People were still filtering into the high school gymnasium even as Suzanne Bonamici was telling the assembled crowd that this was the largest attendance she had ever seen for a town hall in all of her years representing Oregon’s 1st District in Congress.
They had been arriving for at least an hour before Representative Bonamici took the stage. People came from across Washington County and beyond. Some arrived fresh from work, others came from one of the many anti-Trump protests that dotted not only the area, but the whole country as well. Some said they arrived early because they heard that other recent town halls had gotten too full, and people were turned away.
Strangers, crammed together on uncomfortable bleachers, struck up conversations with their neighbors. Some shared pet pictures, others talked about the weather, but the conversation cycled back again and again to the same topic. Why are you here? Some were attending their first-ever town hall. Others had years of experience and were decked out in t-shirts and carrying homemade signs. But regardless of their history interacting with our democracy, the same reason for showing up to Suzanne Bonamici’s town hall at Century High School was heard again and again: “I’m here because I’m fired up.”
It wasn’t just this audience that was fired up. Since Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the Congresswoman’s office has been inundated with calls and emails from her constituents. Last week, an unprecedented 6,000 people contacted her offices, overwhelming her fleet of interns. People are upset, people are outraged, and people want someone to do something about it.
The questions Representative Bonamici fielded – chosen randomly through raffle tickets – were all mostly focused on the tumultuous state of the federal government. And while President Trump got his fair share of boos and hisses from the crowd, the true archvillain of the evening seemed to be Elon Musk, whose name was met with constant booming jeers.
“Deport him!” Someone in the back yelled to applause. This was the only point during the town hall where the topic of deportations came up.
Representative Bonamici tried looking ahead to the midterm elections, telling the crowd that this energy is the kind of energy that can flip the House or the Senate. The crowd seemed to want something more concrete and immediate.
“Calls aren’t going to do anything!” Someone yelled out. “This is our future we’re fighting for!”
Bonamici pointed to her record of fighting for education and civil rights, two areas that seem to be on the chopping block of the current administration. “I hear your outrage. I feel the outrage in this room,” Representative Bonamici said. “The more people speak up, the more the representatives and senators will listen.”
So typical of politicians, tell us what WE need to do to get the changes made. WE are doing it,; speaking up, writing letters, going to protests, town halls, expressing ourselves in whatever way we can. YOUR job, Rep. Bonamici, is to NOT BACK DOWN. Even if you stand by yourself, stand up! Don’t let us down.
THE MOUSE THAT SQUEAKED
Well, TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome, is alive and well in Washington County.
Bonamici’s solution to our Nation’s challenges include delay, disrupt, kick, scream and complain for the next four years.
The saddest part of the whole event was the young teen high schooler who stood up and stated, in a deep voice, that he was “non-binary” and the crowd of mostly so- called adults in the room cheered, further reinforcing what was clearly a case of confused teen angst. Check your shorts dude, the answer is right in front of you.
Shame on Bonamici for stoking the irrational, negative emotion that filled the room instead of offering any real solutions except go on social media, call her office, and complain.
The cries of “save Democracy” rang hollow in the room of mostly left leaning liberals who seem to have forgotten Trump was elected in a landslide vote against a terrible opponent who was appointed by a decrepit, doddering fool without allowing a Democratic primary election in 2024.
No mention of the failed Chips Act? The failed Inflation Reduction Act? How about the out of control budget spending of the last four years?
Dems have no ideas, no leaders, no solutions, no charisma, and despite Wyden’s empty promise three days prior, absolutely NO chutzpah.
It’s long past time Washington County wakes up and gives Bonamici the boot and this anti-establishment, un-American rally proved it.
Meanwhile, hwr and her Obama appointed federal Judge husband Michael Simon rake in a combined $500 k a year largely tax free, from you and me, the taxpayers.
Labeling the opposition with a syndrome and calling them unamerican is Un-American.
This former Republican who will never be a Democrat remains disgusted by the lack of civil discourse.
Hey! The nonbinary student who spoke up here! I just want you to know, this was NOT “teen angst” but rather a genuine concern of mine, I’ve had to work my ass off to get gender neutral bathrooms available, and I’m lucky to have supportive parents, but I know there are others that don’t have such luck, and for them, being outed to their parents would have them kicked out, sent to a conversion camp, or beaten. Now I know you don’t like to see queer kids as human beings, but try having some sense of empathy will you? It might actually make you a likable person.
Thank you, Leo. And good for you to step up and stand up. As a Student in our school districts, I think your voice and perspective have value. If you would like to write an Opinion piece for us I would love that. Anytime you want to contribute, please do. I am always available by phone at 503-799-8383. Take care and keep standing up!
Dirk
I was one of the people who cheered you on, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you’ve done for trans students at your school. I wish you and your family all the best.
Brave young Human we have here … we will be hearing from them.
I’m hoping leadership will shows up more than they have. Town halls are the very least a politician can do. We need leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and Ghandi. Leaders that walk toward a violent confrontation. Leaders that know this may be their last moment, but continue to push on. Leaders that aren’t waiting for enough people to sway an election in 2 to 4 years. That’s old school politics that doesn’t apply here. I’d like to see a congress person or senator chain themselves to the Social Security building in DC or similar such edifice. Make sure there’s social media capturing the events. Trump would deal with this himself. At best arresting said leader at worst having them meet their demise. It will take that sort of action to get enough people off their asses and return our democracy to its rightful place.
Ghandi and MLK were both assassinated (shot) for their views.
It is better to die on our feet than live on our knees.