LOCAL News :: Protest Activity

Thousands call for impeachment in K'port

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Anonymous

Date Created

04 Jul 2007

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Last Sunday, two thousand people came out to protest at the meeting of President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, two imperialists ready to get their lounge on in the upper-class vacationland of Kennebunkport, Maine. The diverse group of protestors including antiwar activists, veterans, lawyers, revolutionary communists, civil libertarians, anarchists, labor leaders, women's groups, and one marching band.

The purpose for most was to call for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Signs read, "Impeachment is the path to peace," and "Democracy breached, time to impeach." Not everyone, of course, felt impeachment was the most important goal. "The priority is getting out of Iraq, not impeachment. We can get them for war crimes later," said Judy, a Maine resident.

The protest began with a rally and a series of speakers. As time wore on, protestors away from the stage on the street grew ansy. Women in Code Pink for Peace chanted, "Let's go, let's go!" Some began a count-down, their hopes dashed when nobody moved. Judy encouraged the crowd to begin marching, even though the speakers had not finished.

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The Leftist Marching Band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, wooed march-goers before, during, and after the protest. Armed with brass, percussion, and a healthy sense of humor, the band played on and on, keeping spirits up. Bella Ciao, the song of the Italian resistance movement against fascism, was a particular crowd favorite.

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The LMB also played "This Land is Your Land," "America the Beautiful," and "I-M-P-E-A-C H-M-E-N-T" to the Mickey Mouse theme.

"We're coming out to make some noise and show that no single party can lay claim to patriotism," said Charkee McGee, an LMB band member, "It's patriotic to be democratic. The band gets people out there. We have leadership now which is immoral, which is not recognizing the needs of this country and the world."

I asked MeGee what they thought of the long itinerary of speakers during the rally. "Well, the choir needs a band," said McGee.

Eventually, protestors began to march without the blessing of the event organizers. The marchers set themselves loose on downtown Kennebunkport, to the upturned noses of blue bloods, their expensive spas, and their hideous, hideous clothes.

Spontaneity thrived as Code Pink chanted a rhythmic cheer of "Occupation is a crime / Bush and Cheney should be doing time," and the Leftist Marching Band picked up the tune and played an impromptu musical accompaniment.

Lady liberty was brought out in a coffin, and later raised like Lazerus as the march made a loop back to the rally site.

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Along the way, a dozen pro-war demonstrators lined up to shout at protestors.

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The march wound its way through downtown Kennebunk to the barricade which stood in the way to the Bush family retreat. As the march pulled up, the chief of Kennebunk police made an announcement that the protest permit did not include their passing this point, and that crossing the barricade would earn them an arrest for criminal trespassing.

A short speech was made, and then organizer Jamilla El-Shafei encouraged marchers with a megaphone to continue without confrontation or civil disobedience.

I asked El-Shafei why she was instructing protestors not to attempt to cross the barricade.

"It interferes with our mission and message. It would focus on the disturbance instead of our message about democracy and the rule of law," said El-Shafei.

Last year, the protest was about half as big, and protestors were able to get further down the road. Kennebunk police officer Breault said it was because of Putin's visit, and that he didn't expect a further advancement of the barricade in the future.

Some felt protestors should not submit to the barricade. One woman said, "They aren't going to shoot people. They don't have enough to stop us." The apparent police presence was little more than half a dozen officers from Kennbunk and Biddeford.

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Most of the march passed by, but despite entreaties to continue marching, many remained at the barricade. At least three protestors crossed the line while reporters, including the Russian press pool, looked on. Lynn, one of those who risked arrest looked towards the ocean and pronounced, "Democracy's got a lovely view." Police eventually led protestors down the road and away from the prying eyes of the press to make their arrest.

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Video of the scene at the barricade.

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Re: Thousands call for impeachment in K'port

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05 Jul 2007

by Bobby Meade

LOCAL News :: Protest Activity

Thousands call for impeachment in K'port

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