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By Mike Donoghue
Vermont News First
WILLISTON — Vermont State Police said they arrested 13 people on criminal charges of unlawful trespass Friday after they refused to leave a private office building that houses a medical office, work space for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a popular café.
State police, assisted by Williston Police, identified those refusing a lawful order to leave, as:
• Linda Ayer 74, of Burlington;
• Margaret Chadwell, 26, of Burlington;
• Nathaniel Maddison, 33, of South Burlington;
• Sherri Wormser, 58, of Colchester;
• Robin Chadwell, 28, of Jericho;
• Omega Haehnel, 27, of Springfield, VT;
• Lena Myers, 29, Norwich;
• Kate Pressgrove, 18, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Jackson Price, 20, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Gabriella Ross, 20, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Henry Dorr, 20, of Hanover, N.H.;
• Lexington Kennedy, 22, of New York, N.Y.;
• Roan Wade, 22, Red Hook, N.Y.
State police issued a second news release about 5:30 p.m. saying 12 people will be handled in adult court and one in juvenile court. The second news release was missing the name of Kate Pressgrove, who is 18.
It is unknown if Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George will honor the court citations issued by Vermont State Police.
George has given a free pass to 23 out of 24 demonstrators arrested on misconduct charges during protests in Williston and South Burlington since February.
At least three – Wormser, Kennedy and Wade — have been arrested at earlier protests and were given a pass by George, records show. During an earlier protest at the Williston building, two second-time offenders were not prosecuted by George.
The 13 trespassers on Friday were among a group of people who entered the White Cap Business Park on Industrial Avenue to protest federal agencies about 7:30 a.m., police said.
The building owner reported the individuals were trespassing, refused to leave when asked, and requested that police remove them from the property. Police had them cleared out by shortly after 10 a.m.
Most of the 13 protestors, including six from out-of-state, forced up to four police officers to carry each one out of the office building to awaiting transport vehicles.
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. Police complied with their requests.
The 13 individuals were taken into custody. They were transported to the state police barracks in Williston, where they were processed and released with citations to appear for arraignment in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 24, police said.
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Categories: Public Safety
The problem is not the protesters. The problem is Sarah George, who allows them to break the law without consequences and encourages them to keep doing it. What a worthless do-nothing, an embarrassment, a disgrace. Vermont deserves better.
There are ways around it. They should be pursued.
It appears that the local yard sales and thrift stores have had a run on dingy tablecloths that sort of resemble keffiyehs. This motley entourage looks like a campaign ad for Bram Kranichfeld.
Their brains have been washed more than their clothes! Do these misfits have parents? Jobs? Spouses? Children (god forbid)?
It is unknown if Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George will honor the court citations issued by Vermont State Police.
She can be impeached. Federal charges can be brought against the individuals arrested.
This is a coordinated gathering of many who 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.
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 apparent pattern of repeat unlawful conduct when determining an appropriate response with restitution and Restorative Justice a minimum.
If Democrats continue to treat repeated trespass and organized disruptions as having little consequence, it will not stop, and Ms. George is complicit in the degradation of public safety and derelict in her duty.
Accountability must be meaningful enough to protect the rights of property owners, tenants, employees, and the taxpayers who continually finance the public response.
https://youtu.be/D4WVayqWVuI?is=x49yuEEyiqL0O4B3
This is video of the arrest. The first thing you’ll notice is that they’re all white. For me, this is what white privilege and white supremacy actually looks like.
It’s not hoods anymore, it’s kaffiyehs now. And every one of these individuals is from a privileged, elite background.
This is an activist cell, which is very closely related to a terrorist cell, much like the Zizians, and should be monitored as such…as should Dartmouth College going forward.
Time for a “No Federal Protestors” protest??
Surely the significance of the Winooski beach head isn’t lost on anyone:
https://vermontdailychronicle.com/breaking-winooski-school-district-raises-somali-flag-draws-mixed-response/
Looks like a group of professional protesters !
This “protest” took place at a federal facility, and federal charges for trespassing and disruption of normal activities there should be pursued. When reasonable conditions of release are imposed for their behavior, then detention can be an option when they repeat it while awaiting adjudication. That seems to be the best way to show these folks that their actions have real consequences, when they dont have the option of being served tofu and kale at the detention facility. It’s only genuine civil disobedience if there are tangible consequences. The faux-palestinian thing is getting old and somewhat amusing. Try behaving like that in Gaza and see where it gets you. And a special shout out to former democrat Sen. Pat Leahy who brought all those immigration facilities to Vermont. Just like the lake museum and the airport, those federal facilities should put a nice stone sign out front with Pat’s name on it as a reminder to all.
Saw this yesterday: “Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni moved to Gaza to support Palestinians.
He was kidnapped, tortured, and executed by Islamist extremists.
They called him a “kaffir” (infidel) before murdering him.”
Well there you have it — State’s Attorney Sarah George! Oh gracious
Nearly half of the names are out of staters. And many of the names are repeat agitators. Include George on the list as the prime repeat agitator through her radical left-leaning listlessness and lethargy which allows this to continue…
These are very dumb protesters, they couldn’t tie a shoelace. There are people and organizations behind them instructing them. Interesting article naming names and organizations. The Vermont Progressive Party is one of them and includes other such parties. Time wise reading would take 2-3 cups of Joe or your favorite wine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky
Now let’s make sure that Sarah George does her job in prosecutes these people instead of letting them go because Sarah George is also part of this corrupt Democrat association throughout the city that allows illegals and drug addicts to run free along with Democrats breaking the law. Maybe we should throw Sarah George in jail if she lets these people go The good thing is, she’ll be voted out this year
It is unknown if Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George will honor the court citations issued by Vermont State Police.
George has given a free pass to 23 out of 24 demonstrators arrested on misconduct charges during protests in Williston and South Burlington since February.
This is laughable to say the least, everyone knows that Sarah George will not prosecute these people, so let’s add 12 more to her record that she is so proud of. Bram I hope that you get elected we need to take out the trash and get some accountability for these people and other criminals from the state’s attorney’s office and as long as Sarah George is there we won’t. I hope that everyone is keeping count of all her BS because come August those people who are in the right mind will get out to vote and get rid of her even if it means crossing party lines to do it. You can do that in the primaries.
ICE should set up operations next to a Planned Parenthood. It would increase the odds of a conviction…
Carried?
You jest …. failure to walk when able might need to be remedied
Federal Conspiracy.