This is a story I had seen before Thanksgiving but never did get time until today to post. From the Sun Journal, “Mosque Parking Raises Heat at Meeting:”
LEWISTON — Councilors asked Bartlett Street neighbors to talk to each other, hoping to head off bigger problems smoldering between members of a mosque and nearby property owners.
Former City Councilor Denis Theriault, owner of two buildings on the west side of Bartlett Street, just north of Adams Avenue, told councilors he shouldn’t have to work so hard defending his property.
“This happens all the time. These are a confrontational people,” Theriault said. “I’m tired. I don’t think I should have to spend my nights playing policeman protecting my property, and neither should my son.”
He outlined problems he and neighbor Elmer Berry have with the mosque, located across from him at 256 Bartlett St. and used by Lewiston’s Somali Bantu residents, over two hours Tuesday night at a City Council workshop.
Theriault alleged members of the mosque have regularly parked on his property, taking spaces from his tenants, since the mosque opened last year. When he complained, they escalated. They’ve used their cars to block his driveways, left trash behind, thrown rocks onto his property and destroyed his first “No Trespassing” sign.
He responded by putting up a sturdier sign and taking pictures to document what he saw.
They responded, he said, by verbally threatening him. But Theriault, who carries a concealed handgun, said he will not be threatened.
Readers this is only the latest story about the clash of cultures going on in Lewiston, Maine ever since thousands of Somalis picked the rural small city for their secondary migration destination having been originally settled near Atlanta, GA. We have written dozens of posts on Lewiston over the years, but here is one to get you started. You will note in the comments, the “pingbacks” will direct you to more posts on the subject. Also, use our search function for Lewiston. I regret not having created a whole category just on Lewiston, but who knew!