Controversy Over Somali Muslim Immigrant Communities in Small N.E. Town

October 14, 2002

Source: Portland Press Herald

http://www.portland.com/news/state/021014lewiston.shtml

On October 14, 2002 the Portland Press Herald reported that "about 300 people Sunday joined a peaceful march to show support for Somali immigrants. The one-mile march originally was planned as a Sunday school procession, but it was opened to the entire community after Lewiston's mayor issued a letter expressing concerns that local services will be strained if many more Somalis arrive in the city... Most of the marchers were longtime Lewiston and Auburn residents, and many of them said they wanted the Somali residents to feel welcome... The march, organized by local churches, began at the Calvary United Methodist Church and ended with a rally at a mosque on Lisbon Street."