The Portland Police Department arrested nine protesters outside of Sen. Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) office on Tuesday after they refused to leave a staged “pray-in” event meant to protest the senator’s support for ICE funding.
[RELATED: Portland PD Arrests Six Anti-Ice Protesters For Causing Disturbance at Residence Inn…]
A group of far-left “faith leaders” hosted the event outside Sen. Collins’ office on the eighth floor of One Canal Plaza in Portland.
According to Maine Public, protesters came dressed in religious clothing, sang, read scripture, prayed, and chanted outside Collins’s office, urging her to reject a Homeland Security funding bill that would provide additional funds to immigration enforcement agents.
The Portland Police Department said in a press release that they responded to a report at approximately 1:03 a.m. of around 50 people protesting inside the building outside Collins’ office.
Police arrived and repeatedly warned protesters that if they failed to depart, they would be charged with criminal trespass.
After being warned several times, the majority of the protesters dispersed, while nine allegedly remained and asked the police to arrest them.
Police arrested the nine suspects and transported them to the Cumberland County Jail on charges of criminal trespass.
- Norman Allen, 65, of Portland, a minister at the First Parish in Portland. He lists his pronouns in his bio on the Church’s website.
- Christine Dyke, 60, of Gorham, a minister at the First Parish Congressional Church in Gorham.
- Will Green, 44, of Peaks Island, pastor at the New Brackets Church in Peaks Island.
- Robert Lerin, 51, no address given,
- Annemarie Morse, 28, of Lewiston
- Eric Nathanson, 31, of Scarborough
- Jasa Porciello, 51, of Portland
- Allison Smith, 55, of S. Harpswell, Minister at the Congressional Church in Cumberland
- Doratha Yunger, 55, of Newcastle
