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Events held to promote peace, unity

August 29, 2004|by CANDICE BOSELY
(Page 2 of 2)

The Keedysville peace and unity event - co-coordinated by Shannon French and Carl French - featured information and resource booths, exhibits and displays representing various cultures, a book sale and entertainment, including a dance marathon and a reptile display.

Sevan Birky of Boonsboro, who grew up in Lebanon, led the crowd at the peace and unity gathering in a traditional Armenian dance. Birky said she loves to teach people about her culture and "do anything that shows how wonderful God has made each one of us."

Candace and Alan Wiliamson of Keedysville took their sons, Cameron, 10, and Johnathon, 7, to the Keedysville gathering. They said they were glad to have somewhere away from Sharpsburg and the Klan event to take their sons to have some fun.

Greg McGrath, 64 and Dina Coe, 61, of Great Cacapon, W.Va., said they went to Sharpsburg to protest by standing along the street, turning their backs and singing "We Shall Overcome" as the Klan passed by in a parade.

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The two said their group of protesters was corralled in a small area by Maryland state troopers, and that Klan supporters were mixed in the group as well.

Gordon Bartels, 61, of Hagerstown, said he attended the gathering along with his wife, Janet, 62, to make a stand against what the Klan was "supposedly trying to do in Sharpsburg."

Janet Bartels said as longtime members of the Southern Poverty Law Center - an organization based in Montgomery, Ala. that provided a $2,000 grant to support a peaceful alternative to the Klan event - it was an opportunity for her and her husband to take a stand and show what they believe in.

Staff writer Alicia Notarianni contributed to this story.

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