[UPDATED3] President’s Day is a national holiday, and U.S. senators and representatives held town halls around the country this week.
Town hall scenes from Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Maryland tonight, where voters showed up but GOP congressmen were no-shows. pic.twitter.com/qfNRnNASlI
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) February 22, 2017
Conservative, liberal & progressive voters have one thing in common: They're all constituents. #TownHall #ACA #WaterIsLife #TrumpRussia #GOP
— Scorpius (@ScionOfScorpio) February 23, 2017
However, many congressmen seemed to share this point of view:
@mattmfm Why should GOP congressmen show up when there’s a set up of Soros protestors. Town Hall should be by invitation only.
— SwampMops (@SandyHermannJ) February 22, 2017
Consequently, in a whole lot of communities, citizens held town halls without their congressmen.
Republican lawmakers dismiss this wave of town hall anger provoked by Trump at their peril https://t.co/u80l0xE7sN
— Mark Follman (@markfollman) February 23, 2017
Republicans elected amid rowdy tea party town hall meetings now avoiding their own. #dncdebate https://t.co/7xZTin9aCT via @denverpost
— Brenda Johnson (@TucsonVoice28) February 23, 2017
On Friday, Alabama U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R) acknowledged the movement on local radio:
I don’t know if we’re going to be able to repeal Obamacare now because these folks who support Obamacare are very active, they’re putting pressure on congressman and there’s not a counter-effort to steel the spine of some of these congressmen in tossup districts around the country.
Lest you think that Rep. Brooks thinks this is a good idea …
And you may not even see a vote to repeal Obamacare, you might see something where they call it a repeal but really it’s an amendment. You and I have talked about this before. We need an outright repeal of Obamacare and then whatever’s gonna come after it, fine, let’s have that discussion. But this monstrosity needs to be repealed and right now, in my judgment, we don’t have the votes in Congress to pass a repeal bill, in part because of what these people are doing
Party leadership, starting with the President, have characterized the citizens as agitators trying to “bully” the Congressmen. Brooks echoed this refrain, claiming that there are “some anarchist types, criminal element types, disruptor types.” Headlines are noticeably missing reports of this type of behavior, and “if it bleeds, it leads.”
Scenes from
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Florida
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Maine
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
Alabama
GOP Rep. Mo Brooks says protests at town halls around the country might prevent lawmakers from repealing Obamcare https://t.co/8JikNdVEV4
— CNN (@CNN) February 24, 2017
Arkansas
Look at this crowd at @SenTomCotton's town hall in Springdale tonight. #ARnews #ARpx pic.twitter.com/sDQ2SKMXCG
— Greg Leding (@GregLeding) February 23, 2017
Woman at Tom Cotton town hall: “We’re going Medicare MY way. Not your way. My way. I’ve got a husband DYING.” pic.twitter.com/fHF9nbyqiB
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/mattbfarwell/status/834617204633108480
https://twitter.com/BennyEsanu/status/834061111372705793
Crowd At GOPer's Town Hall: Investigate Trump Like You Investigated Benghazi https://t.co/eSyzG7BZ13 via @TPM
— Peter 🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦 Concerned Citizen and Voter (@Pajjr2016) February 23, 2017
It's a full house in West Fork, Ark for Congressman Womack's Town Hall. pic.twitter.com/zhOoUJRJyB
— Julie (@JulieYouJest) February 21, 2017
California
https://twitter.com/speechwithease/status/834296758645583873
Civic engagement is the new pastime. Town Hall meeting with @RepKarenBass @SeaChangeTeam #Resistance pic.twitter.com/oQ3qcJwHOO
— Shifra Teitelbaum (@Shifra1000) February 19, 2017
Standing room only, and barely at that. #resistencerecess at a blue town hall,
constituents yelling wildly in support of @RepDeSaulnier pic.twitter.com/OHO6bdOwLf— IndivisibleELCERRITO (@ECindivisible) February 23, 2017
@RepRoKhanna kicking off his townhall. They expected 150ppl, 500 showed up. #resist #ca17 @OCindivisible @IndivisibleTeam pic.twitter.com/OnC5NjpVVW
— H. L. (@allEQallDay) February 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/CA23rd/status/834605265374679040
Mariposa
Packed Town Hall Crowd Greets Rep. Tom McClintock For Nearly 3-Hour Marathon https://t.co/w3rvB9hvUl
— CBS Sacramento CBS13 (@CBSSacramento) February 23, 2017
GOP Rep. McClintock gets an earful at Northern California town hall https://t.co/hiiwdW6WO6 via @SFGate
— suzanne eckes-wahl (@suzeckes) February 22, 2017
San Diego
.@DarrellIssa Over 2000 of your constituents were looking for you at a #townhall they hosted for you tonight. #WhereIsIssa pic.twitter.com/DXXC0C4TtS
— Tashi Lynn Already Voted (@TashiLynnCA) February 22, 2017
Honor to be a part of Town Hall tonight, even if so-called Rep @DarrellIssa didn't show. 2,000 outside and a full house! #Fight4OurHealth pic.twitter.com/96ShIH1kqL
— Mike Levin (@MikeLevin) February 22, 2017
Inside & out, this Issa #townhall is packed w/ constituents.
Darrell, where are you?
This is #democracy. You should come try it. pic.twitter.com/xurpL9LZ0c
— Indivisible SanDiego (@SDIndivisible) February 22, 2017
Colorado
https://twitter.com/KaivanShroff/status/834269854316249088
‘With or Without You’ town hall in Colorado Springs. Where are you, @SenCoryGardner and @RepDLamborn? #ResistanceRecess pic.twitter.com/qE38tBqrVH
— Toby Partridge (@t_partridge) February 23, 2017
Not a paid protester (or @SenToomey) in sight at this town hall in #allentown PA @TuesdaysToomey @IndivisibleTeam @wosweeney pic.twitter.com/DJtO4Qcxbv
— INDIVISIBLE NEPA (@INDIVISIBLENEP1) February 22, 2017
Connecticut
At the @ChrisMurphyCT town hall. Lots can't get in–too full. @IndivisibleTeam @IndivisibleConn @ActTogetherCT @moveon #resistancerecess pic.twitter.com/7soe6Hzy4H
— Rebecca Hussey (@Ofbooksandbikes) February 22, 2017
Florida
https://twitter.com/JessLN13/status/834582073524441089
100+ constituents DEMAND that Congresswoman @RosLehtinen host a townhall. As usual no answers. pic.twitter.com/Pzw7MhdUmB
— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) February 22, 2017
Constituent chases Marco Rubio over not attending town halls: “We need to hear from YOU, Senator!” https://t.co/TwHXg7QwDj pic.twitter.com/BaEkkYtOoM
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 23, 2017
Georgia
GOP Rep. Buddy Carter Shouted Down At Town Hall Meeting (VIDEO) FreakOutNation #TownHall https://t.co/bJbHSj5eYJ
— diane #ForAll straub (@didikins4life) February 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/gmoylan/status/834299296023339008
Idaho
@IndivisibleBoi1 Town Hall yesterday. Absent @MikeCrapo, Idaho Senator. @maddow @IndivisibleTeam Success with a large crowd of supporters. pic.twitter.com/rNlFU3pIxl
— Sharon H (@sharon_resist) February 22, 2017
Illinois
220 in Rockford IL for citizens town hall. We collected postcards&video for @AdamKinzinger and @RepCheri. @IndivisibleTeam @IndivisibleRkfd pic.twitter.com/k6EV6MW1xk
— Matthew Johnson (@mjohnsonuu) February 23, 2017
Indiana
#YouRepresentUS@ToddRokita
Congressman Todd Rokita will not attend Thursday’s town hall meeting. #Boo https://t.co/BjV4Z9JtKu— Indivisible Hoosiers (@IndivisibleHoos) February 22, 2017
Iowa
https://twitter.com/mcspocky/status/834490482399051783
Sen. Ernst chickens out of her Iowa town hall early. Her constituents tell her she works for them and this will be her last term. #democracy pic.twitter.com/XmZswWX45I
— SeriouslyUS? (@USseriously) February 21, 2017
People at @ChuckGrassley town hall applaud and cheer community organizer who yells that "don't repeal Obamacare, improve it." #iapolitics
— Kathie Obradovich (@KObradovich) February 21, 2017
Chuck Grassley asked about impeachment of Trump at town hall in Garner, Iowa pic.twitter.com/HQ3js0iVEb
— Rogelio Garcia Lawyer (@LawyerRogelio) February 22, 2017
Lines outside of Grassley town hall. Started at 7:45 am; half of crowd can't get in pic.twitter.com/jdu6bfUsCA
— Dave Weigel, Re-Animator (@daveweigel) February 21, 2017
Kentucky
"I want the dog to be able to drink out of the stream." Constituent Rose Mudd Perkins who spoke up at Mitch McConnell's Town Hall #CNN
— Karen DaltonBeninato (@kbeninato) February 22, 2017
McConnell gets a taste of town-hall protests at luncheon in Kentucky https://t.co/1JaKRtGFgm #Libusters
— Libusters (@bob4gov_now) February 22, 2017
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told local business leaders that “winners make policy and the losers go home.”
AP
Louisiana
At a town hall, constituents literally turn their backs on Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) https://t.co/znCXDPJ3VC pic.twitter.com/wdUE1AUsbS
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) February 23, 2017
Angry crowd shouts down GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy at Louisiana town hall pic.twitter.com/rYIZF6E4g7
— Rogelio Garcia Lawyer (@LawyerRogelio) February 23, 2017
This is the scene outside of the @BillCassidy Town Hall in Metairie, Louisiana at the moment. Inside the place is packed. But #whereisbill pic.twitter.com/3k2JooYR5s
— SeriouslyUS? (@USseriously) February 22, 2017
Room at full capacity for @BillCassidy's town hall near New Orleans. Roughly 200 people left outside who couldn't get in. pic.twitter.com/ZNdgCpr4Xs
— Ryan Kailath (@ryankailath) February 22, 2017
GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy booed at a town hall in Louisiana—someone shouts out ‘Bannon is the president’. pic.twitter.com/2YgF3AZo2p
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 22, 2017
Maine
At MPBN's Bangor office challenging @SenatorCollins to hold a #townhall #notpaidprotesters @IndivisibleTeam @womensmarch pic.twitter.com/KHMOjElePj
— Indivisible_MDI (@Indivisible_MDI) February 22, 2017
Maryland
Fully booked town hall with @RepRaskin on Feb 26 hosted by @TPmobilization = so great. Stay tuned for streaming options. @IndivisibleTeam
— IndivisibleTakomaPk (@IndivisibleTkPk) February 20, 2017
New Jersey
Estimated 250 people downstairs for the Frelinghuysen DIY town hall. Another 100 in second room. pic.twitter.com/7uoWCnnL74
— John O’Connor (@johnroconnor) February 22, 2017
@IndivisibleTeam
NJ 11th District for Change Town Hall.
2nd seating today#wheresRodneyFrelinghuysen?
Resistance Recess begins. pic.twitter.com/uKYNRGYZAs— Mary Joan L. Murphy (@MJM1218) February 19, 2017
Packed house at NJ03 town hall. pic.twitter.com/aoD8hhCjFL
— Indivisible NJ03 | 😷 #MaskUp (@IndivisibleNJ03) February 23, 2017
Angry crowd dogs @RepLanceNJ7 over Obamacare and @realDonaldTrump at town hall meeting https://t.co/3C5HdZT66F
— Jonathan D. Salant (@JDSalant) February 23, 2017
New York
TOM REED
NY's @RepTomReed at town hall: Repeal ACA + no need to investigate #TrumpRussia. Crowd boos. https://t.co/RYAuBHcdPw pic.twitter.com/e14Ka9IRKB
— Mark Elliott (@markmobility) February 21, 2017
Republican Rep. Tom Reed met with chorus of boos as he discusses repealing Obamacare at town hall: https://t.co/Ob8D9pdCla pic.twitter.com/c92uYCb9eZ
— ABC News (@ABC) February 18, 2017
Brooklyn
Overflow crowd with 100s in line outside at @RepYvetteClarke town hall! #brooklynresists #indivisible pic.twitter.com/EDxOanolCA
— Indivisible NationBK (@bkindivisible) February 22, 2017
Line for the Yvette Clarke town hall in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn now encompasses nearly 3 city blocks. Wow pic.twitter.com/6F8q5OSDqY
— Daniel Stein-Sayles (@Danny_SS) February 22, 2017
Rhinebeck
Absentee @RepJohnFaso and the #ACA – big topics at the HVS meeting at Rhinebeck Town Hall this evening. Standing room only by start time. pic.twitter.com/QHeDjFYqJ7
— Hudson Valley Strong (@hudsonvalstrong) February 21, 2017
North Carolina
300+ concerned constituents are waiting for @ThomTillis at a #TownHall #recessresistance @IndivisibleTeam @IndivisibleCLT pic.twitter.com/rEIzphqyf4
— yeah good okay (@jessmcshea) February 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/BullCityVA/status/833322970542120960
Ohio
Thanks @washingtonpost and @daveweigel for covering Jim Jordan's town hall today! https://t.co/icEXXjhjpk @IndivisibleTeam
— Indivisible Oberlin (@indivisoberlin) February 21, 2017
Just returned from Rep Jim Jordan town hall. Chants of INVESTIGATE TRUMP and DO YOUR JOB. "Donald Trump and Russia"
— August Morgan (@_August_Morgan) February 20, 2017
Rep. Jordan wouldn't hold a town hall this week, so his constituents brought the town hall to him. Check out @daveweigel's feed for more. https://t.co/ILQBQdY7ok
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) February 20, 2017
Columbus, OH District 12 Town Hall. Over 1800 constituents who want to keep ACA! But where is Congressman Tiberi? #tiberitownhall pic.twitter.com/sfBSr7DUrx
— Karin Cecile Davidson (@karincecile) February 23, 2017
Pennsylvania
Not a paid protester (or @SenToomey) in sight at this town hall in #allentown PA @TuesdaysToomey @IndivisibleTeam @wosweeney pic.twitter.com/DJtO4Qcxbv
— INDIVISIBLE NEPA (@INDIVISIBLENEP1) February 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/hdemmon/status/834093284016455682
Tennessee
Rep. Marsha Blackburn Besieged By Boos At Tennessee Town Hall https://t.co/JUvw3n8o36 by @g_nobes #resist
— ⚡️Kathy E Gill | Staying at home (@kegill) February 22, 2017
Texas
Way to go @IndivisibleTeam #TX24! Our loud, proud and peaceful protest ft. on @CNN. @RepKenMarchant, can you hear us now? Host a Town Hall! pic.twitter.com/r9FNhTeR3y
— Townsend Davies (@TownsendDavies) February 21, 2017
TX-17 citizen townhall is a full success, ~90 constituents from BCS wanting to talk to @RepBillFlores — @IndivisibleTeam pic.twitter.com/s3CKBR0Rm6
— IndivisibleTX17BCS (@BCS_Indivisible) February 20, 2017
Indivisible organizers playing a loop of cricket sounds after each citizen concern since their rep Roger Williams was no-show to town hall. pic.twitter.com/zE22BaFtpz
— Mary Huber (@marymhuber) February 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/BlazeBerner/status/834300215511248896
Virginia
packed town hall tonight for congressman @Scotttaylorva #thisiswhatdemocracylookslike @IndivisibleVBVA @IndivisibleTeam #resistancerecess pic.twitter.com/0ZnpYvWBaq
— • courtney • (@court_insession) February 21, 2017
@Scotttaylorva town hall constituents wearing stickers of their zip codes. Say: we're not paid protesters @IndivisibleTeam @indivisible757 pic.twitter.com/bGAmmPKIwS
— Kyung Lah (@KyungLahCNN) February 20, 2017
Blackstone
Womack: Let's respectfully discuss where we disagree. Constituent: I'm worried about <insert concern>. Womack: We won. Get over it.
— Julie (@JulieYouJest) February 21, 2017
Wow. Now I understand @BuzzFeedNews focus on @DaveBratVA7th https://t.co/3yNS16dpsC@JakeBurnsCBS6 @alexis_levinson
[#vatech alum here] pic.twitter.com/6VAvxGCYyy— ⚡️Kathy E Gill | Staying at home (@kegill) February 22, 2017
Virginia GOP Rep. Dave Brat is having a town hall in a small town away from his population centres. Fifty people in line two hours prior. pic.twitter.com/8xlcgPoSxM
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 21, 2017
Here's a transcript of the amazing town hall exchange where Virginia Rep. Dave Brat said economic growth is how to protect the environment: pic.twitter.com/ggQjohNRpR
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 22, 2017
York
Auditorium seats 974 available here for frosh Rep. Taylor town hall. At least 700, maybe 750 here. Impressive. Thoughtful Qs so far. pic.twitter.com/vh4MyKhcar
— Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) February 21, 2017
Washington
https://twitter.com/Sukiesnap1/status/834044841340178433
Photo: Seattle Women’s March, 21 January 2017
POSTED: 11.23 pm Pacific, 21 February
UPDATED: 11.45 pm Pacific, 22 February
UPDATED: 6:20 pm Pacific, 24 February
Town hall fury: If the Republicans think this is bad wait until Trump voters turn on them too https://t.co/EEqdEKo9Kq
— P. Pink (@ideas4thefuture) February 23, 2017
4 replies on “Citizens confront congressmen at town halls around the country”
This is from an Alabama U.S. Representative …
A roundup of town halls from around the country (24 states)… https://t.co/iESSx1arBH
TownHall scenes (with and without congressmen) from 23 states
https://t.co/6hRvuX4HvM #indivisible @IndivisibleTeam
Good summary
Citizens confront congressmen at town halls around the country https://t.co/lY4FWAMDhS via @kegill
All around the country – citizens meet with (or try to) congressmen. Notes from ~20 states > #TownHall… https://t.co/ZKZteKdl1f