Police in Merrimack, New Hampshire, arrested a former Disney actress and two accomplices on Monday for their involvement in vandalizing an office owned by the U.S. branch of the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems.
As per WTNH-TV, the ex-actress, 27-year-old Bridget Irene Shergalis from Connecticut, and her co-defendants—Sophie Marika Ross, 22, from Massachusetts, and Calla Mairead Walsh, 19, also from Massachusetts—are facing charges of riot, sabotage, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct.
According to the reports, the three individuals were part of a crowd protesting Elbit as participants in a demonstration orchestrated by the anti-Israel activist organization Palestine Action US.
The demonstrators blocked the entrance to the building, shouting pro-Palestinian slogans and splattering the structure with red paint.
According to the reports, smoke was observed rising from the roof of the building, leading the Merrimack Fire Department’s emergency personnel to react to the situation.
Upon police arrival at the scene, they discovered the front side of the building covered in red paint, with smashed windows, and one of the doors to the main lobby locked with a bicycle lock, as per information provided by WBTS.
After finding Shergalis, Ross, and Walsh on the roof, the police detained them. Officers on the rooftop discovered additional damage to the building, including spray painting, shattered skylights, and damaged HVAC equipment, as reported by the news station.
The trio were reportedly arraigned Tuesday at the Hillsborough County Superior Court.
“This is outright violence. It’s criminality. It is malicious targeting of property and of people,” Anti-Defamation League New England regional director Jonah Steinberg told the Post.
“In this time of Hamas terrorism against Israel, it is extremely concerning if Hamas is setting the example for people who consider themselves activists on this side of the sea,” Steinberg added.
A former actress and comedian, Shergalis starred as Bridget Cook in the Disney TV series “So Random” and Stains in the show “Liv and Maddie.”
Shergalis also made guest appearances in the shows “Dog With A Blog” and “Shake it Up.”
On Thursday, Walsh, one of the co-defendants in the incident, complained on X (formerly Twitter) of having to pay $20,000 in bail.
Walsh also claimed to face “an extreme level of political repression from the state” and requested “all the support I can get.”
“History will absolve us,” Walsh wrote.
“This is what happens when limousine liberals who grow up with a silver spoon in their mouth are beholden to TikTok trends rather than having facts on situations,” Republican strategist Garrett Ventry said.
“The continuation of the false equivalence between Israel and Palestine shows just a lack of understanding of history and morals,” Ventry added.
“Elbit America employs thousands of Americans who are dedicated to the mission of creating innovative solutions that protect and save lives,” Elbit Systems said in a Monday news statement.
“We support the rights of protesters to peacefully express their views. However, what we experienced today was violent criminal behavior as evidenced by the arrests made by local law enforcement,” the company said.
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