Banner draped out of the window of Senator Susan Collins’ office
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Occupation Project Results in 12 Arrests
Article and photos by Kelly Bellis, Pax Christi Maine
Bangor, Maine - March 7, 2007 - Twelve Maine peace activists were arrested just after 5:00 PM Wednesday for refusing to leave the Margaret Chase Federal Building and the offices of Senator Susan Collins. As part of the Declaration of Peace events planned calling on Congress to defund the war and end the occupation of Iraq, the protesters were in the vanguard of acts of nonviolent civil disobedience scheduled nationwide to coincide with the marking of the end of the fourth year that America has been mercilessly terrorizing Iraq, and sadly the beginning of the fifth horrific year.
The planned action began with a 1:00 PM visit to Congressman Mike Michuad’s office to thank him for his previous votes against further funding of the war and to request that he vote again that way. After walking across town to Senator Olympia Snowe’s office and delivering statements asking that she also not vote for further military funding for the war, the group of about three dozen stood out front of the Federal building in 7 degree weather and listened to prepared statements by Judy Robbins, Robert Shetterly and Doug Rawlings, President of Chapter 001 of Veterans for Peace before entering the building for their two and a half hour occupation.