Tragically, we are a nation that has targeted immigrants before. In the 1850s, it was the Irish. In the 1880s, it was the Chinese. In the 1890s, it was the Italians. In the 1940s, it was the Japanese. In the 1920s, the Maine Ku Klux Klan targeted French-Canadian immigrants.

We are also a nation in which “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” (Declaration of Independence, 1776). The Statue of Liberty welcomes all with these words, “”Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free (Emma Lazarus, 1883).

We are a nation and a state with a choice.

Avelo Airlines is now flying out of the Portland International Jetport using city of Portland incentives while also contracting with ICE to fulfill its racist and unlawful deportation policy. There is no excuse for the city of Portland and the Portland International Jetport to cooperate and subsidize Avelo Airlines. There is no need for Portland residents to pay more than $1,200 per week (and possibly up to $100,000 through Portland’s “marketing incentive program”) to support Avelo’s racist policy.

If this means no airline gets incentives, then so be it.

It is past time to cancel Avelo’s taxpayer subsidies and all Jetport incentives if necessary! Those who are concerned about this should write the Portland Jetport, Avelo and the Portland City Council. No airline is worth the price of our morality, decency, courage and humanity.

Rev. Allison Smith
Harpswell