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Last Friday, September 8, after most students and faculty had left
campus,<br>
University of Southern Maine president, Richard Pattenaude, abruptly<br>
announced his decision that the scheduled art exhibit, "Can't Jail
the<br>
Spirit: Art by Political Prisoner Tom Manning & Others"
(co-sponsored by<br>
Portland Victory Gardens Project), would be cancelled, and the art<br>
immediately removed from the USM Woodbury Campus Center.<br><br>
Since Portland Victory Gardens Project (PVGP) and the USM community
were<br>
not notified of this decision in advance, nor given any opportunity
to<br>
participate in this decision, PVGP will be holding a press conference
to<br>
address this matter tommorow, Tuesday Septemer 12, at 4pm in the
gallery<br>
of the Woodbury Campus Center. PVGP will read a statement that we
have<br>
prepared regarding this matter, and announce our plans to return the
art<br>
show to USM's campus (see next paragraph). We invite all USM
students and<br>
faculty who disagree with President Pattenaude's decision to join us
in<br>
expressing their views.<br><br>
On Friday September 15th, we will demonstrate that the government
and<br>
police still “Can’t Jail the Spirit”, with a mobile exhibit of art by
Tom<br>
Manning and others. The art show will begin at 5pm at the Woodbury
Campus<br>
Center on USM’s campus, and will travel to Congress Square by 6pm.
Tom’s<br>
paintings will be displayed along the route and in the square,
alongside<br>
art from local artists. Speakers will include Ray Luc Levasseur,
lawyers<br>
from the National Lawyers Guild, and an open mic. All members of
the<br>
public who believe in expression free from police control are
encouraged<br>
to bring poems, music, art, food, signs, and their free speech.<br><br>
***<br><br>
Portland Victory Gardens Project<br>
PO Box 1992<br>
Portland, Maine 04104<br>
(207) 761-1504<br><br>
Free the Land! Free all U.S. Political Prisoners!<br>
All Power to the People!<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
Portland Victory Gardens Project<br>
PO Box 1992<br>
Portland, Maine 04104<br>
(207) 761-1504<br><br>
Free the Land! Free all U.S. Political Prisoners!<br>
All Power to the People!<br>
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