PORTLAND, MAINE — Peace activists have found themselves in an interesting quandary of late. Given their opposition to what they perceive as a regime of power-mad warmongers working to seize more control of the global landscape, anti-war demonstrators have been reluctant to establish a power structure of their own.

This lack of leadership created a tense scenario on April 1, when a swarm of Portland police descended on Monument Square in Portland’s downtown under the cover of darkness, with public-works employees in tow, to " clean up " the so-called Peace Park that activists had established in the Square when war began.

The protesters, who had been occupying the Square day and night for two weeks, were given 20 minutes to dismantle and remove the tables, tents, stereos, signs, and other objects they had accumulated during their prolonged demonstration. Four people were ultimately arrested for refusing to leave Monument Square with their belongings. The city has since tried to patch things up with Peace Park demonstrators, but has asked the group to appoint some leaders who city officials can talk to when issues arise (such as complaints from area businesses).

Unfortunately, with no such system in place on April 1, the handful of demonstrators who happened to be present when the police made their unannounced arrival were suddenly forced into a decision-making role, says Portland protester Heather Webster. " You’re pretty much representing two weeks’ worth of work, " she recalls. " And it’s like, do you just let the cops come here and say, ‘We’re going to take this two weeks’ worth of work and throw it in the truck,’ or do you say, ‘I don’t think that’s okay,’ and do something about it? "

While police stood by, the protesters " had a little powwow, " Webster says, and ultimately, people did what they wanted — whether that was banging loudly on buckets or sitting silently on their bedding. (Those with broadband connections can view footage of the event at http://maine.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=5072)

Although the spiffed-up Monument Square is now eerily devoid of protesters, it was spared the fate of the Peace Park in Portland, Oregon, which was erected in the city’s Terry Schrunk Plaza after the war began and closed off with police tape on April 5 by a homeland-security officer, much to the bewilderment of the local police. Protesters there are now camping on the sidewalk outside the park.

The Monument Square Peace Park, on the other hand, may still have some life in it. In a somewhat ironic turn of events, protesters are actually organizing a potluck anti-war protest and celebration in the Square on April 12, staring at 5 p.m.