Portland Police arrested eleven (11) individuals after a protest Friday, February 2, 2024.  The protest began around 1:30 pm at Franklin Street and Marginal Way.  Protestors moved into the street and blocked both Exit 7 ramps.  Traffic in the area was affected.  Portland Police left the area at approximately 3:00 pm after the street was reopened.

The following were arrested, charged with Obstructing a Public Way and taken to the Cumberland County Jail:  Mark Roman, Solon; Sophia Fuller, Belfast; Abigail Fuller, Portland; Janila Fuller, Waldo; Paige Milligan, Brunswick; Lisa Savage, Solon; Roryalice Hoecker, Portland; Haley Marchant, Old Orchard Beach; Hallie Herz, Portland; Yuref Ehrahim, Portland and Natalie Joyce, Waterville.

The protest that lasted about 45 minutes was hosted by the Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights with about 200 protestors in attendance.  The purpose of the protest was to call for a ceasefire betwen Israel and Hamas.  A ceasefire would permit the remaining hostages in Gaza to be released.

A permanent ceasefire would also bring the war to an end – forcing the Israeli Prime Minister into a place he doesn’t want to be – wildly unpopular for his failure to protect Israel from the attack by Hamas last year, his so-called democracy would probabcly come to a screeching end.  His preoccupation with riggring the courts to protect himself from legal proceedings against him is considered to be a primary reason for his failure to take seriously the known threats by Hamas to attack Israel.  Time for a permannt ceasefire!