BATH, Maine — Several people were arrested during a protest Saturday morning at an event hosted by Bath Iron Works.
At about 8:30 a.m., a group of around 75 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Bath Iron Works to protest during its christening of the new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Patrick Gallagher, the Bath Police Department said in a news release.
Police said the group of protesters consisted of members from various groups, including the Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights and the Maine Veterans for Peace chapter. Police added that many of these individuals have protested at past Bath Iron Works events before.
At about 8 a.m., just before the gathering, a man associated with the protest group was reportedly seen "dumping a red-colored liquid" on the sidewalk and front step area in front of BIW's main building at 700 Washington St. before driving away.
The man, identified as 76-year-old Mark Roman of Solon, was later found and summonsed for Class D criminal mischief and cited for littering, according to the release.
Police said Roman's wife, 67-year-old Lisa Savage, was one of the protesters arrested for criminal trespass.
Then, around 9:45 a.m., a group of protesters split off from the larger group that had been peacefully protesting on the sidewalk and made their way onto Bath Iron Works property at the intersection of King and Washington streets.
"These protestors sat down in the road, linking arms, and refused to clear from the public way or move off BIW property despite requests and warnings by officers to do so," the release stated.
Police said all nine individuals involved were taken into custody without incident. Of the nine people, two were charged with Class E obstructing a public way and seven were charged with Class E criminal trespass.
The following individuals were arrested, according to police:
- Robert Shetterly, 77, of Brooksville, was charged with criminal trespass
- Bradley Conway, 32, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was charged with obstructing a public way
- Russell Wray, 69, of Hancock, was charged with criminal trespass
- Abigail Fuller, 64, of Portland, was charged with obstructing a public way
- Lisa Savage, 67, of Solon, was charged with criminal trespass
- Dudley Hendrick, 82, of Deer Isle, was charged with criminal trespass
- Jamila Levasseur, 69, of Waldo, was charged with criminal trespass
- Constance Jenkins, 76, of Belfast, was charged with criminal trespass
- Mary Sullivan, 70, of Brunswick, was charged with criminal trespass
Roman, Fuller, and Savage were also arrested and charged in a protest that disrupted traffic in Portland earlier this year.
Police said all charged individuals were assigned a court date of Sept. 3 at the West Bath Unified Criminal Court.
"They were booked at Bath Police Department and bailed on personal recognizance by a bail commissioner," the release said.
The Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office, Maine State Police, and New Hampshire State Police assisted. The U.S. Coast Guard also helped in providing security in the Kennebec River alongside Bath Iron Works security.
"We were able to safely and peacefully resolve these unlawful acts of civil disobedience without any injuries to our officers, the protestors, or the public," Bath Chief of Police Andrew Booth said. "We support everyone’s First Amendment right to peacefully assemble, but when their actions create a safety risk or violate the law, we must take the appropriate action, like what happened today."
No additional details were released.