By Gabriel Elmosleh

News Editor

On Mar 16, Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Janelle Bynum hosted a town hall at Clackamas Community College. There, they hosted a Q&A, and reaffirmed to Oregon’s voters that they would continue to fight for them.

With recent changes made by the Trump Administration affecting federal funding, social security, immigration, and more, Democrats across the country are hosting town halls to speak to their constituents face to face, and to address their concerns.

The gym at Randall Hall was packed with people who voiced their concerns about the Trump Administration. Matters involving federal job firings, education, social security and constitutional violations were discussed.

The crowd cheers for Senator Wyden and Congresswoman Bynum as they make their appearance. Photo by Quinton Pruhdomme

There was also a lack of younger people attending the rally that those in the audience were quick to pick up on. Bynum was quick to comment on how she seeks to get the attention of young adults.

“When we think about the cost of college, think about access to trade school, think about investing in community college, climate change, those are the issues that young people want us to talk about.” Said Bynum. She also directed those in the crowd to tell the youth to get in contact with her. “Tell us where we should be. I’ll agree to go on podcasts, I’ll come to community colleges, I’ll go wherever you need me to be, in order to listen to what you have to say.”

An hour into the event, a community member asked what they could do to actually “stop the chaos.”

“All of us sent postcards, made phone calls, came to town halls, and I know those lawsuits have helped turn things around, but there’s continual chaos, and we’re doing what we can, but we’re really scared. Everybody’s panicked, and it’s affecting physical and mental health. What can we actually do to stop this chaos?”

Bynum’s response, however, did not inspire confidence. When Bynum stated that she believed everything was going to be ok, she was met with criticism from the crowd, with one person responding with “Everything is not going to be ok”, to which she responded by talking about her heritage.

“Black people have been through some of the worst horrors in this world’s history, ” said Bynum. “Because we have been through some of the very darkest times in this country, and we still managed to get up every morning, and fight, and stand with joy, and send our kids to school, and do the very best with what we have. But because I know where we have come from, and I know how great this country is, and because I know all of you filled up this auditorium, I believe this is the greatest country on earth, I believe we will not let it fall, I believe Trump will not win, I believe all of that, and where the head goes, the mind goes. So as you go back home, and you talk to your kids, do you believe we’ll win? Because if not, you should get up and leave now.”

The crowd responded with scattered applause, and a few angry shouts.

A rally goer looks visibly annoyed as people get up to leave the rally. Photo by Quinton Prudhomme

After the speech, Wyden and Bynum held a short press conference.

When asked about DOGE’s access to Education department data, and more specifically data about FAFSA, Wyden told us about a bill he was working on with other senators to protect the privacy of students.

When Bynum was asked about potential disruptions to student financial aid, as well as federal funding to the college, she admitted she’s uncertain about the future, but promises to fight for her constituents.

“I cannot predict the future, but what I can tell you is that I’ll fight like hell, because I recognize that interrupting any part of a student’s education can be disruptive for their future.”

This follows a similar town hall hosted by Senator Jeff Merkley on Feb 23, which followed the same format, but Merkley spent more time answering questions.

When asked about how the Trump Administration replaced Charles Q. Brown Jr with Dan “Razin” Caine, Merkley expressed his concerns about qualified government employees being replaced with Trump loyalists.

“What bothers me is that you see incredibly capable people being replaced by loyalists… and I tell you, I want professionals dedicated to good government, not loyalists bowing to Trump.”

The Clackamas Print was unable to speak with Merkley after the event.