Over 150 community members gathered at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church in Swissvale for an empty seat town hall held by Indivisible Pittsburgh and Mondays without McCormick on Wednesday evening. Former Congressman Conor Lamb and State Rep. Lindsay Powell sat in for Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick after they declined to schedule a town hall for Pennsylvanians. Participants voiced their concerns and continually noted Fetterman and McCormick’s agenda and loyalty to President Trump. Brenda Tate, a former Pittsburgh police officer addressed the crowd and said, “40 years ago I took an oath to protect and serve, the rule of law to me is critical. There was a 9-0 decision to bring that man home, this is bigger than Mr. Garcia, this is slave trade.” Many of the attendees had questions about immigration and the unlawful deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García. Conor Lamb said, “Trump thinks that he can do whatever he wants to whomever he wants, does that sound like a democracy to you?” The audience responded with a resounding “No.” Rep. Powell commended the audience for showing up and stated that, “it is imperative that all of us in this room don’t turn away from what we’re looking at… this administration wants us to close our eyes and pretend like none of this is happening.”
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Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Brenda Tate speaks during a town hall in Swissvale on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Mark Freeman, a Bethel Park resident, holds a sign outside of a town hall in Swissvale on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025. -
Conor Lamb and Rep. Lindsay Powell sit in place of the absent Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick on April 16, 2025.
