Graham Platner was set to speak at a Labor Day rally in Ellsworth, Maine. Instead, he will lead a veterans’ march after the event.
Organizers made the switch on Wednesday. They told the Associated Press that the media attention had become too intense. Safety concerns drove the final decision to cancel his speech.
Carol Leonard of the Hancock County Activists confirmed the change. She said the group urged the former candidate not to speak. The event was supposed to be his first major public appearance since dropping his Senate campaign.
Platner faced pressure from two women before the change. Jenny Racicot accused him of rape. Lyndsey Fifield accused him of toxic behavior and emotional abuse. Both women urged organizers to remove him.
Per the Washington Examiner, the pair released a joint statement. They said, “While Graham’s behavior is disappointing, it’s hardly surprising.” They added that it is shocking people still give him a platform.
Platner has denied all claims of sexual assault and domestic abuse. He dropped his campaign against Republican Senator Susan Collins in July. The allegations surfaced after he won the Democratic nomination in June.
Other critics joined the call to cancel him. Cheyenne Hunt of Reckoning Action spoke out as well. She told WMTW that giving him a “bully pulpit is irresponsible, reckless, and antithetical to the direction we should be headed as Democrats.”
Hunt issued a direct demand in her statement. “We call on the Hancock County Activists to rescind his invitation to speak, and we call on Democrats everywhere to stand with survivors.”
The rally organizers cited the media frenzy as the main reason. Leonard stated, “The media frenzy got just too insane, and we became concerned about safety.” The event will now focus on labor history without his main address.
Platner was an oyster farmer and combat veteran. He ran a campaign focused on working-class issues like housing costs. He defeated Governor Janet Mills in the primary before dropping out.
Troy Jackson replaced him at the top of the ticket. Jackson will face Susan Collins in November. This race could determine who controls the Senate majority.
The rally takes place in Ellsworth near Platner’s hometown of Sullivan. It is organized by Hancock County Activists and Acadia Action Peacemakers.
