For weeks and weeks now the Indivisible group in Dexter, Michigan (“Indivisible Dexter”) and other residents of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District have been asking Republican Congressman Tim Walberg to meet with them to answer questions and clarify his positions on repealing the Affordable Care Act, climate change, ending reimbursements for services provided by Planned Parenthood, and a host of other issues.
Walberg did one public “coffee” recently in Hillsdale on a weekday morning where he controlled the entire event, forcing participants in the overflow crowd to submit questions on cards which were screened by staff. Attendees were warned that any sort of disruption (like asking a question out loud) would be dealt with by expulsion. And he had 11 (ELEVEN!!!) law enforcement officials on hand to make that happen. In the end, it was little more than a live telephone townhall. Read more about that absurd event HERE.
Dexter residents have learned that Walberg will be attending at men-only breakfast (during Women’s History Month!) at the Dexter United Methodist Church TOMORROW, March 11th at 8:30 a.m. They made arrangements to hold a public townhall event at another Dexter church immediately following. Rather than respond to the people who invited him, Walberg ignored them completely and, instead, called the second church to decline.
In response, Indivisible Dexter is holding protest march called “Dexter Persists” across the street from the Dexter United Methodist Church tomorrow, March 11th starting at 8:40 a.m. Here are the details from the organizers:
Tim Walberg will be in Dexter on 3/11/2017 for a men-only breakfast at Dexter United Methodist Church (DUMC), 7643 Huron River Dr. Dexter, MI 48130-9321, where he will speak at 8:30 a.m.
Indivisible Dexter extended a formal invitation for Tim Walberg to attend a Town Hall in Dexter after his meeting at DUMC. On Thursday afternoon he declined to meet with us, so we are going to him.
PLAN:
The event will be across the street from Dexter United Methodist Church. This will be a quiet and peaceful gathering. We will stay off the church property and walk and gather on the north side of Huron River Drive. Participants will park in two places, the Faith in Action Food Pantry lot at 7275 W Joy Rd, or on Ridgeway Ct., on the west of DUMC. There will be parking lot attendants at each spot to show you where you can park and direct you to the event and to coordinate rides directly to the event if walking is not an option. You will also be handed a flyer with more information when you park.Please bring signs. Our message is simple, we are asking him to listen to us. Be creative but please be respectful. This is not a protest against the church, the men’s meeting or to anyone except Rep. Walberg. Make this clear to anyone you speak with. This is only a direct action requesting that Rep. Walberg listen to our concerns.
Dress warm, it will be chilly, and wear appropriate shoes as we will be walking in the grass next to the road.
We will follow up around noon at Null Taphouse for a postcard writing party. This is to support the national postcard event on 3/15/17. Who doesn’t like celebrating democracy with a beer and a pointed postcard to Trump and Walberg?
To RSVP and receive continuous updates on the event, click HERE.
[Photo by Anne C. Savage, for Eclectablog]
