Organizing Notes

Bruce Gagnon is coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. He offers his own reflections on organizing and the state of America's declining empire....

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Location: Brunswick, ME, United States

The collapsing US military & economic empire is making Washington & NATO even more dangerous. US could not beat the Taliban but thinks it can take on China-Russia-Iran...a sign of psychopathology for sure. We must all do more to help stop this western corporate arrogance that puts the future generations lives in despair. @BruceKGagnon

Monday, August 21, 2023

Two weekend protests in Ellsworth, Maine

 

Click on the photos for a better view

 




Passing the microphone at the closing circle

 

Seventeen folks from across Maine gathered at a busy intersection in Ellsworth on Saturday for our monthly peace protest. The intersection is located at the key highway for visitors heading to the famous Acadia National Park. During this time of year tourists are coming from all over the world to this spot so it is a good place to reach literally thousands of people with our messages.

Just before the protest Mary Beth and I visited some friends who live on Deer Isle. They suggested we take the short hike to the Settlement Quarry preserve which is home to a historic granite quarry. As you can see below the view is amazing.


Recent national polling in the US has revealed that more than 55% of the public now want the Biden regime to stop funding the proxy war on Russia utilizing Ukraine as the trigger. We can feel this trend during our vigils as the positive responses to us on the streets have been steadily increasing.

We've been doing these regular protests for many months now and have visited high-traffic intersections in Portland, Westbrook, Freeport, Topsham, Brunswick, Lewiston, Augusta, Bath, Belfast and now Ellsworth. 

On Saturday, September 23 we will do the same in the town of Unity during the Common Ground Country Fair which always has bumper-to-bumper traffic. We will meet at the intersection of Rt 139 and Hwy 220 at 1:30 pm. There is a pizza joint on that corner where we will have lunch afterwards for some always rewarding socializing time.

Mary Beth and I went to the home of friends Russell and Akemi in Hancock after Saturday's Ellsworth protest. Akemi has a pottery studio called Gull Rock Pottery there. The view from this enchanted place is breathtaking and we enjoyed staying the night with them. 


On Sunday morning Russell and I went for a hike in the woods and then at noon we both (along with Mary Beth and another person) held an hour-long vigil on the Ellsworth bridge. Once again this is another spot loaded with steady traffic.

I memorized the license plates where vehicles had come from. Here is my list from both days in Ellsworth.

Ontario and Nova Scotia in Canada. Washington, California, Montana, South Dakota, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Nevada and of course Maine. I'm sure I missed some.
For those who say holding signs and banners on street corners is a waste of time and not effective - I beg to differ. We are reaching the American people of all types. Rich, poor, working class. Old and young. People of all colors. I love doing it. We are certainly not speaking to 'the choir' as many often complain about our efforts.

 See you down the road.

Bruce 

Photos by Mary Beth Sullivan

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Greetings from Germany! Love to see those signs!

8/21/23, 12:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Admire and respect you all for keeping on as nonviolent vigiling can win over some "hearts and minds!" Yes, it can! The struggle continues!

8/22/23, 3:17 PM  

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