Towns to protesters: Calm down and talk to each other

DEER ISLE—The Towns of Stonington and Deer Isle on June 21 issued a rare joint statement condemning racism after a noose was hung on a telephone wire in Little Deer Isle. (See Forum page 4 of this issue).

- LESLIE LANDRIGAN

Police are investigating what many are calling a hate crime, but have yet to identify a culprit. The noose, though, was the latest and most alarming act in a series of provocations that have roiled the island over the past three weeks.

“Calm down and talk to each other,” was the message the towns sent. “We encourage and are willing to facilitate a thoughtful dialogue about race and class among the residents of Deer Isle and Stonington.”

What happened

The Black Lives Matter protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer spread to Deer Isle, which is unused to such demonstrations. Weekly protests, which began June 7 in Deer Isle village, were punctuated by candlelight vigils, graffiti, vandalism and arguments about race and outsiders.

The provocations about race come at a time of high anxiety on the island. The two main industries, lobster fishing and tourism, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobster prices have plummeted, and environmentalist lawsuits threaten severe restrictions on fishermen as soon as August. Business owners who depend on tourism wonder how long they can survive. Kids can’t play with their friends, parents have had to home school them and everyone is supposed to wear a mask.

Into that charged atmosphere came the Black Lives Matters actions. And, as the towns put it, “Several incidents have crossed the line from social dialogue to harassment, threat, trespass and vandalism.”

Friday night marauders