FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: A broad based coalition of individuals and groups throughout Maine are planning events and actions to commemorate five years of war and occupation in Iraq and call for an immediate end to the war.
Events are working to highlight the ‘Winter Soldier’ hearings in DC, which are recent war veterans gathering to testify to the realities of war in Washington March 13-16th. Perry O’Brien, a veteran from Peaks Island, Maine and organizer for the ‘Winter Soldier’ hearings hopes that through the medium of veterans’ firsthand accounts, the public will gain new insight into the concrete abuses perpetuated by what may seem to be abstract foreign policy decisions. “More than just telling stories, our goal is to show what’s going on in both countries that is a result of US military policies,” O’Brien said. “When we say, ‘this is what we saw, this is what we were ordered to do,’ patterns emerge. The patterns show that what the US is doing in Iraq is immoral and in many cases illegal.”
On March 15th, 2008, “From Every Village Green’ will have actions in each county in Maine including a vigil in Portland in Monument Square at Noon, which will be silent to communicate that the voices that should be amplified are those of veterans who are testifying at the hearings. There will also be a rally in Bangor at Paul Bunyan Park, at 1PM. Statewide events are listed at www.everyvillage-me.us.
Peace Action Maine is also hosting a series of events, actions and teach-ins on the war, including:
Thursday, March 13: 7:30 PM “War Made Easy” film showing.
Friday, March 14: 7:00 PM Freedom Spaces performances and open mic- www.freedomspaces.org.
Saturday, March 15: 2:00 PM PAM Teach in on Iraq at the SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress in Portland.
Sunday, March 16: 3:00 PM PAM Lecture; ’ Just War Theory and Pacifism in Religious Tradition’
Thursday, March 20: 7:30 PM “Shadow Company” film showing and discussion on Blackwater and private military contractors.
(*All at the Meg Perry Center at 644 Congress in Portland, unless otherwise noted- Full listings are at www.peaceactionme.org)
For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact 207 772 0680, info [at] peaceactionme [dot] org
