MADISON, Wis. — Thousands of Wisconsinites took to the streets on Saturday to protest the Trump Administration’s reckless moves to slash funding and lay off federal employees—and to call out their Republican representatives for rolling over and letting it happen. Wisconsinites made it known that Republicans like Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil are failing our state by refusing to listen to constituents and enabling the Trump administration.
Wisconsin Republicans, including Derrick Van Orden, Bryan Steil, and Tony Wied have been hiding from their constituents by refusing to hold in-person town halls. As Republicans continue to cater to the Trump-Musk Administration, allowing attacks on Medicaid and Social Security, Wisconsinites are putting their representatives on notice.
See more coverage on Wisconisinites fighting back:
WQOW 18 News: “People across the country took to the streets Saturday for the nationwide ‘Hands Off’ protests against the Trump Administration. In Eau Claire, protesters called for accountability from Republicans in Congress. The crowd of protesters in Eau Claire’s Phoenix Park chanted ‘Where’s Derrick?’ in reference to Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who has not held an in person town hall event.”
Herald Times Reporter: “Progressive Lakeshore People co-organized the local ‘Hands off!’ event alongside the Manitowoc County Democratic Party. ‘People are organizing in communities all over Wisconsin and the nation, making it clear to the people who are supposed to represent them that elected officials need to stand with them,’ Iverson said. ‘This is only the beginning.’ […] U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Republican who represents Wisconsin’s Sixth Congressional District, told the Herald Times Reporter Tuesday following the event that he spent Saturday with constituents who feel Trump is on the right track. ‘Over the weekend, I talked to people in Sheboygan and Fond du Lac and Waushara who say, ‘Let’s keep on doing what we’re doing,’’ he said. ‘I wasn’t surprised by the protests. There’s always going to be people who are negative. I just don’t think that’s the majority of Americans.’”
Green Bay Press Gazette: “‘I hope that we have some Republicans here. You are welcome here,’ Sieber said to the crowd before continuing that though protesters had come for different reasons, ‘We are united in one thing: We’re deeply troubled by what Trump, [Elon] Musk, and [JD] Vance are doing to America and Congress that’s just standing by.’ To emphasize the point about Congress’s role in the current state of American affairs, the speakers often name-dropped Congressman Tony Wied, who has been criticized by some constituents for a lack of transparency and representation of their interests. Sieber later called Wied’s office while at the microphone on the truck, and left a voicemail encouraging the congressman to block Trump’s tariffs, pausing to let the crowd chant ‘Do your job!’ ‘I’m angry that we have to fight tooth and nail to be heard all while our elected officials hide behind closed doors,’ said Lynn Meschke, a Bellevue resident and mother of a disabled child who spoke on the truck about Medicaid.”
TMJ4: “With Saturday’s protests, Krenzke said they’re not only hoping to sway national leaders but local elected officials as well. ‘Bryan Steil and others that are not speaking up for us,’ she explained. ‘I hope that they see us and hear us.’ ‘If he wants his job, he’s got to change his tune,’ Larsen echoed. ‘Bryan Steil has got to start representing the best interests of his constituents and not kowtowing to the would-be king.’”
