Peace rally to lead to democracy talk

BANGOR – After the two major parties have held their conventions, those concerned that important issues have gotten lost in the political campaigns are sending their own message to candidates and members of Congress, say organizers of a peace rally scheduled for Saturday.

Presque Isle peace activists will carpool to Bangor and join others from Bangor, Orono, Old Town, Hampden, Winterport, Belfast, Waterville, Bar Harbor, Machias and beyond.

Hundreds of Mainers will gather at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at Paul Bunyan Park on Main Street for a rally to call on elected officials and candidates to “End the War. Build the Peace. Rebuild the Economy.”

“With all the focus on political campaigns and candidates, it’s 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 an end to a foreign policy based on misinformation and military domination,” said Al Larson, member of Veterans for Peace Chapter 003, one of the sponsoring organizations. “Such policies drain resources needed here in Maine and around the world. These policies don’t increase our security at home or abroad.”

Speakers will include Mary Trotochaud, who with her husband, Rick McDowell, lived in Iraq after 2003 and who continue to maintain contact with Iraqis.

Also taking part will be Hosain Aghamoosa, an Iranian American history student at the University of Maine; Katrina Bisheimer, Maine labor activist; Doug Crate, Bangor area social worker; Al Larson; and the Rev. David Grainger, Orono Methodist Church.

Performances will feature Maine folk-rock-blues-country singers and songwriters Larry and Leslie Latour, Judd Esty-Kendall, Marsha Lyons and Cora Rose, a student at College of the Atlantic.

A large rolling drum created by Brooks native Peter Baldwin and the Bangor Area Veterans for Peace will lead a “peace walk” from the rally to a talk by Amy Goodman, host of “Democracy Now,” at 3 p.m. at Hammond Street Congregational Church, 23 High St.

Her talk will be presented by WERU Radio, which broadcasts her program locally.

Sponsoring organizations include Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, Veterans for Peace Chapters 001 and 003, Maine People’s Alliance, Orono Peace Group, Waterville Area Bridges for Peace and Justice, Northern Maine Peace & Justice in Aroostook County, Ellsworth Peace & Justice, Peace & Social Action Committee of Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth, Bar Harbor Vigil for Peace, MDI Peace & Justice, Pax Christi Maine, Peace & Justice Group of Waldo County, From Every Village Green, Peace Action Maine, H.O.M.E. Inc., St. Francis Community, Belfast UU Social Justice Committee, Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats, Greater Bangor NAACP, Work for Peace in Washington County, Belfast Raging Grannies, Resources for Organizing and Social Change, Peninsula Peace & Justice, Maine Peace Action Committee, Maine Chapter of Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom.

For more information call 942-9343 or visit www.peacectr.org.