A Maine man facing federal charges for his role in the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol railed against a proposed education center for new immigrants in a 2017 State House hearing.In a video obtained by WMTW News, Kyle Fitzsimons said he had grown up in New York and Rhode Island and thought those states were “multicultural hell holes.”During Fitzsimons’ three-minute testimony before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, he admonished lawmakers for, in his view, ignoring the opiate addiction crisis and focusing instead on aiding immigrants. “There was an audible gasp in the room at the time. I remember it very clearly,” said former State Senator Roger Katz, recalling the hearing on his proposal to fund new English language skills programs in Lewiston. The 37-year-old was arrested by the FBI on Thursday and is accused of participating in the violent clashes between rioters and capitol police officers in January. According to a criminal complaint, he is facing charges for assault on a federal office, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, certain acts during a civil disorder and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful knowledge.The Lebanon man told lawmakers he thought the bill would “usurp” job positions in Maine that could be filled by “millennials from inside the nation.” “There is a fair amount of veiled racism in our country. Mr. Fitzsimons was not an example. He was right out front about it,” Katz said. Fitzsimons closed out his rant with “Keep Maine, Maine. The state motto is ‘I lead – Dirigo.’ OK? It’s got two white laborers on it. Don’t put them at the end of the line.”He is set to appear in federal court next week.Katz hopes the video which became widely circulated in recent days on social media might reinvigorate discussion on the value of investment in support services for new Mainers. “Legal immigrants, I think, are part of the solution to our economic stagnation, and if we want to try to attract them and be a welcoming state, as I think we should, we’ve got to be welcoming in some tangible ways,” Katz said. On Saturday, Portland Police confirmed Fitzsimons has been identified as the person who left a suspicious package outside the Portland Museum of Art two weeks ago, prompting road closures and a massive law enforcement response. A spokesperson for the agency said no additional details on the incident could be provided, citing ongoing talks with the District Attorney’s office.
A Maine man facing federal charges for his role in the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol railed against a proposed education center for new immigrants in a 2017 State House hearing.
In a video obtained by WMTW News, Kyle Fitzsimons said he had grown up in New York and Rhode Island and thought those states were “multicultural hell holes.”
During Fitzsimons’ three-minute testimony before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, he admonished lawmakers for, in his view, ignoring the opiate addiction crisis and focusing instead on aiding immigrants.
“There was an audible gasp in the room at the time. I remember it very clearly,” said former State Senator Roger Katz, recalling the hearing on his proposal to fund new English language skills programs in Lewiston.
The 37-year-old was arrested by the FBI on Thursday and is accused of participating in the violent clashes between rioters and capitol police officers in January. According to a criminal complaint, he is facing charges for assault on a federal office, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, certain acts during a civil disorder and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful knowledge.
The Lebanon man told lawmakers he thought the bill would “usurp” job positions in Maine that could be filled by “millennials from inside the nation.”
“There is a fair amount of veiled racism in our country. Mr. Fitzsimons was not an example. He was right out front about it,” Katz said.
Fitzsimons closed out his rant with “Keep Maine, Maine. The state motto is ‘I lead – Dirigo.’ OK? It’s got two white laborers on it. Don’t put them at the end of the line.”
He is set to appear in federal court next week.
Katz hopes the video which became widely circulated in recent days on social media might reinvigorate discussion on the value of investment in support services for new Mainers.
“Legal immigrants, I think, are part of the solution to our economic stagnation, and if we want to try to attract them and be a welcoming state, as I think we should, we’ve got to be welcoming in some tangible ways,” Katz said.
On Saturday, Portland Police confirmed Fitzsimons has been identified as the person who left a suspicious package outside the Portland Museum of Art two weeks ago, prompting road closures and a massive law enforcement response.
A spokesperson for the agency said no additional details on the incident could be provided, citing ongoing talks with the District Attorney’s office.
