Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Portland Protesters

Activists accused of blocking traffic during pro-Palestinian demonstration will not face trial.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A solitary figure stands in the middle of an empty city street, the warm glow of the sun casting long shadows across the pavement, capturing the quiet contemplation and unresolved tensions of a political protest.As tensions over free speech and civil disobedience continue, a lone protester stands resolute in the face of an uncertain legal outcome.Portland Today

Prosecutors in Portland, Maine have dismissed charges against 10 pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested last year for blocking traffic near the U.S. Custom House. The protesters had planned to go to trial to argue that their civil disobedience was justified, but the district attorney's office cited limited resources as the reason for dropping the low-level obstruction charges.

Why it matters

The case highlighted the ongoing tensions and debate around protests over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with activists arguing that traditional political channels have been exhausted. The dismissal of charges suggests prosecutors may be increasingly reluctant to pursue trials for non-violent civil disobedience protests, even as law enforcement continues to arrest demonstrators.

The details

The 10 protesters were among 20 people arrested during a May 2025 demonstration in downtown Portland. Police said the protesters had refused orders to move from the streets they were blocking. About half of those arrested agreed to community service in exchange for having their charges dropped, but the remaining 10 had planned to go to trial to argue their actions were justified. Prosecutors ultimately decided not to pursue the charges, citing limited court and prosecutor resources.

  • The protest took place in May 2025.
  • Charges were dismissed in April 2026.

The players

Jacqueline Sartoris

The district attorney who decided to dismiss the charges, citing limited resources.

John Devlin

A 74-year-old retired physician and volunteer with Doctors without Borders who participated in the protest, saying he felt compelled to act after exhausting other political channels.

Raphael John Wuesthoff

An 87-year-old lawyer and former prosecutor who participated in the protest, believing the U.S. is complicit in human rights violations in Gaza.

Zachary Fey

One of the lawyers who represented the protesters pro bono.

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What they’re saying

“I think we all wanted to speak our reasons for why we did what we did.”

— John Devlin, Protester

“I can't justify spending this kind of time, which is definitely going to come at the cost of another trial with a victim who's been waiting.”

— Jacqueline Sartoris, District Attorney

“They felt that, you know, the ordinary channels of petitions and public pressure, and calling their elected representatives, basically had been exhausted and nothing was occurring. So they got out there and felt compelled to act as they did. Whether it was unreasonable for them to do that would have been a question for a jury.”

— Zachary Fey, Lawyer for the protesters

“I spent a good part of my practice enforcing the rule of law. I felt that this was a very minor violation of the law that we were involved in, and it was geared to call attention to the crime of all crimes: genocide. I felt that was a reasonable conduct, on our part.”

— Raphael John Wuesthoff, Protester

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around the limits of civil disobedience and the willingness of prosecutors to pursue charges against non-violent protesters. While the dismissal of charges suggests a shift in approach, it also raises questions about the ability of activists to effectively draw attention to issues they believe warrant urgent action.