Protesters Heckle Sen. Susan Collins at Searsport Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

SEARSPORT, Maine (August 27, 2025) - Republican Senator Susan Collins faced an unexpected and hostile reception today during a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of Route 1 reconstruction in downtown Searsport. More than 200 demonstrators converged on the event, chanting “Shame! Shame! Shame!” and accusing Collins of supporting policies they deemed harmful to Maine residents and international human rights.

The ceremony, originally planned for an outdoor location, was relocated to Searsport Town Hall in an attempt to shield the celebration from protesters lining the street. However, once inside, Collins was repeatedly drowned out by attendees wielding signs bearing messages such as “Stop arms to Israel,” “Cut billionaires, not ribbons,” and support for Democrat Graham Platner’s challenge to her Senate seat.

Despite the interruptions, Collins maintained composure, smiled, and cut the ribbon marking the project’s completion. She then attempted to deliver remarks highlighting her role in securing federal funding for improvements to pavement, drainage, sidewalks, parking and pedestrian safety. According to Collins, “This long-overdue reconstruction of Route 1 will make downtown Searsport safer and more accessible for drivers and pedestrians alike,” before protesters resumed shouting.

Protesters voiced outrage over Collins’s votes to sustain military aid to Israel amid the Gaza conflict, criticized her refusal to hold town halls in Maine, and denounced her support for budget cuts to Medicare and Social Security. One attendee shouted, “Your votes have devastated our Supreme Court! You never listen to us!” while another accused her of enabling “genocide” through her alignment with AIPAC-backed policies.

The demonstration comes on the heels of Democrat Graham Platner’s recent announcement to challenge Collins in her bid for a sixth Senate term. Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer, has campaigned on ending “endless wars,” refusing contributions from AIPAC, and prioritizing working-class Mainers’ interests. In a viral campaign video, he pledged to “defeat Susan Collins and dismantle the oligarchy that is ruining our country”.

Collins, who has represented Maine since 1997, has long cultivated a reputation as a centrist Republican. Yet her stance on national security and social spending has increasingly alienated progressive voters in a state that favored Democrats in recent federal elections. Today’s fraught encounter may foreshadow the heightened political battles awaiting Collins as she seeks reelection in November 2026.