Jared Golden

Veterans and other opponents of the renewed bombing in Iran gathered Wednesday in West Market Square to march to Representative Jared Golden's office on State Street. The march was sponsored by the Peace and Justice Center for Eastern Maine, whose mission is engaging in community education to understand the root cause of militarism while amplifying diverse voices within the community.

The rally followed Golden's decision to vote against the war powers resolution back in April, a joint resolution that would've pulled U.S. soldiers from hostile engagement with Iran. Golden was the lone Democrat holdout in the House of Representatives, effectively blocking the resolution despite being an initial cosponsor. Even though Golden is not running for a fifth term, some members in attendance feel as though he still has time to make a change within congress.

Adam Toothaker, president of the Maine chapter of Veterans for Peace, was one of those people.

“He's not gonna be up for election anymore,” said Toothaker. “He could do whatever he wants, and the most unpopular thing in congress is to say no to the military industrial complex. So we're hoping he will have whatever courage he's got left for this last stretch, he will say no to the military industrial complex.”

Veterans for Peace is an international organization that got its start in Chesterville, Maine, in 1985. Founded by veterans of the Vietnam war, their work is to increase awareness about the cause and cost of war. Following last night's midterm results, members seemed cautiously optimistic about a resolution to this conflict.

“We just want people held accountable for this. We'll see! Big blue wave, we'll see if there's any change. I don't know. They all seem to take money from the same people even though it's supposed to be on opposite teams, so we'll see what happens,” said Toothaker.

A war powers resolution was passed in September, but without senate or presidential approval, it is largely unenforceable. There is no confirmed date for another vote on the issue.

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