I know my friends from Presente, I think, were here or they're still here. We're tired,

930
01:21:51,530 --> 01:21:53,410
but this is happening in your town.

931
01:21:57,200 --> 01:21:59,300
This is happening in your town. It's got nothing

932
01:21:59,300 --> 01:22:06,640
to do with politics. It's got to do with a life. When January 20th happened, I was

933
01:22:06,640 --> 01:22:11,280
Just telling everyone you are affected directly or indirectly as

934
01:22:16,360 --> 01:22:17,420
leaders, what are you going

935
01:22:17,420 --> 01:22:17,780
to do?

936
01:22:20,980 --> 01:22:25,440
I have a statement I've shared with the mayor and he'll share that with you.

937
01:22:26,000 --> 01:22:31,500
But after listening to everyone, I want to look at you, leaders, it's on your watch.

938
01:22:33,120 --> 01:22:38,080
What are you going to do for this community, not just immigrants, for this community

939
01:22:38,080 --> 01:22:44,120
because this community is destabilized because an immigrant life has died.

940
01:22:48,520 --> 01:22:49,520
It's on your watch.

941
01:22:53,400 --> 01:23:00,360
Let the immigrants remember that a change came from a small town in May called Beryford. Let

942
01:23:00,360 --> 01:23:02,460
change come from this small town.

943
01:23:17,550 --> 01:23:21,790
My name is Kate Adie. I'm a resident of Ward 4, just a few

944
01:23:21,790 --> 01:23:28,630
streets up, just off of Hill Street. I wish that I went before a representative from the main

945
01:23:28,630 --> 01:23:35,750
immigrant rights coalition, because my words will not be as resonant as hers, what an unfortunate

946
01:23:35,750 --> 01:23:42,830
shared collective experience that this community has gone through and I'm so hopeful to see the

947
01:23:42,830 --> 01:23:51,930
town show up for our neighbor. And I guess I just have a hope or a request or something I'm

948
01:23:51,930 --> 01:23:58,270
looking forward to is that I'm looking forward to seeing this response be a continual agenda

949
01:23:58,270 --> 01:24:04,250
item because this is not new. This has gone on long before January when there was increased

950
01:24:04,250 --> 01:24:10,050
ice presence in Maine. I remember one of my first city council meetings that I attended

951
01:24:10,050 --> 01:24:17,850
was when the community was reacting to an ice raid on some workers off of Hill Street who were

952
01:24:17,850 --> 01:24:24,510
just doing their jobs and that was many months before January and it's disappointing to see

953
01:24:24,510 --> 01:24:29,150
that we're still having this and it hasn't been a topic of conversation in

954
01:24:29,150 --> 01:24:33,890
consistent meeting so I look forward small thing for us to continue to hear

955
01:24:34,610 --> 01:24:39,210
what you all are doing to respond to keep our community safe to keep our

956
01:24:39,210 --> 01:24:43,550
immigrant safe so I look forward to seeing updates as I know many of you

957
01:24:43,550 --> 01:24:47,970
ran on communication on transparency and accountability so I look forward to

958
01:24:47,970 --> 01:24:52,130
seeing that commitment follow through over the next several months and

959
01:24:52,130 --> 01:24:54,770
years because this will take a lot of work. Thank you.

960
01:25:05,510 --> 01:25:06,430
My name is Christina

961
01:25:06,430 --> 01:25:11,290
Gastela. I'm in Ward 2. Well I live in Ward 2. I'm not currently in Ward 2.

962
01:25:13,930 --> 01:25:14,410
I

963
01:25:14,410 --> 01:25:18,490
don't think I need to say a whole lot more, but one thing that has occurred to

964
01:25:18,490 --> 01:25:27,110
me in this revelation that we're having here is that we are not using a

965
01:25:27,110 --> 01:25:32,010
community policing model in this in this city yet. I would like us to

966
01:25:32,010 --> 01:25:38,170
consider doing that and one of the reasons is because then if we have better

967
01:25:38,170 --> 01:25:42,510
relationships with law enforcement then we're not being terrorized by our own

968
01:25:42,510 --> 01:25:46,030
police force and I'm not saying the bit of her police are terrorizing people by

969
01:25:46,030 --> 01:25:50,810
and large when I've seen them in action they have really been very

970
01:25:50,810 --> 01:25:56,690
respectful and useful human beings but we could do better and we could also

971
01:25:56,690 --> 01:26:00,690
have police cars that say police on them a little more clearly like our

972
01:26:00,690 --> 01:26:09,510
police cars are black and they sort of subtly say police on them and it makes

973
01:26:09,510 --> 01:26:17,390
it scary when that kind of a car pulls you over. So you know we don't need to do

974
01:26:17,390 --> 01:26:20,630
that tomorrow but we could do better. Thank you.

975
01:26:44,930 --> 01:26:46,430
Not only the oldest I'm the

976
01:26:46,430 --> 01:26:53,150
shortest person here for sure. Rosemary DeAngelis from South Portland. I will

977
01:26:53,150 --> 01:27:00,210
I will begin by saying I served six years on the South Portland City Council and I served as mayor in South Portland.

978
01:27:00,750 --> 01:27:06,290
I presently serve as chair of the school board and I raised these issues for a reason.

979
01:27:06,810 --> 01:27:11,050
I grew up in Olertru Beach and I remember Bitterford when the mills were bustling,

980
01:27:13,050 --> 01:27:21,650
providing jobs for most residents and I remember the Puritan and I remember Butler's of Bitterford and I remember Polakowicz.

981
01:27:21,650 --> 01:27:26,270
The community was built by immigrants, for immigrants.

982
01:27:27,090 --> 01:27:29,690
We are a country made up of immigrants.

983
01:27:30,890 --> 01:27:33,790
A place that should welcome immigrants.

984
01:27:34,750 --> 01:27:36,130
I taught at this high school.

985
01:27:36,770 --> 01:27:42,050
I know the Iraqi owners of Leilina, the Vietnamese gentleman who owns the clothing shop,

986
01:27:42,630 --> 01:27:48,130
and Francesco at Coletti's Pizza, and these are just a few, all immigrants.

987
01:27:49,550 --> 01:28:03,350
I tie with Alan Dutremble, for likely the oldest person in this room, and he is right, first vote, second, run for public office, and third, let your voice be heard.

988
01:28:04,210 --> 01:28:13,850
I attended the vigil on the night of the murder, and that's what it was, a murder. And as sad as it was, it was also incredibly powerful.

989
01:28:13,850 --> 01:28:18,790
Someone said all government is local and that's true.

990
01:28:19,570 --> 01:28:25,410
The role of every elected official is to represent the voice of the people.

991
01:28:25,850 --> 01:28:28,030
And you are hearing the voices tonight.

992
01:28:28,830 --> 01:28:34,650
If you listen, the names spoken here are names from around the globe.

993
01:28:35,390 --> 01:28:37,010
And that's who we are.

994
01:28:37,810 --> 01:28:40,790
We need your help to keep all of us safe.

995
01:28:42,150 --> 01:28:47,590
I'm going to ask the public to not clap when I finish, and I encourage the council to set

996
01:28:48,570 --> 01:28:50,690
clear rules for public comment.

997
01:28:50,910 --> 01:28:51,350
Thank you.

998
01:29:08,500 --> 01:29:09,720
My name is April Calde.

999
01:29:10,080 --> 01:29:17,440
I'm a resident of Bitterford, Maine, and I have lived less than a mile from the Pulitzer

1000
01:29:17,440 --> 01:29:18,520
Intersection currently.

1001
01:29:18,740 --> 01:29:23,240
I used to live up on Pike Street for about five years, and I would go through that

1002
01:29:23,240 --> 01:29:26,380
intersection daily, you know, on my way to school and my way to work.

1003
01:29:28,830 --> 01:29:34,590
To start off, over the past week, I've seen the people of Maine band together and protest,

1004
01:29:35,130 --> 01:29:40,470
walks and vigils in Bitterford, Portland, Scarborough, Hallwell, Lewis and Bangor and

1005
01:29:40,470 --> 01:29:45,590
so many other places to support our neighbors and to show that we will not let this stand

1006
01:29:45,590 --> 01:29:47,110
and we are not going to just stand by.

1007
01:29:47,950 --> 01:29:52,330
Our neighbors need our support and our protection and to know that we are going

1008
01:29:52,330 --> 01:29:53,370
to be there for them.

1009
01:29:54,190 --> 01:29:59,910
I hope I push that you the council will support them as well, not just

1010
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:06,860
With your words, but with your actions. Someone said it earlier very well, limited power is not no power. Thank you.

1011
01:30:26,010 --> 01:30:31,130
Any other folks who would like to speak this evening? If so, please come down to the podium.

1012
01:31:06,530 --> 01:31:12,170
I'll be a little brief, as I'm seemingly the last one. My bad, I'm a little dramatic.

1013
01:31:15,140 --> 01:31:16,000
My name is Deon Smith.

1014
01:31:16,000 --> 01:31:26,220
I live in Ward 5. I have been living in Biddeford since 2020. My first community

1015
01:31:26,220 --> 01:31:36,600
experience was digging out cars from a snowstorm and having my neighbors come

1016
01:31:36,600 --> 01:31:43,540
over and just start shoveling me up and exchanging names and becoming

1017
01:31:43,540 --> 01:31:49,260
and friendly with them. Immigrants, people of color, white people, it didn't matter who

1018
01:31:49,260 --> 01:31:57,560
you were. I have worked in Biddeford. I have worked at Biddeford Middle.

1019
01:32:01,240 --> 01:32:01,880
When Trump was

1020
01:32:01,880 --> 01:32:11,640
inaugurated, the children were already concerned about ICE presence. They had felt that fear

1021
01:32:11,640 --> 01:32:20,580
immediately. I still currently work with children as a therapist. They feel this

1022
01:32:20,580 --> 01:32:27,860
fear. These children are afraid for their friends as they go to school. Will their

1023
01:32:27,860 --> 01:32:33,160
friends make it to school? These are middle schoolers. These are high

1024
01:32:33,160 --> 01:32:33,780
schoolers.

1025
01:32:36,640 --> 01:32:42,280
We cannot reverse what happened but at this point we can show

1026
01:32:42,280 --> 01:32:48,720
action and show them for the children for the future for those that come after

1027
01:32:49,840 --> 01:32:55,300
show that we had some grit that we have community and we have shown that all

1028
01:32:55,300 --> 01:33:02,120
week we have community we also need you guys to step up and show that you are

1029
01:33:02,120 --> 01:33:05,340
a part of that community that you want to enlighten that community you want

1030
01:33:05,340 --> 01:33:09,180
to highlight that community you want to highlight these children you want to

1031
01:33:09,180 --> 01:33:13,060
make sure that they have a future. Dang it was quick.

1032
01:33:16,650 --> 01:33:19,230
I don't know how much more I can

1033
01:33:19,230 --> 01:33:27,530
go into work and talk to children about the fact that ISIS in our neighborhoods and talk

1034
01:33:27,530 --> 01:33:33,710
about their fear, their fear for themselves and their friends. Thank you.

1035
01:33:53,390 --> 01:34:00,550
Good evening, Mark Robinson, Ward 1. I don't really have a constructed narrative,

1036
01:34:01,090 --> 01:34:03,370
just gonna make a few observations.

1037
01:34:06,830 --> 01:34:12,550
In my day job, I'm in communications and a

1038
01:34:13,210 --> 01:34:20,050
couple times I can remember being connected to events kind of like what

1039
01:34:20,050 --> 01:34:28,130
happened last week. The most memorable one was 9-11. I had, after the next day, I had

1040
01:34:28,130 --> 01:34:35,010
a call from a kid I grew up with on May Street. Direct family connection to one of the folks

1041
01:34:35,010 --> 01:34:36,410
who was on one of the planes.

1042
01:34:38,630 --> 01:34:45,070
And sort of a searing memory of that is working with

1043
01:34:45,070 --> 01:34:51,850
the family and experiencing just the utter rage that they were going through at the

1044
01:34:51,850 --> 01:35:01,270
time. I'll never forget it. And it wasn't always rational. It was just rage. So please

1045
01:35:01,270 --> 01:35:05,370
keep that in mind, Council. Tonight, I think the crowd, I think the audience has been

1046
01:35:05,370 --> 01:35:10,610
fantastic in expressing themselves. And, you know, I think sometimes rage gets

1047
01:35:11,090 --> 01:35:13,030
misdirected. Just keep that in mind.

1048
01:35:16,390 --> 01:35:17,930
I've heard a couple things here tonight.

1049
01:35:18,890 --> 01:35:22,670
Number one, there was a question from a young lady who asked about how many times

1050
01:35:22,670 --> 01:35:28,910
benefit police have blasted out the windshield of any moving vehicle with

1051
01:35:28,910 --> 01:35:32,230
somebody driving it. I think I know the answer to that. I think it's never

1052
01:35:32,230 --> 01:35:33,130
never happened.

1053
01:35:37,620 --> 01:35:42,420
And I think that I've also heard a call for we just want to

1054
01:35:42,420 --> 01:35:48,780
heard. I commend you guys for having this evening tonight. You changed up the

1055
01:35:48,780 --> 01:35:53,680
the regular council meeting, provided this space, and I hope everybody feels heard

1056
01:35:53,680 --> 01:35:55,420
tonight because I think they have been.

1057
01:35:59,160 --> 01:36:01,520
Great to see my good friend Alan. Do

1058
01:36:01,520 --> 01:36:05,460
tremble show up tonight? He's great. I don't know if he's still here. He's back

1059
01:36:05,460 --> 01:36:09,320
there. A great teacher at Bedford High School and a real credit to this

1060
01:36:09,880 --> 01:36:16,600
society. A gentleman from anyone point right there. We said he's I think been

1061
01:36:16,600 --> 01:36:20,880
here for 50 years. It just reminded me when I was a substitute teacher at

1062
01:36:20,880 --> 01:36:26,880
Bedouin High School in the 80s. That's when we had our wave of

1063
01:36:27,560 --> 01:36:31,700
Vietnamese immigrants coming in. So we saw a lot of kids who were coming in.

1064
01:36:34,800 --> 01:36:40,540
This community has always been welcome. I was fortunate enough to go to the

1065
01:36:40,540 --> 01:36:46,480
memorial morning out of time on the streets one night one night last week

1066
01:36:46,480 --> 01:36:54,400
and also I was at the Monday protest at seven o'clock. This community has

1067
01:36:54,400 --> 01:36:57,660
distinguished itself in the last week. Thank you.

1068
01:37:10,780 --> 01:37:12,260
Any other folks who'd like to

1069
01:37:12,260 --> 01:37:13,080
speak this evening?

1070
01:37:20,320 --> 01:37:23,300
Seeing none, thank you all for your comments. I will close

1071
01:37:23,300 --> 01:37:27,840
the public hearing and turn it over to city counselors for any remarks.

1072
01:37:29,600 --> 01:37:30,300
Councillor Cote.

1073
01:37:32,590 --> 01:37:33,170
Thank you.

1074
01:37:33,910 --> 01:37:35,290
I would like to just start by

1075
01:37:35,290 --> 01:37:37,010
thanking everyone for coming

1076
01:37:37,010 --> 01:37:37,410
tonight.

1077
01:37:40,150 --> 01:37:42,150
It's great to hear your

1078
01:37:42,150 --> 01:37:42,650
thoughts.

1079
01:37:44,370 --> 01:37:45,550
I think a lot of everyone,

1080
01:37:45,790 --> 01:37:47,230
almost everyone in the room feels

1081
01:37:47,230 --> 01:37:48,790
the same way in terms of the

1082
01:37:48,790 --> 01:37:49,050
anger.

1083
01:37:52,400 --> 01:37:53,720
I want to send my loving

1084
01:37:53,720 --> 01:37:55,120
thoughts to the family of Mr.

1085
01:37:55,240 --> 01:37:55,680
Guerrero.

1086
01:37:55,680 --> 01:37:59,640
I mean, his death is an absolute tragedy that should have been avoided.

1087
01:38:00,780 --> 01:38:04,900
I also want to thank all the city employees that worked extremely hard to get the city

1088
01:38:04,900 --> 01:38:07,840
through one of its most difficult weeks in its history.

1089
01:38:10,850 --> 01:38:15,710
From a personal perspective, my wife and I participate in protests, and my wife carries

1090
01:38:15,710 --> 01:38:20,150
a sign that says, this is not a left or right moment, it is a right or wrong moment.

1091
01:38:21,490 --> 01:38:24,310
To me, this perfectly describes where we are now.

1092
01:38:24,310 --> 01:38:30,090
know. This moment is not about what either side of the polarized political spectrum thinks,

1093
01:38:30,310 --> 01:38:37,190
it's about what humanity considers right and wrong. To me, it is wrong killing a young

1094
01:38:37,190 --> 01:38:42,750
man trying to provide for his family. It is wrong that his wife no longer has a husband.

1095
01:38:43,890 --> 01:38:49,350
It is wrong that his young daughter can no longer play with her father. The loss

1096
01:38:49,350 --> 01:38:52,490
of Mr. Guerrero's life is an irreversible catastrophe.

1097
01:38:54,090 --> 01:38:58,550
I think everyone in this room feels anger, sadness, and frustration at such a needless

1098
01:38:58,550 --> 01:38:59,290
loss of life.

1099
01:39:01,530 --> 01:39:03,750
However, the next step is what's most important.

1100
01:39:04,610 --> 01:39:05,490
What can we do right?

1101
01:39:07,250 --> 01:39:12,450
Donate to the family or other support groups to help fund the fights that they're fighting.

1102
01:39:13,570 --> 01:39:18,970
Volunteer with other groups that help immigrants, getting groceries, running errands, doing

1103
01:39:18,970 --> 01:39:25,070
things to make them feel more safe. Providing food for the hungry. Anything to bring positivity

1104
01:39:25,070 --> 01:39:30,890
to a community that is hurting. Remember, this is not a left or right moment, but a right

1105
01:39:30,890 --> 01:39:35,850
or wrong moment. Mr. Guerrero's senseless death was wrong, and we need everybody in

1106
01:39:35,850 --> 01:39:39,470
the community to step up to turn this into something right. Thank you.

1107
01:39:44,890 --> 01:39:45,530
Councilor Badden.

1108
01:39:45,530 --> 01:39:46,630
First,

1109
01:39:52,180 --> 01:39:58,520
I'd like to also thank everyone for coming. It was kind of a unanimous decision

1110
01:39:58,520 --> 01:40:06,160
on the city councilors to have this night so you could share your feelings and concerns.

1111
01:40:06,880 --> 01:40:14,240
It takes a lot of courage to come up here and do that and I commend all those that did.

1112
01:40:14,240 --> 01:40:19,180
I also hope through this we can become more united and not divided.

1113
01:40:19,880 --> 01:40:22,200
There's no question this should not have happened.

1114
01:40:22,460 --> 01:40:26,460
I don't think there's anyone in this room that would question that.

1115
01:40:27,280 --> 01:40:29,480
It was a senseless tragedy.

1116
01:40:30,840 --> 01:40:32,580
This is our community.

1117
01:40:32,940 --> 01:40:34,440
This is not my community.

1118
01:40:35,500 --> 01:40:37,520
Anyone who lives here, it's our community.

1119
01:40:38,140 --> 01:40:40,980
I have called this my community for 65 years.

1120
01:40:40,980 --> 01:40:48,080
And I'm here because my grandfather and grandmother immigrated here, and that's what brought me to Bideford.

1121
01:40:49,180 --> 01:40:53,260
And I spent 65 years watching this community grow.

1122
01:40:58,590 --> 01:41:06,870
Carolina expressed during her interview her pain saying that she lost her soul.

1123
01:41:07,510 --> 01:41:08,830
Her soul is broken.

1124
01:41:10,210 --> 01:41:17,190
So she expressed that with no anger, no hatred,

1125
01:41:19,580 --> 01:41:22,720
which I commend her to do that.

1126
01:41:22,880 --> 01:41:27,460
If anyone should be angry, full of hatred, it would be her.

1127
01:41:29,480 --> 01:41:38,200
My belief during a tragedy is that cool heads prevail, especially with leadership.

1128
01:41:38,200 --> 01:41:47,420
And I want to thank the mayor for having that calm demeanor during an unthinkable tragedy this week.

1129
01:41:48,480 --> 01:41:55,540
His calm resolve may appear to some, he's doing nothing, and it may appear that we are doing nothing.

1130
01:41:56,260 --> 01:41:59,080
But that is what leadership should look like.

1131
01:41:59,840 --> 01:42:06,780
Sometimes it's not loud, full of answers, but there are things happening behind the scenes.

1132
01:42:09,020 --> 01:42:16,240
Reform and resolution cannot be achieved with violence. It never has and never can.

1133
01:42:17,240 --> 01:42:25,240
My hope for our city is a commitment that our Council has to the five steps in our proclamation is a start.

1134
01:42:26,840 --> 01:42:33,960
We hope or I hope it will bring us to a more clarity, acceptance and a peaceful community.

1135
01:42:34,440 --> 01:42:37,560
And I think that's what we all want. Thank you.

1136
01:42:37,560 --> 01:42:38,460
Councillor

1137
01:42:49,150 --> 01:42:49,490
Woods.

1138
01:42:54,170 --> 01:42:57,630
I've been jotting down things as you all have been talking. Thank

1139
01:42:57,630 --> 01:43:00,330
you all for your words and for being here.

1140
01:43:02,850 --> 01:43:05,950
I know I am committed to taking the

1141
01:43:05,950 --> 01:43:09,610
action that you all have asked for tonight. I hope that my fellow elected

1142
01:43:09,610 --> 01:43:15,490
officials are as well as was just stated. There have been responses going

1143
01:43:15,490 --> 01:43:18,630
on in the background but I think it's time for it to not be in the

1144
01:43:18,630 --> 01:43:20,990
background and I hear that from you all.

1145
01:43:25,710 --> 01:43:33,250
I have been involved personally in response efforts, but I sit here and I've sat here over

1146
01:43:33,250 --> 01:43:38,250
the last week regretting not saying more in this seat, from this seat.

1147
01:43:41,000 --> 01:43:45,600
I don't know if this could have been stopped, as was stated, it's not surprising.

1148
01:43:46,880 --> 01:43:51,440
Ice has been terrorizing our streets for months now.

1149
01:43:52,300 --> 01:43:53,540
They have been in my neighborhood.

1150
01:43:53,900 --> 01:43:55,340
This happened a block from my house.

1151
01:43:55,660 --> 01:43:57,740
I visited the memorial every single day.

1152
01:43:58,740 --> 01:44:01,520
We can hear the rain sitting in here,

1153
01:44:01,700 --> 01:44:04,040
trying to keep notes safe from the rain

1154
01:44:04,040 --> 01:44:06,240
and make sure that things are refreshed.

1155
01:44:06,480 --> 01:44:08,720
So thank you for those who have come out to the memorial.

1156
01:44:11,820 --> 01:44:12,840
I'll leave it at that.

1157
01:44:13,160 --> 01:44:15,880
I hear you and let's all act together.

1158
01:44:15,880 --> 01:44:19,280
The only thing I'll say is this does take all of us.

1159
01:44:19,600 --> 01:44:20,620
You all have showed up.

1160
01:44:20,900 --> 01:44:21,860
We have showed up.

1161
01:44:21,940 --> 01:44:23,880
We're going to continue to do our best to show up.

1162
01:44:24,180 --> 01:44:25,560
But it does take all of us.

1163
01:44:25,680 --> 01:44:28,780
We have a little bit more power that we should utilize.

1164
01:44:29,200 --> 01:44:30,560
But you all have power as well.

1165
01:44:30,920 --> 01:44:32,640
There's power in the words you spoke tonight.

1166
01:44:32,800 --> 01:44:35,860
And I'm so grateful to be in this amazing community.

1167
01:44:37,000 --> 01:44:41,320
And my heart goes out to Sebastian's family, Carolina and Dulce.

1168
01:44:41,320 --> 01:44:49,000
I'm so sorry that we could not save your your your husband and your and your father. Thank you

1169
01:44:57,990 --> 01:44:59,170
counselor Kurtz

1170
01:45:05,520 --> 01:45:08,980
Not having a social security number is not a capital offense.

1171
01:45:09,580 --> 01:45:13,880
It doesn't matter. No one should be shot, executed on the street by federal agents.

1172
01:45:16,350 --> 01:45:19,710
Don't care if you're Johann. I don't care.

1173
01:45:20,390 --> 01:45:24,030
I don't care what your immigration status is. That's not a capital offense.

1174
01:45:24,330 --> 01:45:27,370
That's not what R&E laws even say, let alone the people who are following the laws.

1175
01:45:27,450 --> 01:45:30,900
I don't care about that.

1176
01:45:32,020 --> 01:45:34,120
I don't care what you're saying. Do you have a social security number or not?

1177
01:45:34,120 --> 01:45:39,920
I don't care if you're Randy Weaver and you have the wrong size shotgun.

1178
01:45:40,240 --> 01:45:40,800
I don't care.

1179
01:45:42,300 --> 01:45:47,920
This is – someone was executed by the federal government in our city.

1180
01:46:03,640 --> 01:46:07,040
I believe it behooves me to mention this, and then I'm done.

1181
01:46:08,820 --> 01:46:10,660
This happened a block away.

1182
01:46:12,160 --> 01:46:13,860
My mother goes to synagogue.

1183
01:46:14,500 --> 01:46:17,700
And if you don't think the Jews are talking about this, you're fucking crazy.

1184
01:46:17,700 --> 01:46:19,320
This is the same thing.

1185
01:46:19,580 --> 01:46:20,340
Thank you.

1186
01:46:33,410 --> 01:46:34,310
Councillor Doughty.

1187
01:46:37,160 --> 01:46:37,480
Thank you.

1188
01:46:38,040 --> 01:46:42,900
I would like to start by thanking the mayor for the change in scope to this meeting.

1189
01:46:43,900 --> 01:46:57,160
As Councillor Badne said, it was a unanimous decision, but the mayor certainly wanted us to be able to have this time and the space to hear from our community about the profound loss that we have all faced.

1190
01:46:57,960 --> 01:47:10,640
This week has been incredibly difficult for our community, but most of all, it has been incredibly difficult for the family and the loved ones of Mr. Guerrero, who

1191
01:47:13,040 --> 01:47:19,260
lost his life as a direct result of an ICE operation here in our community.

1192
01:47:19,260 --> 01:47:27,160
That fact alone has left many people grieving, scared, angry, and searching for answers.

1193
01:47:27,980 --> 01:47:33,220
And I share in that anger and the grief that many of you are feeling.

1194
01:47:33,920 --> 01:47:42,620
I also want answers, and I think we would all share that we are working diligently

1195
01:47:42,620 --> 01:47:51,760
to try every avenue possible to find answers and to push for transparency and accountability for what has occurred in our community.

1196
01:47:52,640 --> 01:48:05,880
I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and letting us hear your voices. I know it's not easy to speak publicly, especially regarding something so traumatic that has happened.

1197
01:48:05,880 --> 01:48:14,460
So thank you for coming. As Councilor Wood said, we also want to turn our words into action.

1198
01:48:14,800 --> 01:48:19,940
And I think that many of you are waiting for us to do that and rightfully so.

1199
01:48:20,220 --> 01:48:26,320
And I think many of us are going to push for action and not just words. Thank you.

1200
01:48:40,380 --> 01:48:43,400
Councillor Pearson. Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1201
01:48:44,840 --> 01:48:49,140
No one should die because of their own or someone else's immigration status, full stop.

1202
01:48:50,860 --> 01:48:51,620
No question.

1203
01:48:52,600 --> 01:48:55,200
Thank you for coming tonight and being willing to share your sadness,

1204
01:48:55,780 --> 01:48:59,200
shock, bewilderment, anger, and grief.

1205
01:49:00,200 --> 01:49:03,720
This type of public forum is imperative after such a tragic event.

1206
01:49:04,480 --> 01:49:11,680
To hear directly from you allows us to better serve our community and be better leaders.

1207
01:49:12,700 --> 01:49:18,980
We, as elected officials, are responsible for creating spaces for public discourse while also being the stewards of our community.

1208
01:49:19,760 --> 01:49:24,980
Our community elected us to take the tough actions that are required to keep our community safe and functional.

1209
01:49:27,760 --> 01:49:30,780
I'm going to push back and say, I think tonight that we failed that.

1210
01:49:33,230 --> 01:49:35,650
Our city did not shut down when Mr. Guerrero was killed.

1211
01:49:36,330 --> 01:49:38,630
Our city staff continued to show up and do their jobs.

1212
01:49:39,130 --> 01:49:44,430
They processed car registrations, picked up waste, answered EMS calls, conducted traffic

1213
01:49:44,430 --> 01:49:48,730
stops, gave out building permits, gave our children a safe place to spend the day in

1214
01:49:48,730 --> 01:49:54,070
our summer camps, kept our parks pristine, and did the hundreds of other tasks that

1215
01:49:54,070 --> 01:49:55,330
have to be done to keep a city running.

1216
01:49:56,250 --> 01:49:59,490
I am grateful for their dedication and hard work in the face of this unimaginable tragedy.

1217
01:50:00,650 --> 01:50:04,490
Being an elected official comes with an expectation that you do what is best for the community

1218
01:50:04,490 --> 01:50:05,450
at large.

1219
01:50:05,990 --> 01:50:09,350
Not what is easy or comfortable for you personally.

1220
01:50:10,130 --> 01:50:13,570
We have dealt with that already this year with a complicated and arduous budget process.

1221
01:50:14,030 --> 01:50:17,970
This council has shown that it is willing to do the hard work, even when it is contentious and uncomfortable.

1222
01:50:19,530 --> 01:50:21,690
I am disappointed that we did not follow that example time.

1223
01:50:23,150 --> 01:50:27,870
We have an agenda in place for tonight's meeting that should have been addressed after this important and vital public discussion.

1224
01:50:28,690 --> 01:50:34,390
While the items on that agenda may seem trivial, delaying our city manager's search by a week,

1225
01:50:34,390 --> 01:50:37,290
not approving citizen appointments to our city committees,

1226
01:50:37,730 --> 01:50:39,530
not voting on our liquor license for new business,

1227
01:50:39,930 --> 01:50:41,650
not discussing the leases at the community center,

1228
01:50:42,130 --> 01:50:44,490
not approving FY26 budget carryovers,

1229
01:50:44,910 --> 01:50:46,450
updating an MOU with OLB,

1230
01:50:46,810 --> 01:50:49,270
and amending the council rules impacts our residents

1231
01:50:49,270 --> 01:50:50,570
and our community.

1232
01:50:52,110 --> 01:50:54,550
Any item that does that is far from trivial.

1233
01:50:55,650 --> 01:50:56,970
Our city has many challenges

1234
01:50:56,970 --> 01:51:00,050
and is never easy nor comfortable to face challenges.

1235
01:51:00,890 --> 01:51:02,130
This council has made a point

1236
01:51:02,130 --> 01:51:03,730
that we will not kick the can down the road.

1237
01:51:05,010 --> 01:51:06,670
Well, tonight we did.

1238
01:51:08,530 --> 01:51:11,430
For that I feel I must apologize to our residents for not living up to our promises.

1239
01:51:12,490 --> 01:51:16,990
Again, thank you for coming out tonight and sharing with us your honest and open emotions.

1240
01:51:17,750 --> 01:51:21,670
Public speaking is never easy, and I applaud each and every one of you who spoke tonight.

1241
01:51:22,230 --> 01:51:22,810
You were heard.

1242
01:51:24,150 --> 01:51:26,310
Actions are important, not just words.

1243
01:51:26,910 --> 01:51:29,450
And for those of you who didn't speak but attended to support those that did,

1244
01:51:29,910 --> 01:51:30,670
thank you as well.

1245
01:51:30,670 --> 01:51:36,910
Community only exists and communication and action happen with transparency and honesty.

1246
01:51:41,530 --> 01:51:42,250
Thank you.

1247
01:51:52,700 --> 01:51:54,640
Any other council comments at this time?

1248
01:52:00,490 --> 01:52:05,050
I'd like to thank all of you for coming tonight and sharing your voice.

1249
01:52:05,590 --> 01:52:08,330
As Councillor Wood said, that voice has power.

1250
01:52:10,720 --> 01:52:12,200
I also want to thank Presente, Maine,

1251
01:52:12,680 --> 01:52:17,200
Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, and the many community organizations, faith leaders, volunteers,

1252
01:52:17,200 --> 01:52:21,120
advocates who've been working alongside Johann's family and supporting our

1253
01:52:21,120 --> 01:52:24,520
community during this incredibly difficult time.

1254
01:52:27,770 --> 01:52:28,570
As I've walked the

1255
01:52:28,570 --> 01:52:34,030
neighborhood in the last week, I consistently heard from people, I never

1256
01:52:34,030 --> 01:52:37,290
imagined something like this would happen here, but it did.

1257
01:52:39,660 --> 01:52:40,380
And we're faced

1258
01:52:40,380 --> 01:52:41,640
with the aftermath of that.

1259
01:52:43,980 --> 01:52:46,400
We have a responsibility to respond with

1260
01:52:46,400 --> 01:52:55,960
compassion with courage bravery and a commitment to justice and as we heard

1261
01:52:55,960 --> 01:53:00,520
here tonight not just words but actions so that's what I'm committed to do

1262
01:53:00,520 --> 01:53:07,680
tonight next week the next month and so long as I serve in this role thank you

1263
01:53:14,850 --> 01:53:24,700
now entertain a motion to adjourn moved by Councillor Woods second second by

1264
01:53:24,700 --> 01:53:26,900
Councillor Pearson. All those in favor?

1265
01:53:30,190 --> 01:53:32,710
That is unanimous. Thank you. Meeting is adjourned.