Threats!

That is what happened when the legislature in Maine was holding hearings on bills protecting Maine healthcare providers from out-of-state subpoenas for abortion and trans healthcare.

Bomb threats sent to Maine State House, 2 legislators, Democratic Party

The State House was evacuated Friday morning, but no bomb was found following the hoax threat that promised death to pedophiles.

Kennebec Journal

By Emily Duggan

March 8, 2024

Capitol Police evacuated the State House on Friday morning after bomb threats were made to two legislators, the State House and the Maine Democratic Party, but the claims were deemed hoaxes after nothing was found.

The threat, which was also emailed to the Portland Press Herald, promised death to pedophiles. It included a number of typos, stating: “We are not (going) to stand idly by as you degenerates mutilate our children and push your perverted sexual fantasy upon us.”

The threat went on to claim bombs had been placed at the homes of state Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, and state Sen. Donna Bailey, D-York, as well as at the headquarters for the Maine Democratic Party and the Maine State House. The email claimed bombs would “detonate in a few hours” and ended with an expletive.

While the threat’s motive wasn’t entirely clear, it came after hearings this week by the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee on a contentious bill that would shield Maine’s health care providers from laws in other states that ban or limit abortions or gender-affirming care. Perry and Bailey are the chairs of that committee.

GLBTQ Advocates And Defenders wrote…

Don’t let threats stop critical work and care for our communities

Our community and publicly elected allies are experiencing escalating threats and even violence as LGBTQ+ people are increasingly the subject of politicized, misleading rhetoric and punitive laws. Last Friday, International Women’s Day, this reached a despicable and unacceptable level in Maine. 

In the wake of a virulent disinformation campaign by local and national anti-LGBTQ activists, opponents of LD 227 – a bill to protect Maine health care practitioners who provide legal patient care for transgender people and people seeking reproductive care – made bomb threats at the State and the personal homes of lawmakers. These threats sparked fear and disrupted the work of legislators, non-partisan staff, and Legislative Committees. 

Thankfully, no bomb was found at the State House or in the homes of the legislators who sponsored LD 227. Thankfully, no one was hurt and the work of the legislature was only delayed by a few hours. 

But the message, and the attempt to influence policy through intimidation, were clear: if you cannot win on the merits – win through fear. 

We remain incredibly grateful to the legislators who continue their important work for all people of Maine on the many vital issues impacting them, and who now must do so in the face of these threats.  

So we want to send a different message. A message of gratitude and strength. Of acknowledgment and partnership with legislators committed to making a positive difference for our State.

The far right-wing will go to any lengths against us, even to violence.