People protest in Portland’s Monument Square on Tuesday after a Colombian man was fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Biddeford the day before. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
PORTLAND — A large crowd gathered in Monument Square on Tuesday evening to protest Monday’s shooting of a Colombian man by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Biddeford the day before.
Ideal Maine Social Aid and Sanctuary Band served as the opening act, as they have at so many demonstrations here before.
About 100 people lined Monument Square as things formally got underway at 6 p.m. with an “ICE Out Now” chant. Within minutes the crowd doubled, and more demonstrators continued trickling in.
Shukri Abdirahman speaks during Tuesday’s protest in Portland’s Monument Square. The rally was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
They held signs “From Houston to Maine ICE Out! “Full And Equal Rights For All Immigrants” and “Stop ICE Terror” and hoisted them higher as they chanted their demands: “Defund ICE” “Abolish ICE” “No MORE ICE.”
Ralliers in Portland demanded justice for Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old, who was in his car Monday morning in Biddeford when he was shot and killed by an ICE agent. Members of Maine’s congressional delegation said ICE officials confirmed there was no warrant for Guerrero’s arrest and that he was not the target of the agents’ action Monday morning.
Protesters ended with a march to Sen. Susan Collins’ office in Portland, chanting “hey hey, ho ho, Susan Collins has got to go.”
The sea of demonstrators walked down Congress Street past City Hall, took a right down Pearl Street, and looped back via Middle Street. They stopped briefly at the senator’s office at 1 Canal Plaza.
Protesters crowd Portland’s Monument Square on Tuesday following the shooting by federal immigration agents of a Colombian man the day before. Some 200 people took part in the Portland demonstration. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
Then the group headed down Union Street to the Old Port. From there they took a right onto Commercial Street, a left at the intersection with Center Street and proceeded down to the Portland Fish Pier.
Stuck motorists honked all the while, many in rhythm with the demonstrators’ chanting.
Protests broke out in Biddeford on Monday as news of the killing quickly spread through Maine and the nation. The day of protest in Biddeford was capped by an evening vigil, while rallies and vigils were also held elsewhere across the state on Monday and Tuesday.
This story will be updated.
