Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
Bob Walter, husband of protest organizer Jamilla el Sharfei, makes signs Thursday for the weekend event.
Posted on 08/24/2007 11:28:52 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
Peace activists are hoping this weekend's anti-war protest in Kennebunkport will be a catalyst for broadening the anti-war movement to encompass environmental, labor, health care and social justice issues.
"We need to talk about the systemic change that is needed in our country to keep us from going into future wars," said Jamilla el Sharfei, the event organizer.
El Sharfei has been planning the three-day protest for almost a year, and has worked to supplement the anti-war theme by including representatives of the Southern Maine Labor Council AFL-CIO, veterans groups, the Unitarian Universalist Church, the International Socialist Organization and Maine Lawyers for Democracy.
The event is expected to draw several thousand people.
"People from different movements are coming together because we realize the problems we have to tackle cannot be handled by one group alone," el Sharfei said.
"One of the things I like about (this demonstration) is that it's not just against something," said Bruce Gagnon, who is helping organize the march. "In this case, we're also saying yes to converting the military-industrial complex" budget into resources to address global warming, infrastructure needs, and health and education costs in the United States.
Meanwhile, a veterans group plans to stage a counterprotest along the demonstration route.
Police and organizers expect thousands to attend, and it could be the largest such demonstration in town history.
"We want to show the people, the press and the nation that there are two sides to the story, and we are the other side," said Byron Grant, regional coordinator for Gathering of Eagles, a veterans group that formed in response to demonstrations against the Iraq war.
"We plan to be on the streets supporting the troops, our president and our country," he said.
The weekend's centerpiece – a rally and march Saturday to the Bush family compound at Walker's Point – is expected to draw up to 6,000 protesters, which would make it the biggest protest in town history.
Previously, the largest protest was a 1992 AIDS march by ACT UP. In June, about 1,700 protesters turned out when President Bush met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Walker's Point.
President Bush will not be in town during the protest, according to Police Chief Joe Bruni.
"This will probably rival or surpass the 1992 demonstration," Bruni said Wednesday. "I think we've shown over the years that we're extremely tolerant of people expressing their views in our town. We just ask that it's done in an orderly and lawful fashion and that they leave without a trace."
Bruni said officers from Sanford, Wells, Kennebunk and Biddeford police departments; the York County Sheriff's Department; and the Maine State Police will all assist local police.
The rally will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kennebunkport's Consolidated School, followed by a four-mile march to Walker's Point that will loop back to the school.
The main speaker will be peace activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq.
Sheehan became a rallying figure for the anti-war movement when she set up "Camp Casey" in honor of her slain son near the Texas ranch of President Bush.
Other highlights include an appearance by presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and a post-march performance by the Indigo Girls.
One family coming from New Orleans will be bringing their FEMA trailer, el Sharfei said, with the message that President Bush has not adequately addressed the disaster there.
Sheehan will set up a temporary "Camp Casey" in Kennebunkport, and another family, Melida and Carlos Arredondo, will set up "Camp Alex" in honor of their son who also died in Iraq. The camps will be on a 100-acre farm, and about 100 campers will be spending the weekend there, el Sharfei said.
Suppers, lectures, dances and other events will be held at the farm and in several other locations in the Kennebunkport area.
Gagnon said he isn't surprised by the huge number of people interested.
in participating this weekend.
"It's the tenor of the times. There is tremendous frustration with the entire system right now. People see an entire breakdown in politics in America, and we see both (political) parties playing games with this war," Gagnon said.
Democrats, he said, "rode the anti-war horse into office and then got off it and put it in the stable. They hardly even feed it."
As they have at other recent Kennebunkport protests, anti-war veterans groups will lead the march, he said.
"We want them, those who really know war, to be carrying the lead banner," Gagnon said.
Meanwhile, Grant said, the veterans joining the Gathering of Eagles counterprotest don't like war, "but we believe we've got to end the war, not desert the war."
"We've got to end it there. To leave Iraq before the job is done is inviting them to come here and have another 9/11," Grant said. "We want the war over, but we want it over properly."
Grant said he expects 50 participants, but noted that they have always had support from local residents who come out and stand with them during protests.
"Local people are just sick and tired of these protests," he said.
A full schedule of speakers and events can be found at www.kportprotest.org.
Sheehan will set up a temporary "Camp Casey" in Kennebunkport, and another family, Melida and Carlos Arredondo, will set up "Camp Alex" in honor of their son who also died in Iraq. The camps will be on a 100-acre farm
Farm location not posted:
Saturday, Aug. 25, at 10 am: ANTI-WAR PROTEST RALLY & MARCH in Kennebunkport, ME. Park at the Kennebunk High School on Rte. 35 in Kennebunk (between the I-95 exit for Kennebunk and downtown Kennebunk). There will be a shuttle bus (suggested donation $4) to the rally site in Kennebunkport. The day will begin with a rally near The Consolidated School on School Street in Kennebunkport. Join Cindy Sheehan, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, retired Colonel Ann Wright, George Paz Martin co-chair of UFPJ, Melida and Carlos Arredondo, Greg Speeter from National Priorities, Bruce Gagnon as well as the Indigo Girls, Inanna, Pat Scanlon, Dave Rovics, hip hop group BOJAH and the INSURRECTION and others. The march to the Bush compound on Walker's Point will begin at approximately noon. Last year the protest in Kennebunkport attracted media outlets from Boston to International reporters and White House correspondents. The story appeared in over 140 media outlets all over the world. This will be another chance to have our call to end the US occupation of Iraq heard. Veterans... ME Veterans for Peace is providing free housing to VFP. College students... free camping at a farm near Kennebunkport.
We welcome your signs, street theater and floats (non-motorized) for the march to Walker's Point. VOLUNTEERS needed! Please contact Jamilla at jamillaelshafei@yahoo.com and see www.kportprotest.org.
What a scam. I wonder if they bothered to get a Canning Permit?
Snicker!
I think this protest runs afoul of the Mass Gathering ordinance in Kennebunkport.
Let’s see: “protest organizer Jamilla el Sharfei” what a great surprise! Anti-war demonstrations being organized by Islamists and aging hippies. Who’d of thunk it?
Don't they know that the farm in Woodstock has gone condo?
For Pete's sake, if 9/11 happened in 2010 instead of 2001, there would be no anti-war marches because all these moldy old hippies would have gone to the Big Bong In The Sky.
Get off your ass and get a job instead of schlepping around your FEMA trailer. How long have you had to look for a job? Buy a newspaper while in Maine and read the "help wanted" section.
Sorry, Jobs All Taken!
“We need to talk about the systemic change that is needed in our country to keep us from going into future wars,” said Jamilla el Sharfei, the event organizer.
I think we need to talk about how these commie dirtbags want to turn our great nation into a cesspool of Godless socialim!!!
Thousands of anti-war protestors and “peace activists”....
The smell! The smell!!
About Bojah & the Insurrection
Bojah and the Insurrection first gained national attention during the rise of opposition to the US invasion of Iraq. Performing at anti-war rallies and events of tens of thousands in Central Park, Boston, DC, and Chicago, the band quickly became a featured guest at many colleges across the country. Their anti-police brutality anthems also brought them into the heart of embattled Black communities from Cincinnati to Philadelphia to New York City.
This talented ensemble performs a stunning live show that combines the best elements of soul, funk, hip hop and spoken word, and delivers a cutting edge political manifesto that hits hard like Public Enemy, funks like Sly and the Family Stone, and elevates like Bob Marley. That's why their brand of spoken soul hop is the fusion for today's confusion.
Controversy is also a companion to a band like this. And if they haven't gotten your attention yet they certainly have the attention of Uncle Sam. Bandleader, Bojah, is currently fighting an attempt by the US government to penalize him for performing at the 9th International Hip Hop festival in Havana in August of 2003. This fight has become a flashpoint in a worldwide controversy over U.S.-Cuba relations.
Establishing themselves as Domeland Security in a direct battle of ideas with White House, Hollywood, MTV, BET, and Grammy propaganda, Bojah and the Insurrection seem destined to takeover the airwaves in your town and in your mind. In a time where mass disinformation and maniuplation of images is the order of the day, Bojah and the Insurrection are what we all need to keep our minds free. END
bojahtheinsurrection Soul / Rock / Crunk / "Free The Cubans"
Have to admit, even though I disagree on some issues with Bojah, I like the "music"!!!
If the music can float across the harbor there, I can picture George and Barbara on the lawn "dancing however President's dance"!! These Peace rallies come and go like the tides surrounding the compound. Might as well enjoy.
I always felt like Sheehan was sort of stalking the president. Isn’t stalking against the law?
I have to admit I agree that the aging Vietnam generation (I am of it so I have the right to say this) is the worst thing that has happened to this country and it will be useful when that generation passes on, unlike the WWII generation. It was a real loss to the country when they left us.
Get over it anti-warriors!! You just are not generating any buzz. Even BEFORE the war began your results weren’t that great. Lately they have been pathetic. Your glory days are not returning. 9-11 guraranteed that, Iraq war or not.
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Gathering of Eagles Kennebunkport ME Rally Sat. 8/25 - Cindy Sheehan Alert! (East Coast Eagles UP!)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Bump
Bump. Arrrrrgh. I’m still running a fever.
The main speaker will be peace activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq.
Cindy Sheehan? Wasn’t she in Viet Nam?
Seems that Sheehag cares more about her son Dead than she ever did when he was Alive. Him and herself seem to be the only ones in her family she cares about.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
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