NAACP and students rally against hate crimes

October 12, 2006
By Greta Sproul

Close to 100 people turned out for an anti-hate rally on the UMaine campus last Wednesday. The focus of the rally was the racist attack on Trenton resident Sarah Norris last month. Norris, who is a 21-year-old African-American woman, was pulling into a parking spot outside the Tideway Market in Trenton when Robert Dow, 59, of Franklin attacked her. Dow reportedly shouted racial slurs at Norris before throwing a beer can at her and then kicking her in the stomach. Norris was seven months pregnant at the time, and following the attack, began having contractions. She was able to drive herself to the hospital where the contractions finally subsided and she was allowed to go home. Earlier this month, Norris gave birth to a healthy baby girl whom she named Jasmine. Her attacker was arrested at the time of the incident and will go on trial later this year.

Last week’s rally on the UMaine campus was organized by Greater Bangor Area NAACP president emeritus James Varner and student government president Adam Kirkland. Among the featured speakers at the rally were UMaine Dean of Students Robert Dana, Orono representative Emily Cain, Assistant Attorney General Tom Harnett, State Senator Elizabeth Schneider, and Sarah Norris. A highlight of the rally was an announcement by Varner that Jasmine Norris would be the recipient of a college scholarship courtesy of the Greater Bangor-Area NAACP and UMaine’s Human Rights Coalition.

Varner officially stepped down as president of the Bangor area NAACP on Sept. 29 after 15 years of service to the organization. In his letter of resignation, Varner cited “feeling tired” and “needed at home” as the two main reasons for his decision to resign, but promised not to “fade into the sunset.”

Joseph Perry, who has been serving as Vice President, will assume Varner’s place.