About 300 people attended a rally this afternoon at Portland’s Monument Square supposedly to protest the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, That action by the Supreme Court ends federal protection for those seeking a safe and legal way to end an unwanted pregnancy. That decision in the almost fifty years of safe abortions is now left up to states to determine – a subject that has brought wider polarization across an already deeply divided nation starting with the administration of former president, Donald J. Trump.
Abortion is protected in Maine by state law as long as Governor Janet Mills (D) is reelected on November 8th. None of the speakers at the rally mentioned that fact. An unfortunate oversight. Her opponent Paul LePage is a Trump ally who is anti-abortion.
The event was hosted by Maine Democratic Socialists of America and was promoted on this blog yesterday.
The rally was advertised to focus on the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion. But the last speaker at the rally was City Councilor Victoria Pelletier who turned that agenda upside down when she spoke. She bashed Democrats for doing “nothing” to preserve Roe v. Wade.
This city councilor who often laces her comments with vulgar language, went on to admonish white women for not doing enough to support low-income women who stand to suffer significantly from the Supreme Court’s decision. The new city councilor lectured white women as she gazed at a crowd composed mostly of white woman in front of her. (Councilor Pelletier was elected to the Portland City Council in November of 2021).
Perhaps Councilor Pelletier should devote more of her time to educating and organizing Black woman. If she did this, more Black women would attend such events and represent their own interests rather than relyig on the inadequate efforts of white women. Encouraging Black women to get involved on their own behalf would be a worthy goal.. Perhaps more sensible than lecturing the white women who attend such rallies and take on other responsibilities to try to offset the bias that does exist unfortunately. That is the white women who probably voted her onto the Portland City Council giving her this platform to deliver a divisive message.
Councilor Pelletier described herself as a Black activist and member of the Portland City Council. She also works on Special Projects for PortlandCOG.
When asked what party she is affiliated with, Councilor Pelletier responded: “I’m not affiliated with a party.” Then she changed her mind and remembered: “I’m a registered Democrat, I think.”
An early speaker said: “We are here for solidarity in protecting, saving and revitalizing human rights that have been taken away from us and our loved ones. It is past the point of posting something on social media and emailing someone who tells you anything you want to hear for a vote and some cash. Today we put ourselves in the streets,” said Vuni, who would not identify herself further..
“Democrats have done nothing and Republicans have attacked us. Get involved,” said Emery Adams, one of the organizers of the hour long rally hosted by the Maine Democratic Socialists of America. Apparently this was actually a political rally to boost membership in the Maine Democratic Socialists of America party, although the literature did not indicate that was the purpose.
When asked why she doesn’t run for Governor of Maine if she thinks Democrats have done nothing, Councilor Pelletier answered: “Oh no. I’ve got all I can handle on the Portland City Council.” What would you do differently, Councilor? What would you do that Democrats in Augusta? What is your plan? What is your proposal? Please be specific and concrete.
Perhaps the City Councilor has learned something from this rally. Sweeping and inclusive generalizations just don’t work. There are always exceptions to these generalizations. Not all white women have failed to step up and do the ‘right thing’ as her comments seemed to imply. Some have done the right thing. They deserve thanks for that rather than an insult.
For more background information on Councilor Pelletier’s recent election to the Portland City Council, please visit post herein dated November 10, 2021.
It is also not the Councilor’s job to fault those who are trying to improve the situation as best they can under the conddtions. Why not fault Susan Collins for voting for Kavanaugh? No democrats or white woman did vote for him that I know of. Councilor Pelletier has an open invitation to say on this blog just what the democrats and white women should be doing to make you happy. Talk is cheap if you don’t already know that. What is her specific, concrete plan to inprove the situation??? This blogger was sent a press release to attend this rally and cover it for my fourteen year old blog. I believe that any elected politican making a public speech in a public area for public consumption is accountable for those words; that Includes Councilor Pelletier. Carol
I see what this article is trying to say. Councilor Pelletier focused more on blaming the white women in the crowd for white supremacy than the Supreme Court justices for the recent overturn of Roe. As someone who attended the rally, I left discouraged rather than inspired by the councilor’s words. While I know it is not her job to pat us on the back for doing the minimum, she did not have to insult us. I do not care how she tries to slice it, her words were rude and unnecessary. She could have told us what we can do to help more and get involved rather than generalize and blame all white women for white supremacy. Her narrative only divides us rather than uniting us against the issue at hand.
That being said, I see her frustration. True, people who are privileged enough to attend a rally, take pictures, go home and forget could be doing so much more. However, those people are still showing up, and that is something. They do not need congratulations, but they do not deserve insult either.
While it may seem, on the surface, that the councilor’s comments are misdirected, the truth is we white women do have a degree of safety and comfort in the color of our skin. We fight hard when laws or lack of laws fail to protect us, yet the numbers of white women activists are far less when it comes to fighting issues of disparity and inequality. Black womenswear have the highest rates of maternal death and infant mortality than any other population in the United States. Why is that? Don’t fall back on the built in bias relating to “angry black women.” These conversations are deep, complex, and difficult to navigate. I find myself curious about the councilor’s feelings and think it’s important to hear what else she has to say. As for lacing comments with vulgar language…in the right context, vulgar words can be powerful (says a retired Navy veteran who swears a lot sometimes).
Val, so well put! Thanks. Carol
Following the Councilor’s speech at Monument Square, I tried to talk to her to get clarification on her comments about white women. Unfortunately, two (a woman and a man) who were with her kept drowning me out so I could not speak with her. I finally walked away, not interested in continuing this verbal battle. Carol