Representative Sean Casten, a Democrat from Illinois, was confronted by furious pro-Palestinian demonstrators during a town hall on Wednesday.
Newsweek contacted Casten for comment via email on Friday outside regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Hecklers and protesters have been disrupting town halls in recent months. Earlier in March, House Speaker Mike Johnson advised his Republican colleagues against holding such events, saying they had become a forum for “professional protesters.”
Casten is the latest member of Congress and the rare Democrat to be confronted by demonstrators. The disruptions highlight the political tension in the United States, with stark divides over issues such as federal government cuts, transgender rights and the ongoing war in Gaza.
What To Know
CNN broadcast footage from Wednesday’s town hall, which Julia Manchester, a reporter at The Hill, later shared on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Pro-Palestinian protestors confronted Democratic Rep. Sean Casten at a town hall in Illinois’ 6th congressional district last night.” The event took place at American Legion Post 80 in Downers Grove.
Pro-Palestinian protestors confronted Democratic Rep. Sean Casten at a town hall in Illinois’ 6th congressional district last night pic.twitter.com/hSj8fkLnvB
— Julia Manchester (@JuliaManch) March 20, 2025
In the video, Casten can be seen speaking to three separate demonstrators, each of whom shouted at him while standing in front of the stage as a security guard formed a protective barrier in front of the congressman.
It is unclear what the first protester shouted, but Casten, who had a microphone, responded: “Sir, sit down. Show some respect for everybody’s who’s here. Show some respect for the people who are here.”
Audience members can be heard yelling for the protester to sit down, and they later chant Casten’s name in support of the lawmaker.
The second demonstrator is also inaudible in the CNN footage, but Casten tells her: “People did not come here to hear you. Show some respect for the people in this district.”
The third protester can be heard shouting, “My people are being slaughtered, and I want you to stop funding this.” Casten replies, “If you would like to run for office, run for office.”
The demonstrator responds: “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You are the most soulless piece of c*** I’ve ever seen.”
The demonstrator then mounts the stage as two men, one a security guard, hold him back and Caster tells him to “get off the stage right now.”
According to Armando L. Sanchez, a Chicago Tribune photojournalist, the event was later “shut down by the Downers Grove police.” Images Sanchez shared on X showed police officers speaking to protesters.
Wednesday’s incident followed a series of town halls where hecklers and demonstrators confronted Republican legislators.
On February 20, Republican Representative Kevin Hern faced a hostile grilling over federal job cuts and the activities of the Department of Government Efficiency during a town hall on the outskirts of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Representative Chuck Edwards, a Republican from North Carolina, held a town hall in Asheville on March 13, during which he was heckled. Clips of the event have since racked up more than 1 million views on social media.
On Tuesday, a town hall hosted by Nebraska Republican Mike Flood was disrupted when a section of the audience began chanting “tax the rich” at the congressman.
A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza collapsed on Tuesday, with the Israeli military launching a series of air strikes across the area. The attack killed more than 400 people, according to Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and dragging hundreds more back to Gaza as hostages. Israel then launched a military offensive that Gaza health officials said killed more than 48,000 Palestinians.
What People Are Saying
Armando L. Sanchez, a photojournalist at the Chicago Tribune, wrote on X: “Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters confront U.S. Rep. Sean Casten while disrupting a town hall at American Legion Post 80 Wednesday in Downers Grove. After several members of the audience disrupted Casten the town hall was shut down by the Downers Grove police.”
Overton News, a self-styled “decentralized” media network, wrote on X: “A wild scene erupted tonight at Congressman Sean Casten’s town hall in Downers Grove, Illinois, when a furious constituent stormed the stage, sparking a screaming match over the Gaza war that ended with police hauling people out.”
Representative Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina, told Fox News on March 16: “I don’t do town halls because I think it’s just an opportunity for people to yell at their member of congress.”
What Happens Next
The recent town hall disruptions have raised security concerns and may lead to more members of Congress scrapping the events altogether.
The post Democrat Confronted by Angry Protesters at Town Hall appeared first on Newsweek.
