PORTLAND – A spokeswoman for the Southern Maine Chapter of the Million Mom March says a lawsuit accusing her of defaming a group of machine gun activists is without merit.

Cathie Whittenburg, who filed her response to the lawsuit Friday in Kennebec County Superior Court, came under attack for comments surrounding the Hiram Maxim Historical Society’s annual machine gun shoot.

The Million Mom March planned to protest but changed its mind. Whittenburg was quoted as saying the reason for her decision was that she had received hate mail from someone who claimed to be affiliated with the group.

The group contends whoever sent the e-mail was not affiliated with the group and that her comments were defamatory.

Her lawyer, William S. Harwood, said he was outraged by the lawsuit, which he said is intended to silence Whittenburg.