CARIBOU, Maine — Aroostook County protesters are hoping a hometown push will spur U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to host a town hall meeting.
More than 25 people gathered Friday in front of Collins’ legislative office in Caribou, carrying signs with slogans like “We deserve to be heard,” “Deport Musk” and “Canada wants us. Let’s go.”
The group called for a face-to-face meeting with Collins to share their fears about changes by President Donald Trump’s administration. Similar protests have happened around the state, like one held March 16 in Portland. It’s the first major event led by a new County organization called Grassroots Grove.
Jada Moulton formed Grassroots Grove about two weeks ago, her mother, Laurie Moulton of New Sweden, said. The group supports government of, by and for the people, according to event fliers it posted on social media.
“We’re asking for a town hall. It’s Susan’s hometown and she hasn’t ever had one here in 25 years,” Moulton said, adding her daughter couldn’t attend due to illness. “She needs to listen and take care of the people that vote for her.”
While protesters represented different concerns, Moulton supported saving Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, she said.
As protesters stood on the Sweden Street sidewalk, one moved an empty chair to the front, holding a sign that said “Where is Susan?” The crowd chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Susan Collins has got to go.”
Melanie Carlson of Caribou came to represent her daughter, who has a disability and for whom she is a caregiver. The uncertainty of what’s happening in Washington is alarming, she said.
“She’s at risk of losing her health care coverage,” Carlson said. “I’m concerned. I’m worried. I’m scared. I don’t sleep at night. And at this point in my life, I shouldn’t have to feel that way.”
Carlson said she doesn’t like what’s happening in the country and feels democracy is under threat, she said.
No one minds if fat is cut off the bone from certain government branches, but the way things are happening on the federal level puts democracy and the rule of law at risk, Kim Miller of Woodland said.
Miller’s husband served in Afghanistan and Iraq and she fears veterans could lose access to health care, she said. She also worries that women could lose access to health care and voting rights.
Health care and the potential loss of Social Security were top concerns for Laurette Adams of Mars Hill. At 62, she has paid into those benefits and wants to ensure they’ll still be there, she said.
Adams believes Collins and her representatives have failed to respond to constituents, who aren’t able to talk to her face-to-face.
“She’s been serving for 25 years, she’s been serving this area, but she only hears the people that she wants to hear,” Adams said. “We are fed up and we’d like to be heard.”
