Nigel Calder photo
On March 1, close to 400 people gathered on the Newcastle/Damariscotta bridge to protest the Trump/Musk dismantling of the federal government, the unconstitutional way in which this is being carried out, the attempts to circumvent the rule of law, the impending assault on Medicaid and other programs essential to the majority of Mainers, and the betrayal of Ukraine.
Hundreds of handmade signs lined the street on both sides of the road. Thirty Ukrainian flags flew from the bridge railings. Chants of “this is what democracy looks like” rose above a backdrop of drumming and car horns blown in support of the demonstration.
The Damariscotta Police Department, forewarned about the rally by Lincoln County Indivisible (one of the organizers), provided a cheerful presence at this peaceful and overwhelmingly joyful event at which so many in our local community came together to express outrage at what is happening in our country, and to demonstrate an increasing willingness to take action to defend the core American values.
As I write this on Sunday morning, a little over 12 hours after a short video of the rally was put up on Facebook, the video has already been viewed over 13,000 times, with the views increasing at a rate of over 1,000 an hour, and with messages of support coming in from around the world. Our little community in midcoast Maine is a beacon of hope for many.
The hundreds who gathered on the Newcastle/Damariscotta bridge sent a clear message to Trump and Musk: If they think people will be cowed into a state of apathy they are sadly mistaken. Trump and Musk have poked a slumbering giant that is just now beginning to stir in Maine and throughout the country.
Nigel Calder
Newcastle
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Join the Conversation
We believe it’s important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It’s a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. Read more...
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
For those stories that we do enable discussion, our system may hold up comments pending the approval of a moderator for several reasons, including possible violation of our guidelines. As the Maine Trust’s digital team reviews these comments, we ask for patience.
Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday and limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is found on our FAQs.
You can modify your screen name here.
Show less
Join the Conversation
Please sign into your CentralMaine.com account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.