February, 19 2017, 11:00pm EDT
Members of Congress Duck Constituents, Dodge Town Halls to Avoid Accountability
More than 46,000 people joined a call on Sunday night to find out how they can get the attention of their member of Congress during the Congressional Recess this week.
Constituents want to ask them questions about defending health care, protecting immigrants and refugees, and standing strong against President Trump's agenda of hate.
The call, the fourth in a series, was coordinated by MoveOn, People's Action, Working Families Party, Indivisible and other organizations.
WASHINGTON
More than 46,000 people joined a call on Sunday night to find out how they can get the attention of their member of Congress during the Congressional Recess this week.
Constituents want to ask them questions about defending health care, protecting immigrants and refugees, and standing strong against President Trump's agenda of hate.
The call, the fourth in a series, was coordinated by MoveOn, People's Action, Working Families Party, Indivisible and other organizations.
The Congressional Recess is a time for Congress members to meet with their constituents. It's not a vacation. It's not time to raise money for their next election campaign.
In-person town halls are scheduled throughout the country - but Republican members of the 115th Congress are missing. Some are literally running away. Many are opting instead for scripted telephone calls or private meetings in their offices. In response, many communities are organizing their own "missing person" town halls and saving an empty chair for the elected leader.
Others on the call last night said they are prepared to drive hundreds of miles, if that's what it takes, to get a chance to ask a question of their Congress member. Organizers emphasized peaceful town halls, focused on asking questions and getting responses on the record from Republicans in Congress.
Town halls and other events are scheduled around the country this week. Event locations are searchable by zip code here.
People's Action builds the power of poor and working people, in rural, suburban, and urban areas to win change through issue campaigns and elections.
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