On January 30 and 31, I participated in the anti-ICE protests in Portland Maine. Why? Because I believe it is the right thing to do to help save our democracy and support the rights of others.
I’m in favor of deporting individuals who are from other countries that have either committed serious crimes or are here 100% illegally. I do not believe that individuals working through asylum or other immigration issues should be deported. And I stand firmly against the tactics of ICE approaching people simply based on the color of their skin. I also stand against the extreme and lethal tactics we’ve seen ICE using around the country.
The protest was completely peaceful. There were about 3000 people who gathered at Monument Square on Friday, January 30 to listen to half a dozen speakers. After the presentations, the protesters took to marching the streets of downtown Portland. The March was about one mile long from Congress Street to Commercial Street and back. I only saw about 3-5 law enforcement officers and that was primarily to block streets for the event.
The protesters that I talked to were all locals. I didn’t see anyone who I would suspect as paid protesters from other parts of the country. I’d guess about 50% of the crowd was under 30 years old and 30% was over 60. The 30-60 age group was thin because they probably needed to work. Maine has seen a significant rise in housing and utility costs in the last five years.
It was very cold out. Most of us spent about four hours in temperatures that likely dropped into the single digits after the sun went down. That is how dedicated thousands of people were to this cause.
I went back on Saturday morning for a smaller gathering and felt the same spirit of solidarity.
Let’s stay in touch. – dse
