The event was delayed after groups threatened to protest.
U.S. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman have postponed their scheduled event that was to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event, featuring the senators and their wives, was to include a discussion on mentorship and a promotion of the McCormicks’ new book, “Who Believed in You?”
The event was to be held at City Winery in the Strip District. The venue was originally changed, but a replacement was not announced before the postponement of the event. Several local activist groups in Pittsburgh began organizing a demonstration after hearing about the event. Mondays with(OUT) McCormick and Indivisible Pittsburgh were two groups involved in planning the protest.
Members of the activist groups were frustrated that Senators McCormick and Fetterman had not held a public town hall for constituents but had a scheduled event for a book promotion.
Tracy Baton, one of the protest organizers from Indivisible Pittsburgh, said the planned protest would still be held at Schenley Plaza in Oakland.
Hundreds attended the protest to call for public town halls where constituents can question senators about the changes taking place in Washington.
Bob Heister, a retired naval officer, purchased a ticket to Senator McCormick’s event to meet with him. “I should be able to meet with them for free, but I had to pay 30-some-odd dollars to meet with them. I urge both of these guys to rescind their cancellation and to reschedule. And in addition to that, to hold town halls,” Heister said.
Senator McCormick recently held a telephone town hall during which he answered about a dozen questions from constituents that joined the call. “I’ve been working hard to shake up Washington and I am committed to keeping Pennsylvanians informed about the work I’m doing on their behalf,” McCormick said in his invitation to the telephone event.
Fetterman has received criticism from progressive Democrats for his staunch support of Israel and his occasional voting with Congressional Republicans.
Protesters concluded the demonstration by collecting letters to send to both senators. Protestors that are part of the activist groups plan to meet to continue demanding town halls from McCormick and Fetterman.
It is unclear whether the postponed event will be rescheduled for a later date.
