Fifty people from all over the state converged on Waterville, Maine yesterday to grieve together. We came together to demand the U.S. government stop funding Israel, and stop arming genocide. It was remarkable to me how many of the fifty I did not know. This is a good thing!
A few who joined us were just passing by, saw our signs and banners, and joined in. Many who passed by honked in support.
Some had come from as far away as Calais up near the Canadian border.
Some had heard about the event from the men's coffee circle at their UU Church.
Some had heard about it from email, or social media, or word of mouth.
Some were on their second event of the day, having started at the annual Lenten vigil at General Dynamics' warship factory in Maine, while some had never protested before.
One person I've stood with many times in Bath spoke words like these: When I see a bomb, I rage. When I see a severed limb, I cry.
One told my husband they have lost a host of former friends who turned out to be Zionists. Yet another heartbreak.
Some were Veterans for Peace. Some were professors. Some were teachers. Some were caretakers, artists, carpenters, organizers, and students.
My husband's sign is hard to read here but it says "Resistance against occupation is a human right." Behind him, the banner reads in full, "No war with Russia." Because we are against that imperial project of death-dealing, too.
It nourished us being together and also knowing that some who could not be with us in person were nonetheless with us in spirit.
We will continue our resistance to genocide in our time, with our taxes. We will escalate our resistance this week, again. We will not stop if the U.S. imposes a temporary ceasefire so that Palestinians can be forced across the border at Rafah into a concentration camp in Egypt.
We will not be done until Palestine is free.
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