Rabbi Joshua Chasan of Portland, Maine, being led out of the office by a police officer. Image by Getty

By Ari Feldman December 8, 2017

Nine faith leaders were arrested after they refused to stop singing “This Little Light Of Mine” in Republican Senator Susan Collins’ office in Maine, the Beacon reported.

The clergy staged a “pray-in” Thursday evening to protest Collins’ support for the Senate tax plan. They were charged with criminal trespass.

Rabbi Joshua Chasan of Portland was arrested along with clergy representing the Unitarian faith and several Christian denominations. Though police cuffed the protesters using zip ties, a local reporter said the officers were being “very polite and friendly.”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Maine religious leaders asking @SenatorCollins to change her vote on the tax bill sing while being arrested at her Portland office.#mepolitics #MoralMaine pic.twitter.com/QuRVLLyKjG

— Mike 202-224-2523 Tipping (@miketipping) December 8, 2017

“Our faith calls us to take care of our neighbors. Our faith calls us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God,” said Rev. Allen Ewing-Merrill. “We call on Senator Collins to do the right thing for her constituents and to listen to God’s call at this pivotal moment.”

All nine protesters were released around midnight on $60 bail.

Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount