Hells Angels Airshow Protest in Brunswick, Maine

On Friday the Navy Blue Angels (Hells Angels) came to Brunswick, Maine and spent half the day flying low, just over our heads, as a way to 'build interest' for the air show that would be held over the weekend at the former naval air base in our community. The short clip above was taken right in front of our apartment.

Then on Saturday morning we began lining up just before 8:30 am outside the closed base as legions of vehicles were already crawling toward the air show parking lots. 

Over 30 of us from around the state spent the next three hours in the hot sun with our signs and banners making eye contact with those inching by in the traffic snarl. Most had their windows up but a decent number were reacting positively to the wonderful activist 'Ideal Maine Band' out of Portland that played again (for the 3rd time) during one of our many air show protests over the years. 

We've often heard that Maine is one of the easiest states in the nation where the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines can find eager new recruits due to our depressed economy. Thus lots of air shows have been held in our mid-coast town.

Some years ago a group of us paid to go inside and handed out hundreds of flyers opposing these air shows. We were not surprised by how much of the event was centered on recruitment with big tents for each branch of the military offering fancy video games for the young kids to practice killing 'the bad guys'. After checking out that scene our group on that occasion carried our banner and stood underneath a B-1 bomber. We figured we'd quickly get arrested but they appeared not to want to 'make a scene' by cuffing and dragging us off to jail in front of the enormous crowd. (Click on photo for better view)

Surprisingly yesterday we got a decent amount of waves and peace signs from those entering though we did get many more negatives (middle fingers, thumps down, shouts, and snarls) from Trump's adoring militarist fan club. 

But we were most interested in making eye contact with the kids in the back seats of the cars and many of them rewarded us with curiosity, smiles and waves. Sometimes it is best to take the long term view.

All in all it was a good day. We were able to bring a determined and colorful anti-imperial opposition to another 'USA war mongering event' in our community.

Bruce

• Our next statewide monthly peace protest will be held in Bangor on Saturday, July 25 at 11:00 am at the downtown West Market Square.

~ Photos and videos by MB Sullivan