Greater Bangor Area NAACP P. O. Box 415 Stockton Springs, ME 04981 207 548-2081 February 6, 2015 Brent Colbry, Superintendent Superintendent’s Office 196 West Front Street Skowhegan, ME 04976 Dear Superintendent Colbry: The Greater Bangor Area NAACP is dedicated to universal civil rights and to the eradication of all forms of racism. We realize that, in the past, Maine schools ignored symbols of racism as a matter of custom. But we all know that openly offensive symbols of racism need to disappear from schools and from all other areas of Maine’s civic life. The implications of cultural violence imbedded in Skowhegan’s High School’s nickname and mascot are deeply offensive to Native people. Just as important, the nickname and mascot degrades your community’s standing. This is a problem that, with good will, could easily be resolved. In fact, this is an opportunity for your community to respect itself by coming to terms with the need for change. The GBA NAACP stands behind the tribes’ efforts to resolve this issue once and for all. We would very much like to be able to applaud your school system for its ability to mature in its social conscience. I am attaching a copy of a petition that the NAACP set out at our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Celebration on January 19, 2015. If we’d had more blank sheets available at the breakfast, I am confident that we would have filled five or more additional pages, as there was that much interest expressed. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Greater Bangor Area NAACP P. O. Box 415 Stockton Springs, ME 04981 207 548-2081 We hope that you will reconsider your prior administrative decision to maintain offensive names. We will support the tribes in every way possible in their efforts toward this end. With regards, Michael Alpert President, GBA NAACP cc: Barry Dana, Former Chief, Penobscot Nation Monique Poulin, Principal, SAHS "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.