Across the street from the Frank Licht Judicial Complex, where the state hopes litigation will solve the problem of childhood lead poisoning, about a dozen people gathered to seek redress in a different way.

"This is about saving the minds and bodies of our children," Pamela Gomes said into a small microphone. Gomes, who said her 7-year-old granddaughter suffered from lead poisoning five years ago, blamed both the state and the paint companies:

"I think that paint companies and government need to be responsible for every piece of lead wherever it is they used lead paint," she said.

The Childhood Lead Action Project sponsored a display of more than 1,000 gloves and mittens, representing children who had been lead poisoned last year, and gave air-time to family members and children's advocates.

Srey Pen, who said her 5-year-old son had lead-poisoning symptoms last year, and who has a niece and nephew who have similar symptoms, said paint companies should be held responsible for endangering children "even if," she said, "it was done inadvertently."

Roberta Hazen Aaronson, executive director of CLAP, said in addition to representing children, the gloves and mittens will be donated to various charities to keep children warm this winter.

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