Beto O’Rourke coming to Gary
Democratic presidential hopeful hosting town hall meeting Monday
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is hosting a town hall meeting at a Gary restaurant Monday.
O’Rourke will hold a “Coffee with Beto in Gary, Indiana” event from noon to 2:30 p.m. at J’s Breakfast Club,
3669 Broadway
, according to his campaign website.
“I am traveling to towns and cities across America to introduce myself and hear from people like you about the ways we can move this country forward,” according to the website.
Joslyn Kelly, the owner of J’s Breakfast Club, said the business — which has become a “social kitchen, social space” for the community — is “honored” to host O’Rourke. About 100 residents, between seating and standing space, will be able to attend the event, she said.
“It’s an exciting opportunity especially for the residents of Gary, giving them an opportunity for exposure to what’s going on in the nation’s forefront,” Kelly said.
Gary Mayor Karen FreemanWilson said city officials are pleased that O’Rourke is coming to Gary, because it proves that domestic issues are a major focus in the 2020 election, which hasn’t been the case in recent elections.
“We are excited that Congressman O’Rourke is coming to Gary. I think it underscores in the 2020 election you will find that issues that impact cities … are going to be front and center,” Freeman-Wil
son said.
Earlier this year, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders visited Gary, Freeman-Wilson said. City officials have been in contact with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey as well, she said.
“We are happy every time a presidential candidate comes to Gary,” FreemanWilson said. “I would welcome anyone and everyone who wants to come.”
O’Rourke, former Texas congressman made headlines following the second Democratic presidential debate Sept. 12 with a “hell, yes” moment in response to a question about gun control laws.
“Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47, and we’re not going to allow it to be used against your fellow Americans anymore,” O’Rourke said at the debate.
O’Rourke’s hometown of El Paso was the site of a mass shooting in August that left 22 people dead, and he has put the issue of gun violence at the center of his campaign effort.
However, some fellow Democrats are worried that his remarks may have made things harder for gun control supporters as they negotiate with President Donald Trump on gun control legislation.
“I frankly think that clip will be played for years at Second Amendment rallies with organizations that try to scare people by saying Democrats are coming for your guns,” Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware told CNN Sept. 13. “I don’t think a majority of the Senate or the country is going to embrace mandatory buybacks. We need to focus on what we can get done.”
Coons is working with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, on a measure to require that law enforcement officials be notified when someone fails a gunpurchase background check.
“Much respect to Sen. Coons for leading the fight on background checks,” O’Rourke tweeted Sept. 14. “But the time for letting status quo politics determine how far we can go is over. If we agree that having millions of weapons of war on the streets is a bad idea, we have to do something about it.”
During the Democratic presidential debate, Trump warned at a Republican retreat in Baltimore, “Democrats want to confiscate guns from law-abiding Americans, so they are totally defenseless when somebody walks into their house.”
Residents who want to attend the event in Gary should RSVP at https://act.betoorourke .com/event/ beto-events/ 33511?source=map&akid=
O’Rourke’s next town hall events will be held at The Ohio State University on Sept. 24 and Kent State University in Ohio on Sept. 25, according to his campaign website.