Bates College Community

Information & Action Resource Page


 

 

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King Jr.

In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

 

Matthew Hale and the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" plans to hold a rally in Lewiston on January 11, 2003. The "National Alliance" has also been leafleting and recruiting in the Lewiston/Auburn area.This page offers information to members of the Bates College community who wish to find out more about these groups and who may wish to respond to this group's presence in our community.


 

Some Principles to Consider When Deciding How to Respond

Don't give them what they want

  • The organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" seeks notoriety in order to attract new adherents to a message of hate.

  • The organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" is very successful in obtaining this notorierty because it is very effective in provoking those who oppose them into unacceptable actions. News accounts of the "quondam WCOTC" rallies frequently refer to the arrest of community members who oppose the "quondam WCOTC" and who were goaded into spitting, punching, rushing the police lines, etc. Some estimate that as many as 75% of the rallies can be marked by violence.

  • It takes a great deal of personal discipline and extensive training to stand in peaceful opposition to the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator". Many of us don't have the experience and background to do this.

  • News media cover these events because of the chaotic atmosphere and the "man bites dog" nature of the arrests. When people who want to stand for peace and justice who are goaded into violent action, it makes the news.

  • Observers attracted to the "quondam WCOTC" message can thus come to the conclusion that the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" makes things happen. The unintended result of ineffective opposition to the "quondam WCOTC" is the perception that the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" exercises some measure of social authority.


  • The organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" has made the Somali community in Lewiston the excuse for their hate rally. In fact, the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" hates Jews, Christians, LGBTs and people of color in general. One way to subvert the effort of the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" to divide our community, is to take this opportunity to learn more about its various members.

    • The City of Lewiston, for example, maintains a Cultural Diversity web page that describes that range of different ethnic groups who call Lewiston home. The page has links to a great range of pages providing information about the cultures of the Irish, French speaking, Greek, Lithuanian, Armenian and Somali communities in Lewiston.

    • Maine PBS's Maine Watch recently aired a program called Our Town, Too! which explores the Somali community in Lewiston. The program's website has links to a number of informational sites you may find useful.

Choose actions that others won't have to pay for

  • In the aftermath of the rallies held by the organization formerly known as the WCOTC in the past, those attracted to their message of hatred have turned against the targets of the rally.

  • When the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator" leaves town, many of us can return to campus life, but the groups who have been targeted will have to live (both on and off campus) with the rally, the hatred it engenders, and public reaction to the way we have chosen to oppose the organization formerly known as "The "World Church of the Creator".

  • Please think about the consequences of your response to the rally held by the organization formerly known as the WCOTC for others. Choose actions that are effective and that will help create respect and tolerance for everyone in our community.

If you're thinking about going to the site of the rally to stand in opposition to the organization formerly known as the WCOTC

If You Want to Stand In Support of the Lewiston-Auburn Community...

Be Aware of the effects the day will have on you and your friends


Bates College Community Information & Action Resource Page / events