PORTLAND — Six people were arrested in Portland Friday night during a protest against the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the city.
Around 9 p.m., Portland Police said officers responded to the Residence Inn and the AC Hotel on Fore Street for reports of disturbances.
Initially, police said there was a small crowd that was not causing any issues.
However, just before 10:30 p.m., police say the crowd grew and began blowing whistles, banging on drums and causing disturbances.
Police said they repeatedly told the group to disperse.
At around 11 p.m., police say several of the protesters refused to comply and were arrested, charged with disorderly conduct and taken to the Cumberland County Jail.
Police identified the following six individuals as the people who were arrested:
25-year-old Andrew Mantenieks of East Orland
30-year-old Samuel Pecor of Biddeford
26-year-old Amelia Fleming of Nobleboro
28-year-old Meghan Morrison of Portland
19-year-old Savanah Roberge of Somersworth, N.H.
30-year-old John Clark of Windham
Police said they facilitated a separate protest that began earlier in Monument Square. That protest wrapped up at around 7 p.m.
According to the Portland Police Department, a previous protest on Wednesday night at the Residence Inn resulted in one criminal summons being issued.