AUGUSTA (AP) — Hundreds gathered at the Maine Statehouse on Wednesday urging lawmakers to expand Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul as the Democratic-controlled Legislature began its work for the new session. The presence of the roughly 350 people calling for Medicaid expansion foreshadows what’s certain to be another fiery debate in the Legislature […]
protest
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland activists play dead
PORTLAND — Passers-by Monday on Middle Street looked toward the ground, where a handful of protesters lay motionless, covered in sheets that looked bloodied. They covered their faces with placards that bore the names of Yemeni wedding party members who were killed by a U.S. drone strike in December. One protester held aloft a model […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Augusta man’s toilet protest expands
AUGUSTA (AP) — A toilet protest by an Augusta man angered by the city’s decision to flush a proposed Dunkin’ Donuts shop in his neighborhood is growing. David Labbe, a plumber, put five commodes in his yard in October when the city’s planning board, backed by his neighbors, rejected a zoning change that would have […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Activists demonstrate for ‘living wage’ outside Maine Walmarts on Black Friday
ELLSWORTH — About 25 demonstrators sang an adaptation of the song “John Brown’s Body” in unison six or seven times as they made small purchases at the local Walmart register on Friday morning. “We have come to Ellsworth Walmart to support the workers here, we believe you should get paid a living wage and that […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Activists to picket in front of Walmarts across Maine
ELLSWORTH — Activists and union members in Maine will tap into a national movement to protest low wages for Walmart workers on Black Friday. Picketers will be holding up signs and handing out flyers outside Walmart stores in Ellsworth, Scarborough, Augusta and Auburn on what will likely be the busiest shopping day of the year […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland approves buffer zone around Planned Parenthood to keep anti-abortion protesters back
PORTLAND — The Portland City Council on Monday night unanimously approved a 39-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics, a move supporters said maintains the free speech rights on anti-abortion protesters and potentially saves the lives of clinic patients. After the vote was taken nearly three and a half hours into the meeting, an applause erupted […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Tens of thousands march for same-sex marriage in Taiwan
TAIPEI — Tens of thousands of demonstrators, many displaying rainbows and glitter, thronged the center of Taiwan’s capital on Saturday to press demands to legalize same-sex marriage amid an increasingly tolerant environment on the island nation. Organizers and participants said they were heartened by the prospect of same-sex marriage becoming a reality, despite enduring traditional […]
Posted insj-web
Portland committee approves clinic buffer zone
PORTLAND (AP) — Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is applauding approval by a Portland City Council committee to create a buffer zone around a Maine clinic to separate anti-abortion protesters from patients. The council’s Public Safety, Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved establishing a buffer zone on Tuesday after hearing from about 40 […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Immigration reform rally to be held in cities across U.S.
MIAMI (AP) — Immigrants and their allies will march this weekend on Taylorville, Ill., in time for the annual chili fest. They’ll take a break from harvesting spuds to demonstrate in Boise, Idaho, and they’ll hold candles until dawn along the banks of Lake Hollingsworth near Orlando, Fla. In more than 150 cities around the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland City Council approves controversial sale of publicly owned plaza
PORTLAND — The Portland City Council decided on Monday night to sell about two-thirds of the publicly owned Congress Square Park to private developers, who wish to use the space to expand on the former Eastland Park Hotel. The deal proposal, which was amended several times during more than two hours of council deliberation Monday […]