GREAT EVENT IN KENNEBUNKPORT

It was a great demonstration in Kennebunkport yesterday. The police said there were 4,000 people there which is just what the lead organizer Jamilla El-Shafei was predicting.

In the photo above is Carlos Arredondo holding a photo of his son Alex who was killed in Iraq two years ago yesterday. Carlos, and his wife Melida, now spend their lives traveling around the country trying to end this insane occupation of Iraq.

My favorite speaker at the rally was former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney from Atlanta, Georgia. The Democratic party ran her out of the Congress because she kept standing up and asking the hard questions. She was the first to enter a Bush impeachment resolution into the House of Representatives. There is some talk now that she might run for President on the Green Party ticket or for her old House seat as a Green. Either way she is staying in the middle of things.

Our march went well considering we had the 40 or so Gathering of Eagles and other Bush supporters to contend with. As we passed by them during the march they had about a dozen guys on motorcycles revving up their engines and making lots of noise. They were taunting us, screaming in our faces, trying to provoke folks but our peacekeepers got between us and them and we had no problems. I saw the "Eagles" go hardest after women who were members of Military Families Speak Out. They were calling them vulgar names and saying very hurtful things to them.

The Portland newspaper this morning had two large articles and quite a few photos. Look at here at this link: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/

Our next big demo in Maine is the September 15 protest in Brunswick of the Blue Angels air show at the Navy Base. I am coordinating the event for Maine Veterans for Peace and we hope you will come out and march with us then.

If anyone doubts that those running this Iraq occupation scheme don't intend to bring the troops home take a look at this Washington Post story that acknowledges that the powers that be are planning at least a 10-year occupation - I'd suggest they intend for it to last til the oil is all gone.