A Rockland man was arrested on Saturday after driving his plow truck close to about 75 protesters in Rockland, striking multiple people with ice and snow.
On Saturday, 65 years-old Michael Robinson, of Rockland, drove his plow truck, with the plow down, towards a group of protesters in Rockland’s Chapman Park, the Rockland Police Department said in a release on social media. Snow and ice from the plow struck multiple people, knocking some of them to the ground, according to police.
Police took Robinson to Knox County Jail and charged him with felony reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and driving to endanger. Additional assault charges are expected to be added at arraignment, according to police.
Mark Lewis, of Thomaston, said he was pulling up his car on Park Street to join the protest, in which he has participated regularly for over a year, when he saw the pickup truck veer toward the crowd standing near the Park Street sidewalk.
“All of a sudden, the (plow) blade drops, and this enormous plume of frozen God-knows-what just rained. It was like it came out of a power hose, it was so fast and powerful,” said Lewis, 66. “I was stunned. I just couldn’t believe what I just saw.”
The protest group, The Audacity: Creative Action Together (CAT), has been assembling at Chapman Park on Saturday afternoons for over a year. According to its website, the nonpartisan group upholds core values including opposing authoritarianism, bigotry and corruption, and supporting inclusive democracy, equity and freedom.
Committed to nonviolent action, the group assembles weekly to “peaceably demonstrate for these values.” Audacity CAT’s first demonstration had 20 participants, according to its website, and its largest protest in October saw a crowd of over 2,000 people.
“It’s really a joyous gathering,” said Greg Marley, 70, a longtime protest participant from Rockland who got hit by the slush. “Yeah, sh— happened yesterday, and that was really unfortunate, and it happened in the midst of something that’s been ongoing for months as overwhelmingly positive.”
The protest has been a site of increased criminal activity in the past month, according to Rockland Police. While the weekly gathering has had very few incidents in its first year, on Jan. 31 a flag/banner was maliciously stolen in a case that remains under investigation. On Feb. 14, an individual was assaulted when arguing with someone of an opposing view, according to police, and one person was charged with assault.
Rockland Police said in the release there will be an increased police presence during upcoming events “to ensure the safety of our community.”
“The Rockland Police Department is dedicated to upholding the First Amendment rights of all citizens to peaceably assemble and express their views,” read the release.
Marley said that in addition to negative incidents such as this, they have also received significant support from Chapman Park passersby.
“We occasionally have people that rev their engines or spin tires or give the one finger salute, but by and large — and increasingly — most people that drive by are honking and waving and thumbs-up and supportive for the people who attend. They love the fact that they’re there,” Marley said.
Protesters also said they will not let this incident deter them from peacefully gathering.
“None of us are going to be cowed by this either,” Lewis said. “We’re not going to let clowns like this intimidate us into silence.”
