Hey Collins, vote like you respect us

“IT’S ABOUT time we’re heard — and not just heard, but action is taken...I think every woman has met a Kavanaugh. Every woman has met one of these Kavanaughs — in high school, in college, in business, it has affected all of our lives — and you know what, we’re fucking fed up with it!”

These were the words of a protester outside of Sen. Susan Collins’ Portland, Maine, office on September 28, summing up the feelings of many in the crowd.

More than a year since the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements against sexual assault broke, many survivors and their supporters are raising their voices against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Since the news emerged that multiple women — beginning with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, but now including several others — have accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault and other violent and disgusting behavior, pressure has mounted on congressional representatives to vote against him.

Protests have erupted in recent days, including an October 1 march on the Yale Club and a sit-in at New York’s Grand Central Station that thousands took part in. There were smaller actions elsewhere, like the inspiring sit-in of women at Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s Charleston, West Virginia, office that led to the arrest of nine on “trespassing” charges.

Pressure has mounted in particular on Republican Sen. Susan Collins — a crucial potential swing vote — following Blasey’s brave testimony and Kavanaugh’s petulant and entitled response in front of Congress.

On September 28, more than 200 demonstrators, predominantly women, met outside of Collins’ Portland office to express their support for Blasey, and to urge Collins, who has yet to commit to voting against Kavanaugh, to reject Trump’s nominee.

The protest was called the previous day by Ultraviolet and Indivisible, along with several other groups. Simultaneous actions occurred at Collins’ offices in Washington, D.C., and Augusta and Bangor, Maine.

Opponents of the right and their agenda of locking in a reactionary majority on the Supreme Court have been organizing all summer long to put pressure on Collins. But the sexual assault revelations have added to the urgency of our demonstrations.

THE RALLY began with speeches from event organizers, elected officials and representatives of liberal groups. The messages of organizers focused on belief in and support of Blasey, the importance of voting for Democrats in the midterm elections and urging women to run for office.

Energy in the crowd sparked as more speakers took to the bullhorn to share their own personal stories of sexual violence. The crowd pulled together to hear women’s stories over the noise of nearby roadwork.

Many of the survivors mentioned that it was their first time speaking publicly about what had happened to them. They offered support to Kavanaugh’s accusers and spoke of the empowering effect of seeing these women speak out.

One woman called out her attacker, a former babysitter, by name, stating that she wanted there to be a record: “And if my parents see this on the news, it will be the first they’ve ever heard of their sweet neighbor Mark,” the woman said.

Her story, and others shared at the protest, illustrate the difficulties survivors face in speaking out. They also stand in stark contrast to the assertion by Trump and others that “real” survivors report their attacks to the police.

While focused on pressuring Collins, the demonstration also emphasized believing survivors and acknowledging the trauma they’ve experienced. Some of the survivors who spoke explained that they had come to understand their own experiences as sexual assault in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

The crowd in Portland chanted, “We believe women. We believe survivors,” and “They say Kavanaugh, we say hell nah!” making it clear that people in Maine are fed up with violence against women and the lack of accountability of men who commit this violence.

MANY FELT a sense of impending betrayal by Collins, who could still vote to confirm Kavanaugh despite all the evidence that he is a sexual assaulter.

One demonstrator held a sign stating “Susan Collins: Be brave and credible like Dr. Blasey Ford.” After several survivors shared their stories, one participant took to the bullhorn to lead the group in a chorus of “Which side are you on, Susan Collins? Which side are you on?”

Protesters raised chants of “We will remember in November.” Although Collins is not up for re-election this year, protesters referenced a crowd-funded campaign that began several weeks ago to fund a Collins opponent in 2020 if she votes to confirm Kavanaugh. Over $1 million has already been pledged to the campaign.

Collins has denounced this campaign as bribery and extortion, but in a political system run on large corporate campaign contributions and lobbyists, her outrage rings hollow. It is understandable why the 35,000 contributors to this campaign feel this is the only way for their voices to be heard.

But while many are setting their sights on electing Democrats to office in the future — despite the fact that even some Democrats like Manchin have refused to say that they will vote against Kavanaugh — the importance of public outcry and mass action today can help turn the tide against Kavanaugh’s nomination.

Following the rally, demonstrators made their way to Collins’ eighth-floor office to tell their stories and urge her to vote “no.” They crowded into the small office and hall while a staffer took notes on their comments. The police were called due to fire code violations, and two demonstrators were arrested.

At the time of the rally, Collins had still not stated whether she supported Kavanaugh’s confirmation, but after the day of protest on Friday, she released a statement saying she supported delaying the vote by a week to allow the FBI to investigate.

Although Collins has stated her support for the FBI investigation, Mainers need to keep the pressure on until she vows to vote “no.” We need more rallies, sit-ins and speak-outs like those in Portland.

Walkouts and sit-ins, like the one that recently occurred at Yale University, if taken up at Maine colleges and workplaces, would send a strong message to Collins that Mainers demand a “no” vote on Kavanaugh, and a society without sexual violence.

Regardless of what an FBI investigation concludes, we need to continue to believe and stand in solidarity with survivors like Blasey — and organize to hold elected officials of both parties accountable.

Women and working people can’t wait for politicians to save us from the right-wing onslaught. We need to organize ourselves and to continue this fight far beyond Kavanaugh — because we know that even if his nomination is canceled, there are still many predators in places of power, including in the White House.