In nearly 100 communities around Maine, citizens will protest the Iraq war on Saturday, the fourth anniversary of President Bush’s announcement of his ultimatum that Saddam Hussein leave Iraq or face a US invasion.
There have been more individual protests around Maine at various times, including sit-ins at the local offices of Maine’s US senators and representatives (see “A Somber Occupation,” by Sara Donnelly, December 16, 2005). Mainers have gone to the nation’s capital to protest, too. And people from around the world have gathered online (see “Out-of-Body Politic,” by Sara Donnelly, February 9) to object to the American presence in Iraq.
But this is the first truly statewide effort to protest the war and the ongoing American occupation.
Daniel Muller, the executive director of Peace Action Maine, is helping to organize the effort, saying “act where you live. You don’t need to go to DC for your voice to be heard.”
Different communities’ events will take different forms: some will hold concerts, or collect donations for Iraq veterans or to help the Iraqi people. In Portland, the events will be spearheaded by a group of fifteen students from Catherine McAuley High School, Deering High School, and the New School (a community-action-oriented magnet school in Kennebunkport).
First, there will be a rally at Monument Square complete with signs, noisemakers, and drums from noon to 2 pm, followed by a showing of Iraq in Fragments, an Oscar-nominated documentary following the lives of Iraqis in US-occupied Iraq, at 2 pm at SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress Street. After the movie, from 3:30 to 5 pm, a panel of veterans, local students, military families, and activists will talk about their Iraq-related experiences, still at SPACE Gallery. Lastly, from 5 to 6 pm, there will be a candlelight walk and vigil through the Old Port.
Protesting towns
March 17 protests will be held in the following 97 Maine towns: Addison, Arrowsic, Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Bar Harbor, Baring, Bath, Belfast, Bremen, Brewer, Brooks, Brooksville, Brunswick, Bucksport, Cambridge, Camden, Castine, Clifton, Cooper, Corinth, Damariscotta, Deer Isle, Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, East Machias, Eastport, Ellsworth, Farmington, Fort Kent, Gorham, Hallowell, Hampden, Hancock, Harpswell, Harrison, Hebron, Holden, Houlton, Hudson, Jackson, Jonesport, Kennebunk, Lamoine, Lewiston, Lincoln, Lubec, Machias, Mattawamkeag, Milford, Millinocket, Milo, Monroe, Montville, Newburgh, Newcastle, Newport, New Vineyard, Old Orchard Beach, Old Town, Orland, Orono, Orrington, Oxford, Pittsfield, Portland, Presque Isle, Ripley, Rockland, Roque Bluffs, Saco, Scarborough, Searsport, Skowhegan, Solon, Somesville, South Paris, Southwest Harbor, Stetson, Steuben, Stockton Springs, Stonington, Surry, Tremont, Trenton, Veazie, Verona Island, Warren, Waterford, Waterville, Wellington, Westbrook, West Paris, Windham, Winterport, Winthrop, Yarmouth.
List current as of March 12.
On the Web
March 17 protests: www.everyvillage-me.us
