Members of a progressive Democratic activist group are organizing an “empty chair town hall meeting†in Waterloo on Saturday, April 26, to protest U.S. senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst.
The event is slated for 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 26, at Hoover Middle School Auditorium, 630 Hillcrest Road in Waterloo. Doors open at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone
Liz Conklin, a spokesperson for Indivisible Iowa Black Hawk County, issued a press release about the event to local media, stating that both Chuck Grassley and Ernst have been invited to a town hall with their constituents in Waterloo.
“Both senators declined the invitations but the event will go on without them. A grassroots organization, Indivisible Iowa Black Hawk County, will host an empty chair town hall,†Conklin stated in the release.
Among the invited speakers are the Reverend Dr. Belinda Creighton-Smith, a member of the Waterloo City Council; Karen Everling, executive director of the World Grace Project; and Jeffrey Dow, a veteran.
Steve Carignan, associate dean for Outreach and Special Projects at the University of Northern Iowa, and Grant Veeder, former Black Hawk County auditor, will moderate the forum.
Attendees can submit written questions for either senator. At the end of the event, all questions will be collected and delivered to each senator’s local office.
Indivisible Iowa BHC co-leader Carol Tjaden said, “Iowans need to have their voices and concerns heard. Our leaders need to remember that they work for us.â€
For more information or questions, contact Conklin with Indivisible Iowa BlackHawk County at (319) 493-8100, or via email: lizconklin14@gmail.com.
