Dear Editor:

Since the horrendous death of George Floyd, the nation has seen lawful protests that bring awareness to the heinous actions of certain unlawful police and their poorly managed department in Minneapolis. The horrific sight of this act still shocks and grieves all of us. We want justice to be done for Mr. Floyd and his family.

However, during these protests there has also come a wave of unlawful violence on the part of many individuals that has caused extreme harm to those in law enforcement, firefighters and other necessary responders who are committed to protecting the public while keeping law and order. These looters and vandals, for their own greedy purposes, have destroyed property, set destructive fires and attacked anyone in their way. The costs are high, financially and emotionally, to the cities and the owners who have been targets of these despicable acts of violence. Businesses are now in jeopardy, stores are ruined, stock has vanished and personal lives are in fearful chaos.

While Maine may not have seen the same destruction witnessed in the past few days throughout America, our state has potentially seen something worse: the absolute destruction of our businesses and livelihoods. We are not a rich state. We are a poor and highly taxed state with limited employment opportunities. And now we see a “torching and smashing” of restaurants, camps/fairgrounds, stores, shops, schools, churches and healthcare centers. This outcome is due to the unrealistic policies of Governor Janet Mills and her administration. Her actions have caused state funds to be depleted which will certainly hurt Mainers as they file for unemployment and bankruptcy. She has sucked us dry of money and hope.

A smashed window or door can be restored in days; a torched or graffiti-stained building can take longer; business owners in other states will hopefully survive the vandalism and return to normal. But here in Maine, local businesses and towns for which they exist, that have already suffered through threats from a world-wide pandemic, are now being further annihilated by severe governmental measures, and they will be difficult to resuscitate. Governor Mills has, in effect, put her knee on the neck of Maine.

Elizabeth Printy

Damariscotta