Almost a year has passed since an ill-advised letter from the mayor of Lewiston set passions ablaze in the city and brought an unwanted spotlight onto our community. The good and the bad were illuminated for all to see.

Mayor Larry Raymond asked leaders of the Somali community to discourage others from migrating to the city, saying the costs were too high to sustain. A terrible storm was ignited as messages of tolerance and hate collided on the evening news, broadcast to the world live from the streets of Lewiston.

Hatemongers descended on the city and were greeted by a community that refused to accept their ugliness. The Many and One Coalition countered 30 neo-Nazis protesters with a rally of 4,000 people.

It was Oct. 4, 2003, when the tensions between old-line residents and their newest neighbors boiled over. There were plenty of allegations flying around, spurred by ignorance or misinformation. The Somalis received special assistance, free cars or more General Assistance than native Mainers. Cultures ran up against the rough sides of one another.

The truth: The Somali population was growing quickly. Almost 60 were arriving every month between February 2001 and September 2002. For that year, 155 Somalis received General Assistance out of 494 total cases. Since then, the migration has slowed, and Somali residents have begun to build a stable place in the community. For 2002-03, only 83 Somalis received assistance. There are at least five Somali-owned businesses, including shops and a restaurant. A new mosque has opened. And the city and Somali leaders estimate 70 percent of the adults have found work.

What a difference a year can make. There is still tension lurking, but the glare of a disapproving country has faded and our community’s reputation has begun the long process of rehabilitation. An invasion by racist, outside agitators was turned away. And the Somalis – drawn to the area because it is a safe place to raise a family and build a good life – are making their own way.

No doubt, when Mayor Raymond wrote his misguided missive, he had no idea the firestorm it would create. But by giving voice to devilish ideas that were hiding just below the surface, he sparked a conflict that has turned into a process of healing, growth and reconciliation.

The letter and the ideas it presented were wrong. It should have never been penned, and we continue to struggle with the damage it has done. But with the passage of time, Lewiston has moved forward.
[email protected]