Thursday, March 2, 2017 Volume 101 Issue 39
student printz SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
www.studentprintz.com
Palazzo absent at town hall meeting
ANNIE JOHNSON
printz reporter
On Feb. 24, members of the of the Fourth Congressional District of Hattiesburg gathered outside Congressman Steven Palazzo’s office on Main Street to hold a “Town Hall Meeting” with the congressman. Women’s March Hattiesburg Huddle (WMHH) organized the meeting to give Palazzo an opportunity to address the organization’s concerns. Facilitator for the WMHH Caroline Miles said these demonstrations are important because it gives women a sense of solidarity. “Through this group and these demonstrations our voices are being heard,” Miles said. “It leaves an impression. In some cases, our voices are heard and still ignored, but they are still heard.” The WMHH voiced concerns about the following topics: Affordable Care Act (ACA) Repeal, Immigration Reform; US-Russia Relations, President Trump’s Business Conflicts; Bill to Dismantle the EPA, Social Justice Issues and Voter Suppression. Residents and community organizers hoped to discuss these topics with Palazzo and make sure they, too, were being accurately represented by the Congressman. Miles said Palazzo stated earlier in the week that “[the Town Hall Meeting] was just going to be an angry group of liberals yelling at him.” Palazzo never guaranteed his attendance. Spectrum Center board member Lynn Coles said representatives need to be held accountable on the local and national levels. Coles said demonstrators should take out their cell phones and save the numbers of Representative Palazzo, Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Thad Cochran. “Phone calls are the most effective way to get our points across,” Coles said. “Please use your phones.” At the meeting, Coles introduced speakers Charlee Osborne, Melinda Medina and Raylawni Branch.
Samuel L. Mingo | Printz Protesters at the Town Hall Meeting stand in front of Congressman Steven Palazzo of the Fourth Congressional District of Hattiesburg’s office on Main Street Saturday, Feb. 24. The Women’s March Hattiesburg Huddle organized the event. Branch played a role in integrating USM in 1965. Osborne discussed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and said residents should urge Palazzo to not vote for its repeal. Osborne said he
grew up poor and received health care through USM when he was a student. He introduced his Chris, his closest friend, who has diabetes, and said Chris’ medicine cost approximately $1,000 per month.
“ACA made it possible for Chris to receive his medication every month,” Osborne said. “What would happen to Chris’ son if anything happened to Chris because he couldn’t afford his medication for
his diabetes? Reform is not bad – complete repeal is [bad].” continued on | pg 3