PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 5, 2022
We were shocked and upset to read that the governor has written to the Portland International Jetport requesting that PETA’s ads be removed. The collapse of many North Atlantic fish species is not in dispute. Gov. Mills’ letter appears to be an attempt by a powerful political figure to stop the legitimate expression of opinion by a group with whom she disagrees. PETA’s ads are neither hate speech nor attempting to incite any violence. An alternative response by the governor, or the fishing industry, would be to purchase and post a contrary ad with a message that shows how PETA’s claims, in their view, are inaccurate. Isn’t this the “marketplace of ideas” that the First Amendment is designed to protect, in this way enhancing democracy? ~ Roberta de Araujo and Ron Kreisman, Portland