#ProPalestinian activists rally outside #PortlandME courthouse to support fellow #protesters

Morgan Womack, Portland Press Herald, Maine
Thu, July 10, 2025

Jul. 10—"A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the #CumberlandCountyCourthouse on Thursday morning ahead of a court hearing for their peers who were arrested at a protest in May.

"More than a dozen people rallied with signs and a #PalestinianFlag as 10 people — half of the group that was previously arrested — awaited their arraignments. During their hearings, they each pleaded not guilty to one count of #obstructing a public way. The rest of the group will appear in court at a later date, the protesters said.

"Jamila Levasseur, 70, of #WaldoME, was one of the 20 people arrested in Portland on May 21 after police accused them of blocking the intersection of Commercial and Pearl streets near the U.S. Custom House. She said at the time that she'd be arrested as many times as necessary to bring attention to the widespread #starvation and ongoing #Israeli airstrikes in #Gaza.

"When appearing at the stand, Levasseur told District Court Judge Jed French that she was 'protesting against #genocide in #Gaza' before entering her not-guilty plea. She referenced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu's recent talks with President Donald #Trump, recognizing their joint strikes on #Iran and discussing plans for a 60-day #ceasefire that would halt Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

" 'Those are the #WarCriminals,' Levasseur said. 'We're not criminals.'

"Levasseur said she couldn't have anticipated that the war would still be going on 21 months after it began. She said she's thankful that a group of attorneys stepped forward to represent the protesters for free, and that the May demonstration in the Old Port attracted a new, larger crowd of supporters.

" 'More and more people are waking up, learning what's going on, horrified, and want to do something,' Levasseur said. 'The people we were arrested with, I didn't even know them all when we were arrested. ... It's not the usual suspects. It's just more ordinary people.'

"Levasseur and #AbigailFuller, 65, of Portland, were also arrested at a February 2024 protest on Franklin Street for obstructing a public way. Their charges in those cases have since been dropped.

"Fuller, who is also a lecturer at the University of Southern Maine, said she felt supported by the group of people outside the courthouse while walking into her arraignment. She pleaded not guilty and also told the judge she was protesting genocide when she was arrested.

" 'It feels good to be starting the process,' Fuller said. 'The Maine courts system takes a really long time, often, to get through, but this is the first step.'

"Fuller said she appreciates seeing new faces at protests, especially as airstrikes and shootings in the #GazaStrip continue, killing people attempting to receive #HumanitarianAid.

" 'Unfortunately, Palestinian deaths are not on the front pages of the newspaper anymore,' Fuller said. 'So, we're trying to keep that in the public eye.' "

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pro-palestinian-activists-rally-outside-224800107.html

#MaineResists #FreePalestine #BibiIsAWarCriminal #IsraeliWarCrimes #GazaGenocide #SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #MainePol #Maine #HumanRightsViolations #HumanRights #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong

Several #protesters arrested at #BathIronWorks ship christening event

Story by NEWS CENTER Maine Staff
July 27, 2024

"Several people were arrested during a protest Saturday morning at an event hosted by Bath Iron Works.

"At about 8:30 a.m., a group of around 75 pro-#Palestinian protesters gathered outside Bath Iron Works to protest during its christening of the new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer #USSPatrickGallagher, the Bath Police Department said in a news release.

"Police said the group of protesters consisted of members from various groups, including the #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights and the #MaineVeteransForPeace chapter. Police added that many of these individuals have protested at past Bath Iron Works events before.

"At about 8 a.m., just before the gathering, a man associated with the protest group was reportedly seen 'dumping a red-colored liquid' on the sidewalk and front step area in front of #BIW's main building at 700 Washington St. before driving away.

"The man, identified as 76-year-old #MarkRoman of Solon, was later found and summonsed for Class D criminal mischief and cited for littering, according to the release.

"Police said Roman's wife, 67-year-old #LisaSavage, was one of the protesters arrested for criminal trespass.

"Then, around 9:45 a.m., a group of protesters split off from the larger group that had been peacefully protesting on the sidewalk and made their way onto Bath Iron Works property at the intersection of King and Washington streets.

"'These protestors sat down in the road, linking arms, and refused to clear from the public way or move off BIW property despite requests and warnings by officers to do so,' the release stated.

"Police said all nine individuals involved were taken into custody without incident. Of the nine people, two were charged with Class E obstructing a public way and seven were charged with Class E criminal trespass.

"The following individuals were arrested, according to police:

#RobertShetterly, 77, of Brooksville, was charged with criminal trespass
#BradleyConway, 32, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was charged with obstructing a public way
#RussellWray, 69, of Hancock, was charged with criminal trespass
#AbigailFuller, 64, of Portland, was charged with obstructing a public way
#LisaSavage, 67, of Solon, was charged with criminal trespass
#DudleyHendrick, 82, of Deer Isle, was charged with criminal trespass
#JamilaLevasseur, 69, of Waldo, was charged with criminal trespass
#ConstanceJenkins, 76, of Belfast, was charged with criminal trespass
#MarySullivan, 70, of Brunswick, was charged with criminal trespass

"Roman, Fuller, and Savage were also arrested and charged in a protest that disrupted traffic in Portland earlier this year.

"Police said all charged individuals were assigned a court date of Sept. 3 at the West Bath Unified Criminal Court.

"'They were booked at Bath Police Department and bailed on personal recognizance by a bail commissioner,' the release said."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/several-protesters-arrested-at-bath-iron-works-ship-christening-event/ar-BB1qJTkA

#NoWar #GazaSolidarity #Gaza #Rafah #CoalitionForPalestineMaine #MaineVoicesForPeace #PeaceActionMaine #Maine #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow
#Palestine #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights