The Gorham Town Council (TC) passed two anti-racism resolutions at its September 1 regular meeting on Zoom. One, sponsored by Councilor Virginia Wilder Cross, recognized the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and pledged support for ending “systemic racism” and for ensuring “that law enforcement honors equal justice for all in Gorham.”
The original resolution, which was drafted by students and residents with input from Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak and Police Chief Christopher Sanborn, was presented during an August meeting but was tabled due to concerns surrounding the language and an affiliation with the Black Lives Matter organization.
The other resolution, based on one adopted by Cape Elizabeth, was sponsored by Councilor Ben Hartwell and welcomed “all people into our community.” It “commits to substantive action to combat racism, bias, discrimination, violence and hate.”
Before the first vote, Wilder Cross spoke in support of the revised version of the original resolution. She said that the group, primarily young people of color, had addressed every section of the resolution that had raised concerns. In response to the objection to the use of the term Black Lives Matter, she explained the group felt the term was important because the resolution is “aimed at systemic racism.” It does not “advocate support for the the Black Lives Matter organization,” she said, “but rather it addresses the fact that Black lives matter.”
During the time for public comment, 22 people spoke in favor of the resolution, and seven spoke against it. Those objecting felt the resolution was divisive, inflammatory, and highly politicized. Many associated the BLM movement with the BLM organization, which they characterized as a hate group and associated with calls to defund police departments. Some said that racism was not a problem in Gorham.
Supporters said that the young people behind the resolution need to be heard and that their experiences are real. A few gave examples of racism they had experienced or encountered. Others said that combating racism is a human issue, not a political one. A member of the group involved with the resolution reported that Gorham Police Chief Christopher Sanborn had no issue with the references relating to the police, and another gave assurances that the local group had no ties to the BLM organization.
The Town Council also received 17 letters prior to the meeting, 10 in opposition to the revised resolution. Many were sent by people who also spoke at the meeting and expressed the same sentiments. They were not read, but were included in the meeting minutes.
In a letter of support, University of Southern Maine (USM) President Glenn Cummings wrote that “almost 20% of our student population identify as people of color” and many live on the Gorham campus. He enclosed the USM anti-racism statement that supported the BLM movement and urged passage of the resolution proposed by Wilder Cross.
During the discussion, Councilor Janet Kuech commented that “a resolution is not a law” and spoke in favor of it. Hartwell said he could not support it, and that he was “against Black Lives Matter, but for an anti-racism resolution.” Although he also did not like using the term BLM, Councilor Ronald Shepard supported the resolution. He went on to state that Gorham Police were already following the procedures advocated for in the resolution. Councilor Lee Pratt said he did not like resolutions, however, he would support this one because “the lives of Black people matter.”
The Town Council passed the resolution (6-1, Hartwell) and also the one supported by Hartwell (6-1, Wilder Cross). Both resolutions can be read in full and the recorded meeting can be viewed on the Town’s website: www.gorham-me.org.