‘Love your enemies:’ Friends of Giusti gather in Lewiston

Bert Brown, second from left, of Auburn hugs his daughter, Cheyanne Norton, as they listen Tuesday evening to speakers at Marcotte Park in Lewiston during a rally to promote love instead of violence. Next to Brown is Tracey Norton and her nephew, Riley Pair, of Lewiston. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal),

LEWISTON — The friends and family of Donald Giusti could not be any more clear on the matter.

They do not want to see any more fights. They do not want to hear any talk of retribution. They have hopes for peace, many of them say. But they have doubts it will be easily achieved.

“There’s a lot of anger right now, a lot of frustration,” said Kimberly Burby, one of roughly 100 people gathered Tuesday at Marcotte Park. “Things have been escalating for a few weeks now. I’m afraid it’s going to escalate even more before things get better.”

The rally Tuesday afternoon was arranged to honor the life of Giusti, killed last week during a fight near Kennedy Park. Those who gathered also used the opportunity to urge calm.

“Donny wouldn’t want any more of his friends getting hurt,” said Nick Vinciguerra, a friend of Giusti. “We need to stop the violence. We need to end this cycle today.”

The gathering, moved to Marcotte from Kennedy Park at the urging of police, consisted mostly of Giusti’s friends and relatives. However, several from the immigrant community attended to encourage those gathered to work out their differences and to remain peaceful.

“It will take time to heal our hearts and heal our city,” said Safiya Khalid, invited to address the crowd over a speaker system. “We have a chance to choose kindness over anger.”

Giusti died as the result of injuries suffered when two groups clashed June 12 in and around Kennedy Park. Witnesses said he was struck in the head with a brick by attackers who wielded a variety of weapons.

He died days later.

No one has been arrested in Giusti’s death, although state and local police are investigating. For the friends of Giusti, the uncertainty of the investigation only adds to the simmering conflict.

“It’s like one step up and two steps back,” said Shawn Pinette of Lewiston.

Since the fight that left Giusti mortally wounded, there have been almost daily rumors of follow-up brawls. Police said most of those rumors proved false, but the tension remains in the downtown.

“It’s going to get worse,” said Mickey Adkins of Lisbon Falls, “before it gets better. I honestly believe that. There are rallies going on all over the place to make things better, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Yet, the group in Marcotte Park on Tuesday insisted the gathering was not about dire predictions and talk of revenge.

“We want it to be a peaceful rally,” said Johnny Barr of Auburn.

Several people toted signs with that aim in mind.

“Overcome evil,” said one, “by doing good.”

“Love your enemies,” advised another. “Pray for those who persecute you.”

And while they talked over the grim matter of racial tensions in downtown Lewiston, they also paused to remember Giusti, the 38-year-old described by many as a loyal friend and the life of any party.

“He was a good dude,” Barr said.

“He was our goofball,” Pinette said. “Our pain in the butt. Every group needs a clown, and he was ours.”

“He was funny, he was caring and he was kind,” Burby said. “He was always willing to help others.”

When the rally was over Tuesday, several people wandered down to Kennedy Park to pray or to talk more about their fallen friend. Brian Ingalls of Lisbon encouraged the group to keep talking — to keep the lines of communication open, rather than throwing punches and looking for trouble.

“Your words,” Ingalls said, “are often more powerful than your fists.”

Several of those who attended the rally also went to City Hall on Tuesday night, where police and city councilors discussed the latest violence. While those discussions were going on, a fight broke out in Kennedy Park, drawing a dozen police officers and several dozen onlookers to the area near the gazebo.

One man was evaluated by paramedics for injuries sustained in the fight, while police shooed several groups from the park.

“It never ends,” Adkins said as she walked out of the park. “Why can’t people just love each other?”