Maine Peacemakers Rally to Urge Candidates to End the War
Bangor-Mainers will gather on Saturday, September l3th at 1:00 p.m. at Paul Bunyan Park in Bangor to send a message to candidates and congresspeople. Hundreds will rally to call on elected officials and candidates to ”End the War. Build the Peace. Rebuild the Economy.” A “Peace Walk” to a talk by journalist, Amy Goodman at the Hammond Street Church in Bangor will follow the rally.
“With all the focus on political campaigns and candidates, its important that we the people make our voices heard. We want all the candidates to know we want to see an end to the occupation of Iraq and a foreign policy based on misinformation and military domination. Such policies drain resources needed here in Maine, and around the world. These policies don't increase our security at home or abroad,” said Al Larson, member of Veterans for Peace Chapter 003, one of the sponsoring organizations.
Speakers at the rally will include Mary Trotochaud, who with her husband Rick McDowell lived in Iraq after 2003 and who continue to maintain contact with Iraqis. Hosain Aghamoosa, an Iranian American history student at the University of Maine; Katrina Bisheimer, a Maine labor activist; Doug Crate a Bangor area social worker, and others.
Performances will feature folk/rock/blues/country singers/songwriters Larry and Leslie Latour, Judd Esty-Kendall, Marsha Lyons and Cora Rose.
Amy Goodman, host of “Democracy Now” will speak at 3:00 p.m. at the Hammond Street Church, 23 High Street in Bangor after a “Peace Walk” from the rally led by Veterans for Peace. Her talk will be presented by WERU which broadcasts her program locally.
Sponsoring organizations include Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine,Veterans for Peace 003 Chapter, Maine People's Alliance, Orono Peace GroupWaterville Area Bridges for Peace and Justice, Northern Maine Peace & Justice (Aroostook County), Ellsworth Peace & Justice,Peace & Social Action Committee of Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth, Bar Harbor Vigil for PeaceMDI Peace & Justice, Pax Christi Maine Peace & Justice Group of Waldo County, From Every Village Green, Resources for Organizing and Social Change,Peace Action Maine, h.o.m.e. Inc., St. Francis Community and others. To co-sponsor or for more information call 942-9343 or visit www.peacectr.org