KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Dan Byron, organizer of the4 Lycoming County Young Democrats, right, reads a laundry list wbhat he says are U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser's offenses, during a multi-county "Monday with(out) Meuser protest at the Lycoming County Courthouse on Monday.

Young Democrats of Lycoming County organized a peaceful protest outside of the Lycoming County Courthouse Monday afternoon accusing a Republican federal lawmaker of failing to show up in Williamsport and answer questions from his constituents and more.

“This event is a district-wide event,” said Daniel Byron, representing the Young Democrats of Lycoming County, of the protests patterned after one throughout the state called “Mondays without Meuser.” The anger was displayed against U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas.

“It is very rare that he actually holds a town hall and hears from his constituents,” Byron said at the protest with individuals represented from this county and Sullivan County.

Each county is organized by individual organizations.

“We are kind of like a coalition,” Byron said. Signs were held in support for Rachel Wallace, the Democrat candidate trying to unseat Meuser, who has been in Congress for seven years, having been sworn in on Jan. 3, 2019.

Others were supportive of Wallace and expressed their displeasure with Meuser and votes he has taken.

Mainly, the protesters held up signs on the sidewalk along West Third Street as vehicles drove by and used their voices as is their Constitutional right.

“We are just demanding that he hold public town halls for his constituents, and he actually hears us out and listens to us, which is something we are not really getting a lot of from today’s leadership,” Byron said.

Asked if he thought this was a Lycoming County-Williamsport issue and whether Meuser has been more visible in his home town area closer to Scranton, Byron replied: “I know his home area just happens to be on the other end of the district, and it is just there on the border of the district,” he said. “He spends a lot of time in Scranton, which is not part of the district, where his family business is actually headquartered,” he said. “We don’t see a lot of him in our actual district.”

In Lebanon, which has a group “Mondays Without Meuser,” which this protest is spirited after, according to Byron, that group has been standing outside of the county courthouse in Lebanon for about 75 weeks.

“They have yet to have Meuser hold any type of event, any type of public meeting with constituents down there in Lebanon as well,” he said.

“He has held private meetings, events where a sign in is required, or a charity or fundraising event – where you have to pay to get in but nothing where constituents can show up and ask questions, express their frustrations, or things they are worried about in the community,” he said.

Byron read a list of accusations the Young Democrats of Lycoming County believed Meuser must answer to.

Byron said he believes there is a renewed sense of energy in the party, especially with young people and younger registered voters who are finding their voice. Even for those who do not or can’t attend a protest, these Democrats can learn and inform their friends and colleagues about what the party platforms are and what the candidates stand for, and the opportunity to make changes in this midterm election in November.

He said there are efforts to get young people involved by running for school board, council, commissioner and other public offices.

The Young Democrats of Lycoming County anticipates holding an election of its officers on June 20.