Lewiston, Maine (AP) - 10 years lewiston city mayor caused a storm in a teacup, said city somalia quickly growth of the population, the immigrant community a new the mayor's speech caused a wave of anger, and called for his resignation.
Somali immigrants and their supporters in the former factory in Maine central city mayor Robert McDonald said should apologize to step down repeat what they say anti-immigration speech,, including told the BBC the interviewer immigration "accept our culture, leave your cultural doors."
A group of about 50 protesters outside the city hall meeting Thursday at 1400 McDonald's office petition, called for him to resign.
The mayor's speech sounds like he told immigration to give up their faith and their language, their identity, nim Yonis said, 26, about 6000 Somali refugees living in lewiston and surrounding city one of auburn. The mayor words is bitter, harmful, "on behalf of hate," she said.
"Basically, he told we forget who we are," Yonis said. "Just put your culture in the door leave what you believe in, your position, of who you are, at the door."
MacDonald had tried to clarify his speech, he said, immigrants should try to fit into the American culture. He said he's comments were out of context, and claimed that he had never said anything about Somali discount.
McDonald's in his office on Thursday did not immediately return a by the Associated Press telephone message.
His words rekindle the memories of ten years ago, in 2002, the mayor larry Raymond wrote a letter for Somali leaders dissuade friends and family move to lewiston, said the resources of the city, "maxed out."
The first of the Somali immigrants arrived lewiston in early 2001, mobile 40 miles north of Portland, because rich, low price of housing. Raymond time to his letter, nearly 1000 Somali has transferred to the lewiston area.
Indignations, his letter has caused the attention of international society, and caused 4000 people rally in Bates college, urging Mainers accept the influx of immigrants. At the meeting, calling on out of somalia a few white supremacist gathered in other parts of the city.
Incumbent mayor, critics say, McDonald's have been repeatedly inflammatory statements of the Somali population.
He in the local weekly wrote: "a Somali women become disgusting customer in a grocery store cashier." He also wrote that he was tired of about Somali news reports treatment is very poor, most of the complaints, he wrote, from "hiss call white don't favor... speculators friend."
Afterwards, he told reporters, immigrants should not "insert your culture, it is simply not work, to us, it doesn't."
Mark Cayer of lewiston city council chairman, reading is one of his people, not on behalf of the board of directors or the city as a whole, a statement Thursday, on behalf of the committee said, the mayor's opinion.
Last month by Raymond in 2002, McDonald words to write this letter is two completely different scenarios and two different moments, "he said.




Other News:
Maine mayor: Somalis should leave culture at door
Obama, Romney: Rivals with little personal history
Study: Free birth control leads to fewer abortions
U.S. investigators visit Libya compound where ambassador was killed
Republicans press Clinton on Libyan security
Presidential debates: Game-changers or time-wasters
Medicare fines over hospitals' readmitted patients
Iowa and New Hampshire, show us your election!