The Portland Police Department arrested two people on Saturday after they allegedly assaulted police officers at the city’s “No Kings” protest held to show opposition to President Donald Trump on his birthday.
Liberal activists staged No Kings protests across the country, including multiple in Maine, to coincide with President Trump’s birthday and the Army 250th birthday military parade with Washington, D.C.
The Portland No Kings protest was held in two locations, Monument Square and Lincoln Park, and the Portland Police Department described it as “relatively peaceful.”
The Lincoln Park protest required police to shut down parts of nearby streets to protect protesters. Even with parts of the streets shut down by police, some protesters moved to block traffic at around 1:40pm at the intersection of Congress and Franklin Streets after the protest’s speakers, including Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), concluded.
Officers then attempted to remove protesters from the street, amid some resistance, and warned them that they would be arrested if they continued to block traffic.
Officers were forced to physically push protesters out of the street, but still made no arrests until the 35-year-old Jennie Joan Ferrare of Portland allegedly threw a water bottle at an officer and struck him when ordered to return to the sidewalk.
While officers arrested Ferrare, the 27-year-old Tyler J. McGrath of Falmouth allegedly blew an air horn at an officer at close range, causing pain.
McGrath was then arrested.
Ferrare is facing charges for assault and obstructing a public way, and McGrath faces charges for assault.
Both protesters were transported to the Cumberland County Jail.
