Protesters can't keep quiet in Camden
Camden — A large number of protesters concerned about the state of the nation under new President Donald Trump spoke out in song Saturday, April 8, on the Village Green in Camden.
The group, many of them women wearing pink hats, tapped into the energy of the Women's March on Washington as they gathered and sang the song "I can't keep quiet," by MILCK (also known as Connie Lim).
It became a viral sensation on the internet and the protest song of the times when Lim and others performed it on the streets of Washington in January.
On Saturday, sheet music was distributed to those gathered and they were led by James Cook on guitar and singer Kristi Kalajian. Cook and Tracy Jalbuena helped organize the event and founded the Midcoast Maine Indivisible group with the goal of standing up to and resisting the Trump agenda.
Cook said seeing a president who bragged about groping women elected was a turning point for many women in this country. He said the message of the song fits. The people are not going to be quiet, they are going to speak out.
Lyn Donovan of Camden also helped organize the event.
"What's helping me get through this insanity is singing," she said. "It's saving my soul."
"I have no choice but to speak up," said Jalbuena.
The event is one of many such singing demonstrations taking place around the country. The Camden protest drew many from the neighboring towns and groups from Lincoln County, the Bangor area and even as far as Mt. Desert Island.
For more information, visit Midcoast Maine Indivisible on Facebook.
Daniel Dunkle can be reached at ddunkle@villagesoup.com or 594-4401 ext. 122. Follow him on Twitter @DanDunkle.
Maggie, I read a novel recently and the author talked about his preparation for writing about veterans and PTSD. One veteran he talked with said that "Thank you for your service" seemed trite and formulaic. The author asked what might serve better and the veteran said "Welcome home"; as a Vietnam veteran, that resonated with me.
I am dismayed that there was a reply after what I think was the definitive statement on the issue, and from a veteran. As to "thanks" - by the way, my understanding is that veterans do not want lip service, as in, "Thank you for your service." There are direct ways of supporting those who serve, and those who stay behind. And mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, et al, have never forgotten what it is to keep the hearth going.
Robin Gabe I agree wholeheartedly, I don't believe I said anything about not having the right to protest because my 20 years in the Air Force also paid for them to be able to do it. I said it was ironic and wondered if any of them actually stopped to think about protesting at that location and the men and women who died for them to have that right.
I don't know about you, Jeff, but my 22 years of active-duty service in the Navy was to support all citizens' rights, including the right of free speech and to protest. I think the protest at the Camden war memorial was in an appropriate setting.
I think the protest held in front of the war memorial is appropriate. Those in attendance do not want to see the sacrifice of those who serve squandered on unnecessary military adventures.
Comments that suggest that the protestors have not known personal loss of loved ones serving in the military, and/or did not themselves served, are an outrage.
Thank you Jeff Sukeforth.
But Dennis, how do you really feel?
I find it very ironic that a protest occurs in front of the War Memorial on the Village Green. Why, because I wonder how many of them actually stopped to think about those on the wall who have died for their country just so they can protest? I encourage all who protested to come out on Memorial Day to show a little thanks to Veterans for this right of protest.
Lets see here stay out of Syria you say we are the only country that had the gaul to slow down assad from trying to gas all his people he has killed 500,000 so far or more. let the refugees in you say how many do we let in 20 million this year maybe 30 or 40 million next year where does it end all of south America will be here in a year or two then we can get ten million from Syria and and ten from iran an ten from yemen and ten from Libya, don't forget these are not all our friends and there are still a lot more that we can let in don't forget all the people in the ISIS family of friends will want to get on the love train of bleeding hearts hell we get mad when we get bogged down in summer traffic from outta staters or if your neighbor just moved in from ct or ny and wants to cut down all his trees that shade your yard , this great country of ours let in 38,600 muslim refugees last year hell we don't even take care of our own homeless you walk by them and could care less. With all the hate in our country rite now we need more refugees to bog down our police and government services. cheer up people it will only get worse. where is Jack Kevorkian when you need him.
I can feel the world changing already !
Glad to read this and hope they keep on making their voices heard
Snowflakes
Wonderful! I wish I could join the voices too. Healthy voices bring attention to the Health Care problem in America. And, it seems to me, one of the biggest problem in America right now is Pres..Donald Trump.