The Vermont State Police arrested 13 people on charges of unlawful trespass Friday morning, July 24 after they declined to leave a private office building in Williston.
The individuals arrested are:
- Linda Ayer 74, of Burlington
- Margaret Chadwell, 26, of Burlington
- Robin Chadwell, 28, of Jericho
- Henry Dorr, 20, of Hanover, NH
- Omega Haehnel, 27, of Springfield
- Lexington Kennedy, 22, of New York
- Nathaniel Maddison, 33, of South Burlington
- Lena Myers, 29, Norwich, VT.
- Kate Pressgrove, 18, of Hanover
- Jackson Price, 20, of Hanover
- Gabriella Ross, 20, of Hanover
- Roan Wade, 22, Red Hook, NY.
- Sherri Wormser, 58, of Colchester
They were among a group of people who entered the building to protest federal agencies — including Immigration and Customs Enforcement — that occupy space there alongside private businesses and a medical office. The building owner said the individuals were trespassing, refused to leave when asked, and requested that police remove them from the property.
State police, working in conjunction with the Williston Police Department, responded and spoke with protest leaders. That discussion led to several people leaving the inside of the building, while 13 others indicated they’d need to be arrested.
The 13 individuals were taken into custody and brought to the Williston Barracks, where they were processed and released with citations to appear for arraignment at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 24 in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Burlington.
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Categories: Crime
get out the rubber hoses
A quick review of the backgrounds of several of those arrested in today’s Williston sit-in paints a picture that deserves far more public scrutiny.
This isn’t a spontaneous gathering of first-time demonstrators. Instead, many have histories of participating in repeated acts of civil disobedience and trespassing:
• Roan Wade (22, Red Hook, NY) was arrested in February 2026 after a sit-in protest at an ICE surveillance facility in Williston. Before that, Wade was arrested during the 2023 Dartmouth pro-Palestinian encampment, later convicted of criminal trespass in 2025, received a suspended fine, and was ordered to remain on good behavior.
• Henry Dorr, Jackson Price, and Gabriella Ross, all associated with Dartmouth College and the Hanover activist network, have been connected to the same protest circles that have repeatedly organized campus encampments and direct-action demonstrations throughout the Upper Valley.
• Linda Ayer (74, Burlington) has publicly stated that attending three to five demonstrations every week is a central part of her life. While this appears to be her first trespass citation, she has long been a highly visible participant in anti-ICE demonstrations throughout Burlington.
• Margaret and Robin Chadwell, along with other local activists, have longstanding ties to regional climate and social justice organizations that frequently coordinate demonstrations throughout Chittenden County.
These are not isolated citizens independently arriving at the same decision. This is their strategy. Many have participated in the same activist networks, the same style of demonstrations, and, in some cases, repeated arrests for similar conduct.
Peaceful protest is a constitutional right. Trespassing into private or restricted facilities and disrupting the lawful use of property is not. Every time these events occur, law enforcement officers respond, court resources are consumed, businesses are disrupted, employees are prevented from peacefully conducting their work, and taxpayers ultimately bear the cost.
The Chittenden County State’s Attorney must recognize this pattern of repeat unlawful conduct and financial cost. Restitution and Restorative Justice are a minimum she could require.
If Vermont continues to treat repeated trespass and organized disruptions as having little consequence, it will not stop.
We demand accountability meaningful enough to protect the rights of property owners, tenants, employees, and the taxpayers who continually finance the public response.