Join in Afternoon Rally on Steps of City Hall

(Portland) –The Maine Fair and Independent Courts Coalition announced today it will hold a rally and speak out against the confirmation of Judge Alito.  Advocates for clean air and clean water, workplace protections, disability rights, and the right to privacy are united in their concern about Alito’s 15-year record of hostility to the rights and liberties that Maine people value.

“While Alito has worked to distance himself from this record during the Judiciary Committee hearings this week, he has repeatedly mischaracterized his past actions and statements while refusing to give adequate answers about where he stands on the right to privacy and governmental intrusion,” said Chris Quint of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, who will speak at Saturday’s rally. “Judge Alito cannot hide from a consistent pattern of decisions as a judge and a clearly stated legal philosophy that will put Maine people’s right to privacy at risk.”

The Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition represents 40 organizations and over 100,000 individuals concerned about the nomination of Judge Alito to a lifetime seat on the nation’s highest court. 

WHO:

• Rebecca Hershey, NAACP/Maine
• Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison, Maine Interfaith Council for Reproductive Choices
• Barbara Winterson, Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club
• Chris Quint, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
• Ned McCann, Maine AFL-CIO
• And Maine activists who wish to speak out against Judge Alito’s confirmation

WHAT: Rally and Speak Out against the confirmation of Judge Alito

WHEN: Saturday, January 14, 1:00 to 1:45 pm, rain or shine!

WHERE: Steps of Portland City Hall

VISUALS: Organizational banners, signs, and activist station.

Maine’s 40-member Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition was founded in 2004 to monitor appointments to the federal bench.  Members include the following:

American Association of University Women-Maine
 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Common Cause
Dirigo Alliance
Disability Rights Center of Maine
Equality Maine
Environmental Health Strategy Center
 Family Planning Association of Maine
 Greater Bangor National Organization for Women
Greater Portland National Organization for Women
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
 Latino Health
League of Independent Voters
Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center
Maine AFL-CIO
Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods
Maine Center on Deafness
Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community
Maine Choice Coalition
Maine Citizen Leadership Fund
Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
Maine Council of Senior Citizens
Maine Interfaith Council for Reproductive Choices
Maine National Organization for Women
Maine People’s Alliance
Maine Toxics Action Coalition
Maine Women’s Fund
Maine Women's Lobby
Many and One Coalition
NAACP Portland Branch
National Association of Social Workers-ME Chapter
National Environmental Trust-Maine
National Lawyers Guild
Passamaquoddy Tribe of Pleasant Point
Peace Action Maine
Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
Sierra Club-ME Chapter
Women in Need, Inc.
Women Unlimited