Did you know it's a crime in Maine to call someone whos black a nigger if it causes them emotional distress?
"We will not tolerate white nationalist groups’ ideology, intimidation or rhetoric – not in our communities, our workplaces or our homes,” they said. “Amid the recent rise in extremism, the Legislature has taken steps to bolster the Maine Civil Rights Act and better protect our communities. … We have also begun to explore whether or not additional laws are needed.”
One new law will require every police department to designate a civil rights officer who is specially trained to identify and investigate civil rights violations.
Another new law will prohibit anyone from “intentionally interfering or attempting to intentionally interfere with another person’s exercise or enjoyment of that person’s civil rights by engaging in any conduct that would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress or to fear death or bodily injury when that conduct is motivated by reason of race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Emotional distress is defined in Maine law as “mental or emotional suffering of the person … as evidenced by anxiety, fear, torment or apprehension that may or may not result in a physical manifestation of emotional distress or a mental health diagnosis.”
Under the law, the state’s attorney general or private citizens will be able to file civil rights claims for attempts to cause emotional distress based on a person’s race, sexual orientation or other factors. State law already allows such claims in cases of physical force or violence, threats of physical harm, property damage or trespass.