A sizeable crowd gathered outside the building that houses Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s office Monday evening to protest President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration.
The crowd outside the One Summit Square office building in Middletown gathered signatures on a petition to request Fitzpatrick, who raised concerns over the national emergency in an interview last week, oppose the president’s action in Congress.
“Congress has an obligation to check Executive Branch abuses, and there is a clear mechanism for doing it,” said Kierstyn Zolfo, legislative chair for Pennsylvania Statewide Indivisible. “Brian Fitzpatrick must act immediately to stop this illegal, anti-democratic power grab by acting on the powers under the National Emergencies Act and show that Congress is a co-equal branch of government.”
“Border crossings are at an all-time low, and migrants have a legal right to seek asylum,” said Karen Rodriguez, political action chair for Pennsylvania Statewide Indivisible. “The fact that Trump declared a National Emergency when none exists would be laughable if it weren’t such a dangerous power grab by a President who has made his feelings for immigrants and people of color known. This cannot stand.”
The demonstration featured former Democratic state representative candidates Lauren Lareau, Jimmy Lamb, and Mike Doyle. It also included a statement against Trump’s national emergency by former Democratic congressional candidate Scott Wallace.
Activists placed sticky notes on the door to Fitzpatrick’s office to voice their opinion.
And to my sister protester/organizers who do the work? @RdrgzKr @lauratron1000 @renaitre8, you are the best! Creative, persistent, and tenacious as hell. Love working with you ladies… and all the other folks who helped make today’s #FakeNationalEmergency protest happen! pic.twitter.com/vWng9zccoX
— Kierstyn P. Zolfo (@BucksCoKierstyn) February 19, 2019
The event was organized by local activists and Pennsylvania Statewide Indivisible and coincided with similar events across the nation.
