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DARIEN, Conn. Although there has been a backlash against the Occupy Darien demonstration, organizer Margaret Rague welcomes both supporters and those who are against the idea to attend the rally this week.
"The Tea Party posted on one site that they were coming. Thats fine with me. Its supposed to be a dialogue. Whats the point of a bunch of liberals sitting around and talking to each other?
Several people have been against the demonstration, saying that it has no place here. Many have attacked Rague personally, especially after she was arrested recently. Rague hopes that the comments she has read are not representative of the town as a whole.
Its hard for me to believe that people with so many advantages can be so profoundly ignorant, she said. She invites all who oppose the event to come out and listen to the speakers and talk to the demonstrators. I encourage them to come and listen with their ears and their hearts and their minds.
Rague has invited participants from every Occupy movement in the tri-state area and Massachusetts to take part in the demonstration at Tilley Pond Park on Wednesday and Thursday.
Id say there could be anywhere from 50 to 200 people peacefully congregating, she said. In addition to local media outlets, several newspapers across the state, the Wall Street Journal and several television stations have shown interest in the protest.
Rague did not want to discuss her arrest in detail. She recently pled not guilty to all charges stemming from an incident where police said she was walking in the middle of the street intoxicated. Police reported that she was uncooperative and refused to be fingerprinted or have her mug shot taken.
Its totally bogus, she said. Im so busy that I cant be distracted with these things right now.
Darien police will be present to direct those arriving by train to the demonstration at Tilley Pond Park. Rague has invited several people to talk, and is hoping to get more speakers from Darien. First Selectman Jayme Stevenson was invited to speak but declined, Rague said. She added that Donald Longbottom from the First Congregational Church of Darien will address the protest.
Will you be attending Occupy Darien?
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