Concerned citizens call on Risch
Photos: LISA JAMES/ Press Local residents showed up at U.S. Sen. James Risch’s Coeur d’Alene office to voice their concerns on Tuesday afternoon. The effort was loosely organized through the Indivisible North Idaho Facebook page.
Guy States, left, voices his request for Sen. James Risch’s statement on President Trump’s executive order on immigration to Risch’s regional director, Sid Smith, far right, as Tuevo Orjala listens at Risch’s Coeur d’Alene office on Tuesday afternoon.
COEUR d'ALENE — People filed into U.S. Sen. James Risch’s Coeur d’Alene office late Tuesday afternoon to share their concerns about President Trump’s recent executive actions and orders.
About 30 members of the group were civil and courteous as they spoke with the congressman’s employees.
They described themselves as loosely organized. Some carried signs that read "Build Bridges Not Walls," "Just the Facts," and "Keep the ACA."
"I've sat on the sidelines long enough," said Donna Blaine, a Post Falls resident. "I have an opinion and must express that opinion. It's not the time to be passive."
Blaine went to Risch's office with her husband, James, to express concerns particularly about Trump’s cabinet appointments. Blaine said she's never actively engaged with politics like this, and her first step into the realm was attending the Woman's March in San Jose, Calif.
"I didn't vote for Trump, and I didn't really think I had much of a choice between either of the big candidates, I voted for the best of the worst," James added. "I have not been happy with anything he's done so far."
Members of the group questioned employees at Risch's office about a variety of topics, including Trump's executive order on immigration. They also asked how they could get Risch up to North Idaho for a town hall meeting.
Suzanne Marshall, of Coeur d'Alene, said the group is echoing actions being taken by concerned citizens around the country. Many are being encouraged, she said, to take action such as going to the offices of their elected representatives on Tuesdays.
"We feel like they should hear our voices, but that gets lost sometimes," Marshall said. "We've got to do something and this is what we're doing."
An employee at Risch's office told The Press there has been an upswing in contact from members of the public, both in person and through other mediums, since Trump's inauguration.