March 14, 2025/Midnight
Erie, PA. — On Saturday March 8, 2025, at around 1 p.m. members of the Erie community joined together in protest of Representative ( R ) Mike Kelly for ignoring his constituents and not holding town hall meetings.
Much like the last protest held in Erie just a week before, members of the community were concerned with the Representatives’ continuous absence in the Erie area and perceived lack of engagement.
People wanted to make known publicly that Kelly has repeatedly declined to meet with voters that he represents. They say they want answers and more information directly from him about their concerns. In addition, Kelly has been asked to attend in-person Town Hall meetings and has repeatedly declined.
The rally was attended by those who wanted to speak in person to Kelly about the potential cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, education, veterans, farmers, and Social Security — and what they could mean for the people he serves.
In a press release by local activist, Kathleen Lutz, was a quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States a position she held from 1993 to 2020 and was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. In her time, she was a trailblazer for women’s rights. Her first successful argument before the Supreme Court led to the first law against gender-based discrimination.
The quote read; “Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
Hundreds gathered downtown and flooded Perry Square to voice their concerns about representative Mike Kelly and his political allegiances.
According to Chris Magoc, concerned citizen, there were plans made to turn out at the Bayfront Convention Center to meet with the congressman. He felt it was unlikely Kelly would respond. According to the representative’s office the event had been cancelled.
A local umbrella organizations, French Creek Indivisible and Crawford County and NW PA Indivisible organized the protest.
GoErie.com posted this video on YouTube shortly after the rally.
Citizens have expressed frustrations about the controlled pre-screened “tele-town halls” that the representative and his office have posted in the last several years.
“We would remind the congressman that neither a craven, a phone-it-in pretense of representation, nor relinquishment of congressional responsibility to provide oversight of the executive branch is what our Founders had in mind when they established…” according to GoErie.
Many residents have specific concerns about the DOGE cuts and want to hear more about them face to face from Kelly.
Another rally is planned on March 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on State St. and 9th – protesting USPS proposed cuts, DOGE’a perceived slash and burn cuts to government agencies and employees and other Trump administration actions.
Another rally is planned for March 23rd, on Perry Square.
