Activists in Rep. Kevin Kiley’s California district are taking a bold stance by leaving an empty chair on stage at a town hall meeting tonight, symbolizing the congressman’s absence. Kathy Dotson, the event’s organizer and leader of the Nevada County chapter of Indivisible, expressed her disappointment, saying, “We would love to have him show, but we haven’t heard one word from him.”
The county, which supported Democrat Kamala Harris with 54.4% of the vote in November’s presidential election, is eager to hear from Kiley. Recently, two of his staff members held a local event, but were met with over 400 unhappy constituents. Dotson spoke with attendees, who expressed concerns about Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits. “People are scared. People are really, really nervous,” she said.
This surge in activism is not limited to Kiley’s district. Since Trump took office, protests have accelerated across the country, with over 2,085 protests taking place nationwide in February alone, according to the Crowd Counting Consortium. This represents a significant increase from the 937 protests in February 2017, during Trump’s first term.
The White House has dismissed the growing activism, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that protests and lawsuits will not deter Trump from delivering on his promises. However, activists remain undeterred, with local groups scheduling meetings to discuss the impact of Trump’s administration on their communities. Each meeting will feature an empty chair, symbolizing the absence of their member of Congress.
Heather Meaney-Allen, leader of an Indivisible chapter in Williamsburg, Va., expressed her frustration with Rep. Rob Wittman, saying, “He deserves to be shamed for this. He absolutely does.” Wittman’s office responded by saying he will answer constituents’ questions during a telephone town hall.
Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin called the empty chair town halls “Organizing 101,” saying, “If they show up, great, then you’ve succeeded in creating a town hall. But if they don’t show up, then you have something to represent them.” This tactic has become a powerful symbol of resistance against Trump’s agenda and the absence of elected officials from public discourse.
