A large crowd gathers at Monument Square on Friday to protest ICE operations. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) PORTLAND — Friday’s protest appeared to be one of the city’s largest in months, dwarfing recent protests that occurred during much warmer weather on hot, sunny summer weekends. But it was a frigid January afternoon, and more than 1,000 people turned out anyway. They huddled together, chanting, cheering and holding their signs over the clouds rising from their breaths. Real estate was scarce in Monument Square as the demonstrators condemned Trump administration policies, most notably the recent surge of federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota and Maine. The crowd stretched from One Monument Square to the bus stop across Center Street and lined the opposite side of Congress Street. When they marched, they extended from the square well down Exchange Street. They eventually made it all the way to Commercial Street, with police blocking off roads and forming an escort. The protest in Portland was just one of many demonstrations across the U.S. on Friday, which included a general strike where businesses shut down and students walked out of class, from California, Arizona and Colorado, to Michigan, Minnesota and Maine. ( More than 200 Maine businesses participated in some capacity, either by closing their doors or donating a portion of profits to groups and organizations helping immigrants. Some businesses lined the square with tables, handing out hot chocolate, coffee and treats to demonstrators. Many area high schoolers — including in Portland and Lewiston — walked out of or skipped school altogether. Monument Square has been the site of dozens of protests this year, but a general strike takes things a step further. James Fields, an organizer with the Party of Socialism and Liberation’s Maine chapter, said a strike has a more tangible and “concrete” effect. “A workers’ strike, businesses closing, school walkouts. … It can’t really be ignored as easily,” Fields said. “Basically hitting the pocketbook, hitting the cities, hitting the country in a way that materially impacts and disrupts things.” People gather at Monument Square to protest ICE operations on Friday. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image FROM NEAR AND FAR Michael and Emily Bukowski-Thall, of Portland, said the past few weeks of increased immigration enforcement operations have taken a toll on their community. “I’ve never been so stressed in my own hometown. I feel like we’ve been holding our collective breath,” Emily said. “I feel something horrible is happening to the city that I love, and we need to fight for it.” Michael said he’s felt compelled to carry his passport wherever he goes. “We have a secret police force in our community,” he said. While things feel dark, he said, exercising his right to protest provides some light. “The fact that we still have this gives me hope,” he said. “We have the ability to express ourselves.” Chris Kast, of Portland, said he is “tired of living under what has turned into a fascist regime” and wants to see elected officials on both sides of the aisle “stand up” to Trump. “They’ve forgotten about something called ‘the Amendments of the Constitution’ that can kick him out,” he said. “He needs to go.” Kast said it felt good to take part in the protest, but he had reservations about attending. “It feels a little nerve-wracking,” he said. “I considered, ‘Should I go? Is this safe?'” Kast wasn’t alone. John Delea, of Bridgton, said he was nervous on the walk from his car to the square, but seeing such a big crowd actually put him at ease. What ultimately drew him to the Portland protest, he said, was a general distaste of how the federal government is operating. “This is serious. This is real, and somebody’s got to say something,” Delea said. Mike Laughlin, of Freeport, said things are “already out of control,” and it’s more important than ever to stand up and speak out. “We’ve all got to come out and voice our opinion,” he said. “We need to do our part. “We need more people out here.”