Rallies Demand Reluctant Reps Stop Hiding From Constituents

Protesters in Orlando, Florida, are calling on Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) to hold a town hall for his constituents. (Photo: Orlando 4 Rev/Twitter)

Rallies Demand Reluctant Reps Stop Hiding From Constituents

'Members of Congress owe their constituents the honest truth: which side are you on?'

While many U.S. senators and representatives have encountered contentious crowds at town hall gatherings in their home districts, many others have managed to avoid meeting with constituents in the weeks since President Donald Trump took office.

Calling on reluctant representatives to hold town halls over the upcoming congressional recess from February 18-26, a coalition of groups including MoveOn.org, the Working Families Party, People's Action, and the Center for Popular Democracy have organized "Let's Make a Date" rallies in honor of Valentine's Day and as part of the coalition's weekly #ResistTrumpTuesdays series of actions.

"Over the past month, Americans have taken to the streets in record numbers to speak out against Trump's agenda," said Nelini Stamp, Working Families Party's membership director, in a statement. "As we approach the first congressional recess, we're demanding that elected officials hear from people about Trump's dangerous agenda. Members of Congress owe their constituents the honest truth: which side are you on?"

And so from Sen. Roy Blunt's (R-Mo.) offices in Kansas City to Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) offices in Orlando, outraged constituents are demanding their representatives hear their fears and concerns about Trump's right-wing agenda.

The Indivisible Guide, which has inspired a national resistance movement, also shared tips on Tuesday for how to reach inaccessible members of Congress:

The #ResistTrumpTuesdays series of actions was started by New York state's Working Families Party in the weeks leading up to Trump's inauguration, and has seen tens of thousands mobilize against the right-wing Trump administration.

Follow along with today's "Let's Make a Date" actions on Twitter, or find an action near you here.

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