Trisha Smith,  Second From Left, and Others Show The Summons They Each Received to Appear in Court in September 2021. The Photo was taken on Moral Monday, July 26, Across from Collins One Canal Plaza Office in Downtown Portland.

Officer Mitchell With two of the Protestors on Moral Monday, July 26, 2021.

A Portland Police Officer With one of the Four Brave Handcuffed Protestors at Fishermen’s Park.

Some of the Protestors Waiting for Collins in her Office to Answer Their Demands as Outlined in a Letter.

Two of the Handcuffed  Protestors Escorted by Police from Collins Office at One Canal Plaza to the Park Across the Street.  On the Right is Sgrt. Chris Mitchell.

Gospel Singing at the Park in Between Speakers on Moral Monday in Portland Before Proceeding Across to Collins Office at One Canal Plaza.

Josh, Maintenance from East Brown Cow Management Inc. of One Canal Plaza and Kate Simon, Staff Member for Collins. He Told the Protestors to Leave at 5:00 pm, But Never Mentioned They were a Fire Hazard.  “It Should Have Been Obvious to Them,” he told This Blogger Later Outside One Canal Plaza.

“It’s scary to be put in that position,” said Trisha Smith, on Moral Monday this week.  “But I didn’t fear for my safety.”  Trisha spoke following the removal of her handcuffs by Portland Police in the early afternoon.

Smith’s comments came after protestors were told to leave Senator Collins Portland office or face arrest when the office closed at 5:00 pm.  The four protestors were not taken to Cumberland County Jail as happened with a gaggle of Nine Clergy four years ago. Those Nine were released on $60. bail each,  just after midnight. under the Regime of former Portland Police Chief Mike Sauschuck, who was exiled to a less transparent position in Augusta.

Rather these four protestors  were  processed by Police in Fishermen’s  Park across from One Canal Street.  The charge is criminal trespassing.

Which side are you on?  Democracy or autocracy?  Do you support the provisions of the US Constitution or the demands of the US Chamber of Commerce Smith and other members of the Poor People’s Campaign asked as about a dozen waited in Collins cramped waiting room on Moral Monday afternoon for answers that never came from her.

Smith delivered a letter to Kate Simson, of Collins staff, to be delivered to Senator “No Show” who is in Washington, D.C.   The letter asked for Collins to:  End the filibuster, pass all provisions of the For the People Act, fully restore the 1965 Voting Right Act and raise the federal minimum wage to $15. hour.

At one point, Simson said she would provide press releases to those in Collins’ waiting room that would state Collins’ position on these issues.  However, at 4:30 pm, Simson returned to the waiting room and announced to the dozen or so that the Washington, D.C. office had told her not to release any press releases to this group.

When asked why Collins does not participate in town hall meetings, Simson responded:  “She does not feel that town halls are an effective way to communicate with her constituents.”    Does she prefer to communicate via press releases the group asked in unison?

During the several hours spent in Collins stuffy waiting room waiting for an answer to the Poor People’s Campaign national non-violent moral direct action demands, the group sang gospel hymns and spoke of personal experiences of concerns. This protest was part of a national event organized by Rev. Dr. William Barber 11.

Dr. Elizabeth Leonard, a former Colby College history professor, said that “current leadership listens only to corporate money matters.  The system will change if the bottom rises.  The voices that are heard are those of the rich and powerful.”

Anthony Jackson, of Bangor, spoke of the “Greater Bangor Housing Coalition”  that was formed in response to a police action last October.  There was an encampment of homeless people on the waterfront.  “The police came and cleared it out,” said Jackson.  Since then, regular meetings are held to address housing issues with enthusiasm from the public.

At 4:30 pm, Josh, of East Brown Management, Inc. appeared on the eighth floor and told the protestors that One Canal Plaza was to close at 5:00 pm, Additionally, the police will be called to deal with anyone remaining in the building.  However, outside the office building Josh told this blogger that the reason for shutting down the building at 5:00 pm, was that the protestors were a fire hazard in the building.  A matter he never cited inside Collins’ waiting room.  “It should have been obvious to the protestors they were a fire hazard in the building,” he said.  Oh?

Moments after 5:00 pm about six Portland Police officers drove up in three cars.  They  entered the front of the building and came back outside via the front entrance with  four protestors in handcuffs.  In the previous arrest of clergy four years ago at Collins’ office, the Portland Police used side entrances to sneak in and out of the building – hopefully and unsuccessfully out of view of the local press. Press was allowed to remain in the hallways of the building back then, but Josh would not permit this blogger to remain in the hallway to report on the events as they occurred.

“Thank you for cooperating with us,” Sgt. Chris Mitchell, of the Portland Police Department, told the protestors.  “We have responsibilities in other parts of the city as well.”  Meanwhile, a significant crowd  had gathered in support of the four protestors.  “Police work has changed.  There’s a progression in how enforcement is performed.  We understand the importance of working with the community is essential,” Officer Mitchell told this blogger.

On Monday, August 2nd, Maine clergy and moral leaders will March in Washington, DC with poor people and low-wage workers from across the country as the Season of Nonviolent Moral Direct Action continues.

MHN.com regrets the delay in posting this important story. Technical  computer issues prevented that from happening sooner.  No one from the  “Collins Press Herald” attended  the protest. In fact, for a newspaper that did not support Collins’ recent re-election, the editor of the editorial page sure lets her off easy!

Please see posts dated December 7, 2017 and January 1, 2018 regarding clergy sit-in at Collins office over her approval of Trump’s tax plan.