Occupy Maine was never just an encampment. From its base at Lincoln Park—and later the Meg Perry Center—the movement organized dozens of actions, rallies, teach-ins, film screenings, and solidarity campaigns across Maine and beyond. Here are the key events that defined the movement.

Protests & Direct Actions

Super Hero March Against Bank of America (2012). Occupy Maine organized a costumed march through Portland’s downtown targeting Bank of America’s role in the foreclosure crisis. Participants dressed as “super heroes” of economic justice drew media coverage and public attention to predatory lending practices.

Occupy the New Hampshire Presidential Primary (January 2012). A delegation from Occupy Maine traveled to New Hampshire during the presidential primary to bring the movement’s message to the national political stage. The action connected local organizing to national electoral politics.

National Day of Action Against Foreclosures (February 2012). Occupy Maine participated in the coordinated national action targeting bank foreclosure practices. The local campaign became the Occupy Homes initiative, which investigated foreclosures in Maine and published a legislative scorecard tracking lawmakers’ positions on housing policy.

Tar Sands Oil Action, Burlington, VT (Summer 2012). Members joined an environmental protest in Burlington, Vermont against tar sands oil pipelines, connecting economic justice to environmental activism.

Congress Square Defense (2012). Occupy Maine mobilized to prevent the privatization of Congress Square, a public gathering space in downtown Portland. The campaign drew support from preservation groups and neighborhood associations.

Community Events

Occupy Maine TV. The movement produced at least four episodes of Occupy Maine TV, documenting camp life, interviews with participants, and coverage of actions. Episodes were distributed through YouTube and screened at community events.

Film Screenings. Occupy Maine hosted regular film screenings, including How to Start a Revolution (about nonviolent protest movements) and documentaries on economic inequality. Screenings were followed by discussions connecting the films to local organizing.

Occupella. The movement’s musical wing, Occupella, performed protest-themed songs at events throughout Portland, including Christmas carols with rewritten lyrics performed around the Old Port in December 2011.

Open Jam & Open Space. Regular musical and creative gatherings at Lincoln Park and the Meg Perry Center provided community-building space beyond formal political organizing.

Kymara Gallery Mixed Media Show. Local artists created works inspired by the Occupy movement, exhibited at the Kymara Gallery in Portland.

Solidarity & Mutual Aid

Scott Olsen Vigil (October 27, 2011). When Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen was critically injured by a police projectile at Occupy Oakland, Occupy Maine held an evening vigil at Monument Square in solidarity.

Trayvon Martin Rally (Spring 2012). Occupy Maine organized a rally at Monument Square after the shooting of Trayvon Martin, connecting racial justice to the movement’s broader critique of systemic inequality.

Hurricane Sandy Relief (October 2012). Occupy Maine mobilized disaster relief efforts for communities affected by Hurricane Sandy, demonstrating the mutual aid infrastructure that movements build alongside their political work.

CODEPINK Maine Collaboration. Occupy Maine partnered with CODEPINK Maine on anti-war actions and congressional advocacy, connecting domestic economic grievances to foreign policy.

Speakers & Allies

Throughout its active period, Occupy Maine hosted speakers including Jim Gerritsen, an organic farmer and advocate for food sovereignty, and Margaret Flowers, a physician and single-payer healthcare advocate. The Maine State Nurses Association was an early and consistent supporter, providing both moral and practical support to the encampment.

Senator Olympia Snowe was a target of organized pressure at the University of Southern Maine graduation ceremony, where Occupy Maine members protested corporate influence in Congress.

Statewide Chapters

Occupy Maine’s organizing model spread across the state. Chapters formed in Augusta (focused on state government advocacy), Bangor, South Portland, and at the University of Maine in Orono (Occupy UMO). Each chapter maintained its own General Assembly while coordinating with the Portland hub on statewide actions.