End Violence Together Rally & March in Maine

On Saturday September 19th, over 150 people gathered for ‘End Violence Together’ at West Market Square in Bangor, Maine. Forty two organizations and faith communities co-sponsored this community event whose purpose was to raise awareness of the devastating impact of war, poverty, environmental degradation and the epidemic of violence.

The program included Doug Allen, Professor of Philosophy at University of Maine, event emcee who spoke about the national Campaign Nonviolence Actions and our solidarity with hundreds of actions across the country. Doug introduced four speakers, Mary Ellen Quinn, Co-Coordinator Pax Christi Maine; Maria Girouard, Penobscot Nation cultural historian; Dana Williams, Veterans for Peace and Cara Oleksyk, Bangor Coalition for Racial & Economic Justice. Voices for Peace chorus directed by Marty Kelley sang songs in between speakers and along the marching route throughout downtown Bangor. Peter Baldwin led the march with his peace drum. A closing ceremony included singing in a circle, the passing of an inflatable globe and a blessing from Pace e Bene.

We were pleased to have many families with children and enthusiastic college students from University of Maine and College of the Atlantic participating. Maine Discovery Museum provided children’s activities preceding the rally. End Violence Together had excellent media coverage leading up to September 19th as well as during and after the event by three TV stations, two radio stations and several newspapers. Linda Sisson and Ilze Petersons, Coordinator of the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine coordinated the media coverage.

See the great local news coverage from NBC Station WLBZ

Read organizer Mary Ellen Quinn’s speech at the rally here.

See photos from this action below. 

Photo Credit: Roger Leisner, Rick Tardiff and Katie Greenman.