Beachgoers Surprised!

Not by a Great White Shark this time

Maine is known for its rocky coast and cozy harbors but not so much for its beaches. An exception: Old Orchard Beach, just south of Portland, a perennial vacation spot for many. Traditionally it has been a summer destination for Canadian tourists, especially from Quebec, and French is prevalent in signs and on menus.

My friend Lynn Bradbury has spent Labor Day weekend at OOB with her extended family for decades. This year, with some trepidation about being the turd in the vacation punchbowl, she hired an airplane to fly around over the beach towing the message: STOP BOMBING GAZA UN AID NOW LOOK UP NAKBA. We joined her with our big STOP ARMING GENOCIDE banner and displayed it for a couple of hours while the plane flew overhead.

People were surprised but no one I saw or heard objected. I had expected a few complaints that we were ruining a beautiful holiday at the beach with politics, or some pushback from Zionists. Instead many, many people thanked us including strangers who came up to introduce themselves and exchange contact info. We now have a place to stay any time we visit Montreal!

Here is some of what I overheard yesterday:

We could see it [the plane’s message] from the cottage!

We could see the banner from way down the beach, two boardwalks away.

What is nakba?

Thank you, people who have not lost your souls!

I’m unable to report on whether or not Lynn got pushback from family elders, but I saw the younger generations in her extended family (adult kids and their kids) express a lot of enthusiasm for this project. The group sat themselves down on the sand near the beach banner and more than one of them expressed admiration for Lynn’s untiring activism! She had pedaled her bike around town the day before collecting funds for food relief for people in Gaza.

The flyover cost $700 and reached thousands of people. (If you’d like to help support the flyover project financially, direct message me about how you can do that.)

Despite an upturn in Great White Shark sightings this summer off Maine’s shores, I did go in the water and it was delightful. I can’t think of a way I’d rather spend Labor Day weekend. Don’t bother me, I’m in Vacationland doesn’t work when I know my government is funding the targeting of children, hospitals, journalists, and displaced people starving in tents.

Later this month, statewide coalition protesters will assemble for the third year in a row to remind people headed to the Common Ground Fair in Unity of their responsibilities in arming genocide.

We’ll start earlier than usual — 11am — to catch more fairgoers on their way to shop, eat, and learn about organic farming and gardening. Last year I was ready to bring pressure on organizers of the fair to boycott Israeli seeds but was told it was “too soon.” Now another year of genocide including, ironically, forced mass starvation, has passed and with it another gardening season in Maine. If you’re like me and tired of reformers pouring cold water on the BDS fire in your belly, you may find this information on seed sourcing useful. (At 6,000+ views, it was my most popular post on substack this year.)

The 11am start time also allows people who want to head to the fair afterwards time to do that. Or, some of us will eat lunch at the Unity House of Pizza in that same intersection. Join us if you’re in the area!