Protests are getting out of hand

Helping the more than 700,000 men and women who live in Pennsylvania’s Sixth Congressional District is the cornerstone of the work our staff does every day in U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello’s offices in West Chester, Wyomissing and Washington.

Congressman Costello sets the tone by treating all constituents with respect, demonstrating thoughtful leadership and accepting nothing less than exceptional service. His voting record reflects pragmatism and independence. He’s sided with President Obama and President Trump when they’ve proposed policies that help working families and businesses. And when the Congressman disagrees, he says so.

The Congressman has honored a solemn commitment to all of his constituents to act and speak in a thoughtful and civil manner. Likewise, our staff in the district and in Washington work diligently every day, many nights and weekends and over the holidays to respond to thousands of phone calls, e-mails and letters.

Staff also sets appointments to meet with constituents to listen to their concerns about legislation and other issues before Congress. We draft, track and seek input from constituents on legislation. And we’ve organized and 11 town halls in a variety of inperson, telephone and online formats in 2017 alone.

For nearly a year now, Congressman Costello and our staff have carried out their responsibilities while a small, albeit extremely vocal, group of protesters shows up at least weekly to yell into bullhorns and demand staff listen to their grievances.

Some of these protesters have visited, e-mailed and phoned our offices multiple times each day. A few of have resorted to taking photos of staff coming in and out of the office and posting those photos on social media without our consent. Countless people make harsh comments on the Congressman’s social media pages that most of us wouldn’t allow our children to read.

Regrettably, the conduct of some constituents has grown increasingly belligerent in recent weeks. On Dec. 7, a dozen people entered our West Chester Office in the Historic Chester County Courthouse. Some were professional political activists from Philadelphia. Almost immediately, the group defaced the office in our historic building by taping several posters with political slogans to the walls. They posed for photos while sitting behind desks used by staff.

Despite the aggressive actions, our staff spent nearly an hour allowing each person to speak their mind. When staff finished listening and asked protesters to leave so that we could continue serving other constituents, the group ratcheted up its disruptive antics. They shouted at and mocked staff. And then they started singing loud enough that police officers and a magisterial district judge in a courtroom down the hall could hear their crooning.

Two constituents who visited the office during this chaotic occupation had to walk around people sitting on the floor while cell phones captured video of the constituents and staff without their consent. When staff asked the protesters to stop videotaping, the group sang even louder just a few feet from where staff was attempting to answer phone calls.

Constituents absolutely have every right to make their voices heard and offer feedback. However, there is a delicate balance between passionate issue advocacy and harassment and intimidation. And non-violence doesn’t make the protest peaceful.

The U.S. Capitol Police, who monitor protest activities to ensure the safety of lawmakers and staff, have defined certain acts of disruption and intimidation as criminal. Those acts include refusing to leave the office, blocking passage of pedestrians or vehicles, and hanging signs from public and private property.

If we showed up at your workplace without an appointment, prevented your co-workers from doing their jobs and shouted that the decisions your boss is making are going to “kill his children”, we’d expect you to call law enforcement and have us removed for trespassing.

If you call and verbally harass staff or email messages that make staff scared for their wellbeing, do not be surprised if police are summoned. We have a responsibility to ensure a safe, professional, and accessible setting for our staff and our constituents.

All of our staff strives to be friendly, honest, courteous, openminded, hardworking, and reasonable. Congressman Costello has said: “I find the recent, heated rhetoric we’re seeing not only alarming and hateful, but categorically unacceptable. Let’s all commit to bringing down the temperature in politics.”

We concur, and that’s how we will responsibly continue to manage the Congressional offices for the people we proudly serve.

Lauryn Bernier Schothorst is chief of staff for Rep. Costello. Kori Walter is district director.