Peace Talk — Autumn 2005
The Quarterly Newsletter of Peace Action MaineThe blue anti-war sign that reads “War is Not the Answer” was displayed in Sen. Susan Collins’ ground-floor office window in Lewiston for six hours on August 26th. Inside the office, about 50 people participated in reading the names of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and an equal number of innocent Iraqi civilians who have been killed since the U.S. “preemptive” shock and awe attack in 2003.
It was the fifth time in recent months that peace activists from around Maine occupied a congressional office to bring the reality of war to the politicians, who continue to ignore growing public opinion. Previous readings have been done in Portland and Bangor.
There’s a small park across Lisbon Street where we set up signs, banners, and a literature table. Peter Stewart, of South Montville, sat at the table all day talking with passers-by. A few of them crossed the street and joined the office occupation for a while.
Hundreds of people packed the Portland High School Auditorium on July 17 for a town hall meeting to tell Rep. Tom Allen how they felt about the war in Iraq.
The Lewiston Sun Journal and a local tv station covered the event extensively.
Dud Hendrick and Pat Wheeler came down from Deer Isle and brought a huge banner that was blank except for the words “Iraq War Dead.” As each name was read, an X was marked. By the end of the day the banner was completely covered in X-marks.
Veterans for Peace member Richard Clement, of Gardiner, brought his large notebook filled with the names of U.S. soldiers who have died. He has had to start a second notebook to hold the growing list of names of dead GI’s.
The reading of the names idea started months ago with Karen Wainberg of Portland, Mary Beth Sullivan of Brunswick, and me Among the organizers for the Lewiston event special thanks go to Judy and Kevin Simpson, Bonnie Shulman, and Bonnie Lounsbury, all from the Lewiston/Auburn area.
We are talking about doing the next reading at Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office in Biddeford some time in October. We must continue to put pressure on our senators to hold town hall meetings on Iraq. If you want to help, call me at 729-0517.