As the Trump administration bulldozes through hard-won protections and public services, the people are rightfully wondering: what can we do to fight back against the right-wing billionaire agenda?
Last weekend, Victoria Spartz, who represents Indiana’s 5th Congressional district—covering Fishers, Carmel, Anderson, Muncie, Kokomo, and Marion—held a town hall that went viral. Like thousands of other working class people across the country, the people of Indiana’s 5th district demanded accountability from the Republican lawmaker, concerned over the potential cuts to essential services and programs.
One constituent, Christine Kassebnia, waited two hours to join the March 29 town hall to ask Spartz about the threats against Medicare and Medicaid. Kassebnia was one of hundreds who left the meeting unheard and dismissed by Spartz, who endorses the Trump’s administration’s agenda and especially his so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Despite her allegiance, she has not yet received a single committee assignment.
People’s anger crosses partisan lines
“We are not represented by this… at all. Not one thing have I heard from them that represents me or anybody in this room. I don’t think we have any billionaires here, do we? I don’t think so,” Kassebnia told the Indianapolis Liberator.
Ben, a Republican from Westfield, asked Spartz, “Why have Republican Congress members not reigned [because of the] President’s illegal, unconstitutional orders?” Spartz deflected by responding that, “unfortunately to pass any law right now, it would take 60 votes in the Senate. We cannot pass anything.”
Sparkz’s complete unwillingness to challenge the attacks on the masses is echoed by the Democratic Party, which has completely surrendered to the Trump regime’s agenda. The Party that platformed itself as Goliath’s David during the elections has failed to show up on every level, including these town halls. Conveniently—and illogically—both parties bemoan the supposed “powerlessness” whenever questioned about their failures to enact the will of the people.
Spartz dismisses her constituents instead of answering their questions
After Spartz’s town hall ended prematurely, the lawmaker took to social media to dismiss her constituents as “professional radical leftists.”
Indiana 5th Congressional District candidate Jackson Franklin noted that most of the attendees of this weekend’s town halls were swing voters who were primarily concerned with the dissolution of their essential services:
“These (attendees) are not Antifa raiding the town halls. These are like veterans that lost their healthcare. Teachers worried about their jobs…These are people who generally disagree with the Trump regime.”
What are the people doing in response?
As Trump’s regime attacks permanent residents, veterans, college students, and service workers, Indiana constituents are situated identically with Americans across the country: there are no politicians with the will or interest of the people, no parties in power to challenge the billionaire coup, and no other option left but to organize outside of the two-party dictatorship and fight back.
People across the country will be gathering in Washington D.C. on April 5 to fight back against the Trump administration’s escalation of the genocide in Palestine and overall assault on the working class. ANSWER Indiana is chartering organizers from Indianapolis to D.C. ANSWER organizer Eli Morey encourages everyone who wants to be part of this historic event to get a ticket while they can. For those who want to help Hoosiers represent this weekend but are unable to attend, they can subsidize tickets for others.
Featured image: A woman stands to ask Victoria Spartz a question at her March 29 town hall in Muncie, IN. Credit: Muncie Liberation Studio.