War protesters rally in Rockland 250 march to oppose Iraq invasion

ROCKLAND – A parade of 250 war protesters marched down Main Street on Saturday to spread their message of peace.

“Right now, the whole world is holding its breath,” Phil Worden of Northeast Harbor said, “but no more than the common people of Iraq.”

A rally at Harbor Park kicked off The Midcoast Peace and Justice Group’s war protest, which was followed by a walk of more than a mile through the city’s downtown and then back to the waterfront for an open-mike session.

“This war is not inevitable, and we can stop it,” Worden said, indicating that the people’s voice is what drove President Bush to go to the United Nations rather than to war alone.

“George Bush is backing down,” he said.

The peaceful protesters have been gathering at other locations around the state for rallies and candlelight vigils. Saturday’s rally was hailed by organizers as a “family-friendly, peaceful protest.” Young and old joined the gathering, while a few people who could not attend sent letters of support.

“Death is not the only toll that has been taken of Iraqi children as a result of the ongoing war and the economic sanctions imposed 12 years ago,” Olive Pierce of Rockland said at the rally. “In addition to being malnourished and subjected to fear for the entirety of their lives, many of them have been corrupted.”

In March 1999, Pierce spent 10 days in Iraq for a photography shoot that will be on exhibit at the Farnsworth Art Museum from Dec. 8 through March 16.

“We who are in opposition must hold in our hearts that war with Iraq is not inevitable, and that the sanctions will be lifted,” she said.

“It matters that we speak out,” Pierce said. “It matters that we are here today together. But even if we are standing alone with a candle by the side of the road, and nobody honks going by, it still makes a difference that we are there.”

Letters from a couple in their 80s and a 96-year-old woman were read to the group.

“God bless your work,” the couple wrote, noting that although they are unable to make a financial contribution, “our love and blessings are with all of you.”

“I am 96 years old and have been through enough wars,” the woman wrote, noting that she lost her son in World War II.

“Surely the large demonstrations, etc., against violence will show Bush that most people are against war,” she wrote.

The swarm of protesters waved signs that read, “Don’t confuse Saddam with Osama” and “There is no way to peace, peace is the way,” and that displayed peace symbols and American flags.

Sally Cartwright of Tenants Harbor maneuvered through the crowd in her wheelchair carrying two messages on her placard. “We stand firmly against ‘imperial’ America and the Bush push for war” and on the flip side, “We stand for peace.”

Members of Veterans for Peace also carried banners protesting war.

In 1968, Rob Pfeiffer of Hope served in the military in Vietnam “in a very unconscious state,” he said. Since that time, he has spent his life trying to convince others not to go to war.

“We need to get rid of war toys,” he said.

“And war games,” the crowd chanted.

“War is the worst environmental disaster we can create,” Pfeiffer said. “War is obsolete.”