DoomsdaysCW#Protesters gather outside #Brunswick air show, voicing ethical concerns over headlining act
Advocates with #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights said the air show glamorizes #war and misleads youth.
Author: Pearl Small
August 3, 2024
BRUNSWICK, #Maine — "The Great State of #MaineAirShow is marketed as a weekend-long event of planes swooping through the sky with incredible aerial performances to leave the community in awe.
"However, groups standing outside the show on Saturday had a different message to send about its intentions.
"The Maine Voices for #Palestinian Rights organized a protest to encourage people not to attend the show over questions regarding the #ethics of its headlining act: the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
"'We object this use of our tax dollars and we object to warplanes as entertainment,' #LisaSavage with Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights said.
"The group compared the planes on display to those being flown over #Gaza, for very different purposes.
"'If you were a child in Gaza, you would be hearing that noise constantly and it wouldn't be for entertainment, you would be waiting to see if a bomb was going to drop on your family's home,' Savage said.
"The group objects to the U.S. government's involvement in the war in #Israel and says the air show glamorizes the U.S. military and its power.
[...]
"[Marketing Director] Mary Breen said she's amazed by the positive effect the show has, specifically on younger crowds.
"'It's amazing to see the kids' reactions, whether they're checking out the planes on the ground or watching the planes flying,' Breen said.
"Yet, that inspiration is another point advocates said makes the show deceptive.
"'It's actively designed to be fun, almost video game-esque for these kids and make them think this is something that would be an exciting career for them instead of something that's potentially very dangerous for them and is guaranteed to be very dangerous for people across the world,' #RosemaryCorkins with Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights said.
#NoWar #GazaSolidarity
#BrunswickMaine
#CoalitionForPalestineMaine
#MaineVoicesForPeace #PeaceActionMaine
#FreePalestine