PORTLAND — Protests held in Portland today at Monument Square and Lincoln Park were relatively peaceful with two individuals arrested after the organized events concluded.
The event in Lincoln Park was well attended, causing police to shut down Congress Street between Pearl and Franklin, and Pearl Street between Congress and Federal, for the safety of the crowd.
Police do not have an estimate of the crowd size.
The crowd began to dissipate after speakers concluded in Lincoln Park around 1:30 p.m.
At approximately 1:41 p.m., several remaining protesters moved into the intersection of Congress and Franklin Streets to block traffic.
All were encouraged to leave the area or they would be arrested for obstructing a public way.
Officers began to move the group out of the intersection and were met with some resistance, but no immediate arrests were made through this process.
In lieu of making several arrests, officers had to push some people out of the street and onto the sidewalk area.
The intersection reopened approximately 10 minutes after it was blocked.
As officers were facilitating the flow of traffic on Congress Street at Franklin, 35-year-old Jennie Joan Ferrare of Portland was ordered to get back onto the sidewalk.
She threw a water bottle at a police officer, which struck him.
She was placed under arrest for assault and obstructing a public way.
As officers were securing Ferrare, 27-year-old Tyler J. McGrath of Falmouth blew an air horn directly at an officer from a close proximity, causing immediate pain in his ears.
McGrath was also placed under arrest and charged with assault.
Both were transported to the Cumberland County Jail.
