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Credit: DisneyAt a recent protest in Merrimack, New Hampshire, three demonstrators, including a former Disney Channel star, were arrested for vandalism.
For many, the Disney Channel was the definition of childhood. Whether you preferred animated classics like DuckTales (1987-1990, 2017-2021), sitcoms like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (2005-2008), or even Disney Channel Original Movies like Smart House (1999), there was something special about coming home and getting to see these after school or on a weeknight.
The Disney Channel is also known for having created some of the most iconic stars of all time. This includes Miley Cyrus from Hannah Montana (2006-2011), Selena Gomez from Wizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012), Zac Efron in High School Musical (2006), and Demi Lovato in Sonny With a Chance (2009-2011) and Camp Rock (2008).
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While many of these stars remain front and center in entertainment, others achieve recognition in other ways. This is true for one star who recently made the news for being arrested during an anti-Israel protest in Merrimack, New Hampshire, on November 21, 2023.
Disney Channel Star and Two Others Arrested at Palestine Support Protest
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According to the Patch, three people were arrested in Merrimack, New Hampshire, for reportedly vandalizing an Israeli company (Elbit Systems) during a protest in support of Palestine. One of the arrested parties is former Disney Channel actor Bridget Shergalis.
Most well known for her stints in the Sonny With a Chance spinoff sketch series So Random! (2011-2012) and Liv and Maddie (2013-2016), Shergalis has also featured in Criminal Minds (2005-present), All About Steve (2009), and the video game Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (2009).
Related: Disney Sees Backlash, Boycott for Support of Israel
The other parties arrested were Sophie Marika Ross and Calla Walsh, a well-known activist and political figure who was a massive supporter of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaigns and a founding organizer of the American wing of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian protest movement dedicated to shutting down and disrupting multinational arms dealers.
According to the report, the demonstrators blocked the driveway to the entrance of Elbit Systems and vandalized the building. This included spraying graffiti on the building with red spray paint, smashed skylights, broken windows, and damaged HVAC equipment. There have also been reports of smoke from the top of the building.
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All three demonstrators face multiple felony charges, including rioting, sabotage, and attempted burglary, along with one count each of misdemeanor criminal trespassing. They were offered between $5,000 and $20,000 bail.
Both sides of the political spectrum have been vocal about the incident, with some declaring that the trio is being held as political prisoners and others claiming that they are “limousine liberals” who don’t have their facts straight. While Shergalis and Ross haven’t made any statements, Walsh Tweeted, “Protesting genocide is not a crime. Genocide is the crime.”
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