If you’ve been wanting to speak out — in one direction or another — about the political machinations of the moment, this week gives you multiple opportunities.
Lori Saine, one of the Republicans vying to lead the Colorado Republican Party, is organizing two counter-demonstrations to two town meetings in Colorado on Friday headlined by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
“Bernie Sanders & AOC are coming to Colorado to push their radical socialist agenda — but we won’t be silent!” states Saine’s Facebook page, urging people to attend the “Stand with Trump” rallies on Friday in Greeley (at 11:30 a.m. at the west end of the Michener Library, University of Northern Colorado) and later in Denver (at 3:30 p.m. at 1371 Cherokee St.).
Sanders’ and Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fighting Oligarchy” town meetings are set for Friday at 5 p.m. in Denver’s Civic Center Park and in Greeley at 1 p.m. at the University of Northern Colorado’s Bank of Colorado Arena.
“I believe that all over this country people are profoundly disgusted with what is going on here in Washington D.C.,” Sanders said on Instagram in an announcement for the Colorado events. “They see our great nation moving toward an oligarchy where Elon Musk and other billionaires are running the government. … We are going to win this thing not here in Washington D.C. We’re going to win it when millions of people — Republicans, Democrats, independents — stand up and say, ‘You know what, this is not the kind of government we want.”
“We Have Reached Capacity”
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who’s reportedly considering a run for governor next year, will host an in-person town hall meeting in Greeley tomorrow, but all the spaces are filled, as are all the seats for a meeting in Colorado Springs on Thursday, according to Bennet’s website, which states, “Unfortunately, we have reached capacity for Senator Bennet’s town hall, and we are no longer accepting registrations.”
But you can attend another town hall on Wednesday with Bennet — and Democratic U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen — in Golden. But you need to sign up in advance.
All three events will be live-streamed on Bennet’s Facebook page.
The purpose of the public meetings is to hear “directly from Coloradans on the issues that are most important to them,” states Bennet’s website.
Evans Has Been Invited
Some local progressives are focusing their organizing efforts on northern Colorado Congressman Gabe Evans, who won his seat in November by less than 1% (2,449 votes) over incumbent Democrat Yadira Caraveo.
They’ve called on Evans to face his constituents at an in-person town hall meeting, but he’s so far refused, saying via a spokesperson to The Denver Post that he “will do townhalls and we will do them in a way that allows constituents’ concerns to be heard without being drowned out by yelling activists.”
Activists have invited Evans to their own town hall in his district, and will hold it whether or not he shows up. It’s set for Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m. at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Northglenn.
“Congressmember Gabe Evans has been invited to speak to his constituents at this town hall,” states the event’s website. “If he doesn’t attend, we will hear stories from our community about how recent events are impacting our daily lives. Please consider bringing non-perishable food donations as this church also operates as a food pantry.”
Evans is also the target of a “People’s Town Hall” organized by The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) — along with the Democratic National Committee and the Association of State Democratic Committees.
The date and location of the event has not yet been released, but it will take place in Evans’ district, according to a news release, which states that the Evans town hall is one of a “series of in-person public events in competitive districts across the country as vulnerable GOP House members continue to run scared from their constituents.”
“These increasingly vulnerable House Republicans are failing to do the most basic aspect of their jobs: meeting with the people they represent,” said Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene said in a statement. “Voters deserve elected officials who will take the time to meet with and listen to them, but instead these House Republicans are hiding from their own voters to avoid having to defend their disastrous record of stripping health care and food access from the families, workers, and seniors in their communities.”
Democratic activists aren’t just targeting Evans and his swing district, however. Progressive group Indivisible NOCO is hosting a pair of in-absentia town halls today and tomorrow for Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, whose district is deep red. Yesterday, their event flyer was shared to the Douglas County Conservatives group by GOP activist Natalee Tennant, who has previously organized pro-Trump car rallies along the Front Range.
“Time to rally up for our congresswoman,” Tennant wrote. “I will have campaign signs for us to show our support for our MAGA Congresswoman! She fights daily for us, it’s time to fight for her! This is a counter protest rally. Let’s roll up big y’all! These folks are nuts! She’s been all over the state talking to her constituents. “
