On February 19, some 50 people showed up at Monument Square in Portland, to express their opposition to The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, legislation introduced byMaine’s Senator Susan Collins. Speakers who addressed the implications of what some are calling the “Thought Crime” bill included Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union; Logan Perkins of the Native Forests Network; artist Rob Shetterly; and organizer, Maureen Block.

The noon hour crowd heard how the bill threatens to further erode civil liberties and constitutional protections; how it silences or criminalizes dissent, and how it intimidates and instills yet more fear into the American public. After addressing the critical need to speak out and stop this legislation from passing the Senate, a parade of demonstrators made its way to the offices of Republican Senators Collins and Snowe, and Demonstrators Oppose “Thought Crime” Bill Democrat Representative Tom Allen.

The coalition of citizen/activist/constituents, many with black X’s across their mouths, or carrying portraits of historical figures from American history, who might very well be considered, within the definitions of this bill, violent radicals or terrorists, crammed into the small offices where they expressed their concerns, asked for face-to-face meetings and demanded reconsideration, and informed, not formulaic, responses from their congresspeople. Co-sponsors of the event included the Maine Civil Liberties Union; the National Lawyers Guild, Maine chapter; Island Peace and Justice; Peninsula Peace and Justice; Maine Veterans for Peace (William Ladd Chapter); Maine Independent Green Party; RAW; Native Forest Network; Peace Action Maine; and Laurie Dobson, independent candidate for Congress