Urgent Action Alert on LD 2
| MCC Member Denomination, the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, has issued the following urgent action alert on LD 2, an important bill that MCC also supports. We need faith-based advocates to contact their legislators TODAY to let them know we support passage of this bill to ensure the racial impact of legislation is considered. |
| SUPPORT RACIAL IMPACT STATEMENTSPeople of Faith Support Racial Impact Statements in Maine Legislation LD 2, An Act To Require the Inclusion of Racial Impact Statements in the Legislative Process, has been voted out of committee and will likely be voted on by the full legislature this week! Speak up now for the change you want to see in Maine! In the Christian scriptures Jesus repeatedly calls on all to treat their neighbors as themselves. In the Gospel of Matthew, he more specifically describes the kingdom of heaven as a place where, “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Find and Contact your Senator here. Find and Contact your Representative here. Knowing that people of color consistently are statistically overrepresented as those living below the poverty level, as those targeted for police intervention, and prison sentences, and even for being more vulnerable to Covid-19, the need for a racial impact statement to address these inequalities is essential. In the Christian tradition, the kingdom of heaven is something that occurs on earth, when all the people act morally to bring about care and equality for all. It is not a passive position. To act justly is to care for those who are the most vulnerable. Episcopal Diocese Testimony Maine Council of Churches Testimony While racial injustice directly harms people of color, its existence harms us all. Racism is a problem in Maine that shows up when we look at the data in systems like education, health care, housing, employment, income, wealth, criminal justice, and more. But looking at the data and discussing race has never been a central part of crafting legislation in Maine. LD 2 could create a process to start those conversations and to analyze racial impact when bills are being considered. This is a key moment to speak up for racial equity in our future laws! Thanks for standing together at this pivotal time. LD 2 would be a historic step for Maine. |
