BANGOR — As part of the national Campaign Nonviolence, the public is invited to gather for End Violence Together at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, on the Bangor waterfront, corner of Main and Railroad streets.
The rally will feature drumming, speakers and music, and will be followed by a march through downtown and a closing ceremony. In case of rain, rally will be held at the Union Street Brick Church.
Rally and march, one of more than 170 being held across the country, is co-sponsored by some 37 Maine organizations, is designed to raise awareness of the inter-relationship of war, poverty and environmental destruction, said organizer Mary Ellen Quinn, a social workers and co-chairwoman of Pax Christi Maine. Participants will demonstrate a commitment to work collaboratively to build a culture of peace and nonviolence. “Together we can be a strong, diverse and visible presence for peace and nonviolence,” Quinn said.
The event will offer an opportunity to visit informational tables of sponsoring groups, including area spiritual communities, 350 Bangor, Citizens Against Handgun Violence, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, Greater Bangor NAACP, Maine Peace Action Committee, We the People Maine, Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance, peace and justice groups, and many more.
Organizers Mary Ellen Quinn, Pax Christi Maine; Marc Cryer, Veterans for Peace, Jim Harney Chapter; and Chris Buchanan of Defending Water for Life will speak at 2 p.m. of the need to develop a new worldview that embraces nonviolent solutions for the common good. Doug Allen of the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine will serve as emcee.
A short performance by Voices for Peace will set the tone for the march of 1.7 miles which will take participants down Main Street to Hollywood Slots and back on the opposite side of Main Street to West Market Square before returning to the rally site. Leading the march will be Peter Baldwin on drum and members of Veterans for Peace. Organizations are invited to bring banners that will fit the sidewalk.
After the march, a closing ceremony will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. to include all participants in an expression of a common vision — community collaboration for a world without violence.
A sign-making session will be held at the Peace & Justice Center in Bangor Friday afternoon, Sept. 26.
For information, call 942-9343.