PORTLAND, Maine — Dozens of protesters blocked the on- and offramps for Interstate 295 Friday afternoon in the area of the Marginal Way and Franklin Street intersection in Portland, prompting a police response to the area.
The rally began around 1:30 p.m., Portland police said in a news release.
The protesters chanted and held signs and banners showing support for Palestine and calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
NEWS CENTER Maine was at the scene Friday afternoon and saw vehicles unable to get off the highway around 2 p.m.
Police cleared the offramp shortly before 2:30 p.m. to allow vehicles off the highway and were heard telling the protesters they would be arrested if they did not move. Several people who were sitting in the road and apparently refused to move were seen taken into custody by police shortly thereafter.
Police said in the release that 11 individuals were arrested and charged with obstructing a public way:
Mark Roman, 76, of Solon
Sophia Fuller, 77, of Belfast
Abigail Fuller, 63, of Portland
Jamila Fuller, 69, of Waldo
Paige Milligan, 34, of Brunswick
Lisa Savage, 69, of Solon
Roryalice Hoecker, 29, of Portland
Haley Marchant, 33, of Old Orchard Beach
Hallie Herz, 25, of Portland
Yusef Ebrahim, 27, of Portland
Natalie Joyce, 25, of Waterville
All 11 individuals were taken to the Cumberland County Jail, according to police.
Police left the area at about 3 p.m. after the street was reopened, the release stated.