Mainers: No Business As Usual Until Ceasefire In Gaza

Eleven arrested for blocking on and off ramps to Interstate 295 in Portland, Maine

Around 200 people gathered in Portland, Maine yesterday in support of Palestine, grieving ongoing genocide in Gaza that Israel did not even pause after the ICJ ruling. 

We stood on several corners of a very busy intersection where cars enter and exit I-295 and eventually moved into the road to block both on ramps and off ramps at the Franklin Arterial. Eleven of us were ultimately arrested after refusing to break our blockade. 

I'd like to write a longer post about our arrest experience which was interesting in several aspects, but I don't have time for that today. So for now I'll share my friend Bruce's account as well as these links to corporate news coverage (hat tip to Judy Robbins for the compilation):

https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/portland/portland-ceasefire-palestine-israel-hamas-conflict-protest/97-6cf80bb3-5e80-4350-9b9d-4d3a9645ec13

https://wgme.com/news/local/pro-palestine-protesters-block-franklin-street-arterial-in-portland#

https://www.wmtw.com/article/pro-palestinian-protesters-arrested-portland-intersection/46628930

https://fox23maine.com/news/local/pro-palestine-protesters-block-franklin-street-arterial-in-portland#

https://www.pressherald.com/2024/02/02/portland-police-arrest-protesters-blocking-franklin-street/

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/02/02/portland/portland-police-courts/pro-palestine-protest-blocks-traffic-portland/