CODEPINK

Gaza Freedom March Solidarity Rally December 31, 2009 CODEPINK Maine Waterville, ME

	Central Mainers rallied in support of the Gaza Freedom March at Castonguay Square in downtown Waterville. “Peace, Salaam, Shalom” and snowflakes swirled in the air as a group of 30 activists assembled to express their support for an end to the siege of Gaza. Desiree Dow shared a report back from a group working to teach teens documentary video skills in Gaza. PINK women and allies performed "Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza" in reader's theater style, which will air on local access cable TV in markets around Maine during January. Maine poet Lee Sharkey shared Women in Black's call for an arms embargo on both sides, raising hearty cheers from the chilly crowd. Co-sponsored by CODEPINK Maine and Waterville Area Bridges for Peace & Justice, the rally also heard from activists from Radio Free Maine and the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine about the need for US citizens to take responsibility for informing themselves about the complicity of our government in oppression of human rights in Palestine. The rally ended with symbolic acts recognizing that the people of Gaza are without reliable electricity and clean water daily. Then the crowd marched around the square behind a pink FREE GAZA banner. The marchers paused in front of Rep. Mike Michaud's office where a few entered to express disappointment that no staff member had attended even though they had been invited to the rally, which was held right across the street. As the snow deepened in front of city hall, “Salaam, Shalom” rang out again, with our fervent hope for peace around the world in 2010.