Thousands expected at K'port protest

Thousands expected at K'port protest
By Chris Outcalt
coutcalt@seacoastonline.com
August 08, 2007 6:00 AM


KENNEBUNKPORT — Despite the likely absence of President George W. Bush, Jamillia El-Shafei expects thousands of anti-war activists to descend on Kennebunkport on Aug. 25, for a weekend-long peace rally.

El-Shafei, the co-founder of the Kennebunks Peace Department, has been planning the event — which will include appearances by Congressman Dennis Kucinich and the Indigo Girls — for almost a year. She said she picked the date because the president typically vacations for a long weekend near the end of August, but the group won't be deterred if he doesn't show up.

"Regardless if he's there or not, he'll know we're there," said El-Shafei. "We need to change the system in our country. We're constantly finding ourselves in a state of endless war."

Bush is scheduled to be at the family estate at Walker's Point this weekend to attend a relative's wedding. El-Shafei, who organized demonstrations that coincided with Bush's two previous visits to Maine, said she hasn't planned any formal protest because she's been planning the Aug. 25 event.

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More than 2,000 people attended a rally sponsored by the Kennebunk Peace Department on July 1, during Russian President Vladimir V. Putin's meeting with President Bush at the family compound. But organizers expect this event to be considerably bigger.

"We are expecting up to five times that on August 25," said Patrick Scanlon, a member of Veterans For Peace and co-coordinator of the event. "The timing of this event has made it the mecca for the peace community this summer." El-Shafei said the rally will also coincide with the anticipated Iraq progress report slated for release in September.

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uhc note: Go here for more details.

the rich and powerful live and upset their lives and not expect some heavy-duty retaliation. Especially when you disrupt their happy rich existence with a little reality. Reality for the plebians, that is. They're doing quite well with the war on 'terra' thank you.

10000 people seems kind of optimistic but I'm thankful for what they're doing.

Proudly K'd & R'd