Morgan Watkins

@morganwatkins26

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was shadowed by protesters for a second straight day as at least 400 demonstrators turned out in Jeffersontown on Wednesday, urging him to meet with them.

As he did the day before when around 1,000 protesters turned out in Lawrenceburg, the famously unflappable senator deflected their jousts, saying protesting "is about as American as apple pie."

The protests were part of a nationwide movement to pressure Congress to oppose controversial policies and statements made by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Some Republican congressional members have endured tense and crowded town-hall events, where constituents can show up without having to RSVP, during this week's recess. Others — including McConnell — have spoken at events that require reservations or tickets.

That drew the ire of protesters Wednesday who gathered outside the RSVP-only luncheon hosted by The Chamber Jeffersontown at the Louisville Marriott East.

Some held signs bearing quips about Trump and his alleged ties to Russia. But a lot of them zeroed in on McConnell, questioning the quality of his public service.

“No bans, no walls! Mitch McConnell take our calls,” they chanted.

Some accused McConnell of listening to campaign donors but not regular Kentuckians.

“That’s what he’s doing in there. It’s a ticketed affair,” said Mark Condon of Louisville. “There are no big shots (out) here. The limousines come in the back. I mean, they need to be represented too, but not only.

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“The fact that he has not had a town hall where people can voice their concerns indicates to me two things: One, either he doesn’t care. Or two, he already knows what our concerns are and doesn’t care,” Condon said. “It’s a terrible situation for a democracy where a representative doesn’t represent you.”

Esther Webb, a 74-year-old from Lexington, held a sign that said, “Mitch we want a town hall.”

“We’ve written. We’ve called. His phones are busy,” she said. “We can’t get in touch with him ... and we just want to see him.”

Inside the Marriott, McConnell acknowledged the protesters.

“Well, you might have noticed I have a very large fan club outside,” he said. “... My hat's off to the protesters. They have every right to express themselves, provided they do it peacefully.”

McConnell took questions from the crowd for about half an hour. Several people asked about Republican leaders’ plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act and how that could affect Kentuckians’ health coverage. One woman praised some of McConnell's foreign policy work, and a city employee thanked him for his support of Jeffersontown and encouraged him to keep doing what he can to support people struggling with addiction.

The question-and-answer session ended right before a woman in a T-shirt that indicated she wasn’t a McConnell fan had her turn. The senator had to leave for another meeting.

“We need a town hall,” someone yelled after the question-and-answer period was over.

Connie Coartney, a member of a group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, was one of the people who didn’t get a chance to ask McConnell a question.

She said she paid around $30 to attend Wednesday’s event but suggested that constituents should have an opportunity to attend a free town-hall event with McConnell.

When asked by a reporter Wednesday if he plans to hold such an event, McConnell told reporters, “I thought we had a lot of the general public here, plus a whole lot of others today."

“And I’m perfectly open,” he said. “I was yesterday. I will be again tomorrow in Northern Kentucky.”

McConnell is expected to attend another chamber of commerce luncheon Thursday in Covington.

Reporter Justin Sayers contributed to this report. You can reach reporter Morgan Watkins at 502-875-5136 or mwatkins@courier-journal.com.

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Watch this video of a woman confronting McConnell about welfare and coal jobs



See photos from the Lawrenceburg rally