In Greenfield visit, McGovern talks affordability, immigration enforcement

GREENFIELD — A few days after Congressman Jim McGovern announced his plan to seek reelection to his 16th term, he paid a visit to Greenfield for a town hall event hosted by Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution, where he addressed topics such as affordability, immigration enforcement and a post-Trump Congress.

McGovern, speaking before a crowd of about 150 people at Greenfield High School on Wednesday, opened by reflecting on the overwhelming nature of the political landscape and its impact on constituents who have shared with him the feeling of being overwhelmed by the news cycle. Additionally, McGovern touched on the issue of affordability for Americans, while billions of dollars go to funding the war in Iran.

“Affordability is the main issue on people’s minds. People can’t afford to buy groceries. It’s too expensive to fill your gas tank up. People can’t afford rent. I mean, life is becoming too damn expensive for people in this country,” McGovern said.

McGovern stressed the importance of fighting back and organizing.

“People of this country is all that is left, and we have to be prepared for one hell of a fight leading up to the midterms,” he said.

Recounting his visit to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Burlington, McGovern said he spoke with a Honduran man, who was not pre-selected by ICE agents to speak with McGovern ahead of time, as others were. The man shared how he was detained by ICE while going to work at a construction job, and he had an application for political asylum. The man, who has a wife and children, requested that McGovern reach out to his wife to tell her he’s OK, and to see if he can be moved to a facility closer to home.

“That is not who we’re supposed to be. I mean, we are supposed to be better than that,” McGovern said. “We’re supposed to uphold a high standard of human rights.”

McGovern also spoke of visiting a senior center in Worcester and learning that several staff members who are Haitian immigrants are working under Temporary Protected Status. If the Trump administration is successful in eliminating this protection through the Supreme Court, they would not be allowed to work at the facility. He expresses the same concern over Temporary Protected Status for researchers who are working in the U.S. on cures and treatments for diseases.

Audience commentary

Audience members sought to share a range of questions with McGovern, many of which had to do with what comes after the Trump administration, and if Democrats will be able to take back the House or Senate in this year’s midterms.

“I think the most important thing that we can do for our democracy is to win the House and the Senate back,” McGovern said. “Winning is everything at this particular point, because if we don’t win, we’re not going to be able to change things. It’s that simple.”

McGovern laid out three points, including demanding more from elected officials, engaging with campaigns across the United States, and making sure to speak with people about voting and being engaged.

Attendees also asked what comes after taking back both chambers, or even just one. McGovern said that there needs to be action quickly to mitigate the damage done by the Republican-led House and Senate through legislative action, also noting his intention as chair of the Rules Committee to begin hearings on Medicare for All.

Greenfield resident Benjamin Miner spoke to a previous sentiment McGovern shared about the need for mass protests, and his hope to see people on the streets outside the Capitol. He commented on how it’s his perception that most people are organizing, but it’s a “big financial burden” on the people to make a large movement occur in Washington D.C.

“When I wake up on a morning when the 60-day threshold has passed, when it has to be authorized by Congress, and nothing the hell happens,” Miner started, reflecting the deadline that passed for President Donald Trump to get congressional approval for continued hostilities in Iran, “I ask myself, what’s it going to take to see the Democrats in Congress being the ones out front of the Capitol?”

After applause from the crowd, McGovern said he’s not taking away from the “incredible protests and organizing” that is still happening. He said he’s “at a loss to try and explain” the actions of the Trump administration and Republicans, and that Democrats are in a position where more can be done.

“I’m just saying that we’ve just got to pull every lever that we can, and if I or anybody else who represents you isn’t doing enough, or isn’t doing as much as you think we should do, you should call us and tell us,” he said.

As many audience members expressed fatigue and fear over the current administration and the future of American democracy, McGovern said he is not immune to similar feelings. In a personal moment, Lisa Aubin asked the congressman how he keeps hope, and what he thinks his constituents can do to stay hopeful themselves.

In response, McGovern expressed his continued passion for the U.S. as a source of strength to continue, while also pulling from a personal place in his family.

“This has been a very long year for me, dealing with what’s happening in Washington. … A year ago, April, we lost our daughter,” McGovern said. “I think of her every day, and she was a fighter, and she hated bullies. So I get up every day and I fight bullies.”

To close, McGovern encouraged people to vote locally, where they will feel the most immediate effects of their government, and to speak up against hateful rhetoric and the demonization of others that he’s seen become normalized.