Grassroots protests and mock town halls have been appearing across the country in response to the widespread indiscriminate cuts to federal agencies and the firing of their employees, some with crucial jobs — that have been conducted by the extra-governmental group DOGE led by Elon Musk. There are fears for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, SNAP, VA benefits — all government support that people rely on. Constituents who want their representatives to listen to them and take up their responsibility in our system of checks and balances are speaking up. These fears were expressed locally last week in Dunkirk. On Wednesday a protest was held in front of U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy’s Jamestown office which attracted around 40 protesters calling on Langworthy to hold a town hall meeting. Later that evening, a Town Hall was held in Blasdell to a capacity crowd, with concerned constituents of Langworthy’s 23rd Congressional district, which includes Chautauqua County, in attendance. Langworthy’s recent Democratic opponent, Tom Carle of Fredonia, was present to help conduct the meeting. Concerns will be forwarded to Langworthy.