Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten said he “absolutely” will continue to hold town hall meetings even though a Wednesday event in Downers Grove was cut short by police after heated confrontations between the congressman and a small group of Palestinian and Israeli supporters.
The disruption began when a pro-Israel supporter wearing an Israeli flag confronted Casten. That prompted some members from a group of five pro-Palestinian supporters to individually confront Casten at the front of the stage at the American Legion Post 80 hall where the town hall was being held.
Video of the event before about 200 people showed Casten frequently interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters who criticized U.S. military assistance for Israel in its deadly attacks on Gaza residents in its war with Hamas. Pro-Palestinians have frequently criticized Casten’s position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
At several points, Casten asked the protesters to “show some respect” to the other audience members who he said had attended the town hall based on the belief the discussion would be centered around the budget-cutting actions of President Donald Trump, adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and congressional Republicans.
At one point, a pro-Palestinian protester stood in front of Casten to complain of U.S. complicity in child deaths in Gaza. The congressman responded by saying the protester should “run for office.”
“That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You are the most soulless piece of crap I’ve ever seen,” the protester said. Casten replied, “That’s your opinion,” as the protester circled around to get on the stage to confront the congressman.
“Get off this, sir. Get off the stage right now,” the congressman said as Downers Grove police entered the room. Police later separated a pro-Palestinian demonstrator and an audience member. All of the protesters were then escorted by police outside without any confrontation between the two sides.
Throughout the disruptions, audience members shouted “sit down” and chanted Casten’s name to try to drown out the protesters.
Police ultimately decided to shut down the event for safety reasons, said Casten, who briefly left the stage for an audience cool-down period.
On Thursday morning, in an interview with CNN, Casten called the disruptions “sad.”
The event was “driven by just a huge concern that people have about the unlawfulness, the attacks on the Constitution, and that was what the room came to hear,” Casten said.
“Unfortunately, there were a small group of people who decided to get up and disrupt on an issue that they disagreed on, and it’s in their rights,” he said. “But ultimately, the police felt that there was a risk to public safety in continuing.”
Casten criticized Republican congressional members who have been urged not to hold in-person town halls.
“Many of my colleagues … are either not inviting anybody who disagrees with them into the room, which, as you can tell, is not something that we do, or choosing not to have them at all,” he said.
“On a going-forward basis, we’re going to have to be, much more deferential to what the local police feel is a safe way to do the town hall,” he said. “But I think it’s important for us to continue to make sure that we have these avenues for civil discourse and disagreement.”
