ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As protests continued in Asheville earlier this week decrying the Trump administration’s slashing of the federal workforce and policy changes, U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) has announced a town hall.
The in-person meeting, slated for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in Asheville–Buncombe Technical Community College’s Ferguson Auditorium, has been billed as an effort to share a legislative update on issues affecting North Carolina’s 11th District and a chance for Edwards to hear from his western North Carolina constituents.
“I’ve had many constituents ask me lately if I could hold another live town hall. The answer is most emphatically, yes,” Edwards said in a statement announcing the town hall. “Being accessible, listening, and answering questions for the people of WNC are among my favorite activities, even if we might not always agree. That is why in my first term as a congressman, I held eight in-person town halls. I am eager to host the ninth one in Asheville.”
Several groups have taken to social media to encourage people to attend and ask questions. Indivisible Asheville/WNC and Good Trouble WNC plan to coordinate and “show up in force,” according to one Facebook post. Indivisible-CommonGround-WNC plans to road trip to the town hall. A Facebook post from the group said the bus will leave Bridge Park in Sylva at 4:15.
Heated exchanges at similar events across the country prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson to urge Republican lawmakers to skip town halls, saying the demonstrations are fueled by professional protesters.