On Sept. 7, I was tabling with some friends from the Maine Poor People’s Campaign at Head of Falls Park in Waterville, providing information about the PPC, talking with various people who are struggling profoundly in our community, and helping a recently evicted, extremely gentle, disabled individual make his way over to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter. Not long before we packed up, we were confronted by a local man who saw our signs and felt a need to share his views with us.

This clearly educated, well-dressed white man had come to shop at the Farmer’s Market, but decided, first, to stop by our table and announce in no uncertain terms that he personally hates poor people, doesn’t want them living on “his” street because “they are all drug addicts,” and especially doesn’t want any Black people living anywhere near him, because “they” are so objectionable, etc.

One might wish to believe this obnoxious, white-supremacist community member was joking, but he was completely serious and he clearly took pleasure in saying “the quiet part out loud.” I don’t believe he’s an outlier, either.

This heartbreaking and infuriating experience made me want to cry and also made me want to punch him in the face. Instead, because I had my guitar with me, we just started singing really loud to drown out his vicious bigotry, but not until after we asked him, as civilly as we could, to please step away from our table, where his nastiness was not welcome. Eventually, he left.

If you think the bigots, white supremacists, and haters of the poor are not living among us, trying to destroy everything that is precious about our shared humanity, please think again. And please do everything you can to resist and reject their cruelty and foster love instead.

Elizabeth Leonard

Waterville