Indivisible group protests at Rep. Mo Brooks speech, demands town hall

Members of the North Alabama chapter of the 'Indivisible' movement gathered to protest Congressman Mo Brooks' refusal to hold a public town hall. They marched across the street from the Von Braun Center on March 6, 2017, as Brooks delivered a speech inside the VBC to the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. (Anna Claire Vollers | avollers@AL.com)

Between 60-70 members of the North Alabama chapter of Indivisible gathered today outside the Von Braun Center in Huntsville to stage a public protest and to ask Congressman Mo Brooks to hold a town hall meeting. Brooks was inside the VBC's North Hall, giving a "Washington update" speech to the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce.

"We would like Mo to hold a public town hall meeting," said Cindy Allen, one of the organizers of the Indivisible protest. "We'd like the opportunity to have questions and answers."

Indivisible group protests at Rep. Mo Brooks speech, demands town hall 23 Gallery: Indivisible group protests at Rep. Mo Brooks speech, demands town hall

Brooks has said publicly he does not plan to hold public town hall meetings over concerns about violence at other events held around the country.

"The majority of the people in our group (of protesters gathered) are 50 and over," said Monica Evans, another organizer with Indivisible. "We're all contributing taxpayers and voters. All we want is for him to listen to us."

Protesters gathered before the noon speech, marching up and down the sidewalk along Clinton Avenue in front of the Von Braun Center. They held signs and chanted things like "This is what democracy looks like" and "Let's talk, Mo."

Several wore white t-shirts with the slogan, "#LetsTalkMo." They got a few honks from passing cars. One driver yelled, "Get a job!"

Leslie Kaiura of Huntsville said the event was her first political protest. She held a sign that read "Nonviolent, Not paid, Just want a town hall! From 35803."

"I'm here because I feel like we're not getting represented by our representatives," she said. "They don't want to meet with us and listen to our opinion. In a democracy everyone should have a voice, and that's why I'm here."

Anne Scarbrough of Decatur said she didn't like being characterized as violent or an anarchist, as Brooks has called Democratic protesters.

"We're here to let our congressman know we are peaceful patriots who care about our values and want to be able to talk about them with him in a town hall setting that's open to everybody," she said.

"He keeps calling us anarchists, violent people, but we're peaceful and we're patriots and we love our country."

Inside the North Hall, Brooks kicked off his speech by referencing the protesters.

As he greeted Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong, who were seated on the dais with him, Brooks said, "I'm somewhat sorry they brought their protesters with them." There was a ripple of laughter from the audience.

Brooks went on to outline cases of violence or damage to property by Democratic "disruptors" at various events across the country. He showed a video of disruptors at Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, town hall refusing to stand for pledge of allegiance and also shouting during the pledge.

"I have observed and learned from what is happening across America," Brooks told the crowd assembled at the VBC. "I cannot speak for anybody else, but as for me, I will not conduct public town halls that empower Democrat activists, anarchists, socialists and disruptors to spread what I believe are anti-American values. If Democratic disruptors want attention, they can earn it without my help."

Before beginning a brief Q&A with the audience, Brooks joked, "Does this make this a town hall? If I get questions, does that make it a town hall?" The audience applauded.

Back outside, some protesters also said they were there because they are unhappy with Brooks' support of the presidential administration's stances on issues like immigration, the environment, healthcare and education.

Paul Neumann of Huntsville stood against a fence, holding a "Let's talk Mo" sign. He said he came to protest because he had a day off work.

"I'm a millennial who works two different part-time jobs and I'm basically extremely discontent with the current state of local politics and in the federal sphere," he said.

Nearby, Kim Xu stood with her toddler, wearing her baby in a carrier and holding a sign in front of it that read "My Daddy is an immigrant!"

Xu, who is white, said she was particularly concerned about immigration, and acceptance of people from other cultures. "(My kids) are going to be going to school, and if people are scared of people who look different, that makes me very worried," she said. "We can't just judge people because they look different, and say they're not Americans."

Kevin Wangbickler of Huntsville, who said he spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, said he believes everyone should have healthcare and that men should not control women's reproductive health.

Vera Vergara Bullard of Madison said she came to the protest after learning about it that morning.

"I hoped there would be enough people here that Mr. Brooks sees how important it is to have these town hall meetings," she said. "I'm still not sure why in the world he's so afraid of meeting with us.

"We're peacefully protesting, hoping he will get the message that we want to be heard."

Mike Smith, chairman of the Limestone County Democratic Party, was there to support Indivisible.

"I've never seen anything like this in an off-year," he said, referring to the crowd. "Before the election (the level of political protesting) stepped up and after the election it stepped up even more. It's caught on and I think it's going to stay around. Mo's going to have to recognize it."

Rebecca Browne of Decatur said if Brooks held a town hall, he'd probably get booed.

"But he's an adult and he signed up for this. This is his job," she said.

AL.com reporter Paul Gattis contributed to this story.