U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman hosted a town hall meeting in Eureka on Saturday, March 30. A Democrat and U.S. House of Representatives member, Huffman represents California’s second congressional district, which includes Humboldt County and the rest of the California North Coast. Huffman’s platform includes environmental protection and opposition to President Donald Trump and his agenda.
Speaking to the crowded hall at Eureka’s Adorni Center, Huffman railed against Trump and his political alliance with tech mogul Elon Musk and tried to assure the crowd of constituents that he and the Democratic Party were taking necessary action to oppose the president’s agenda.
Standing in line for the event, I asked the woman next to me what question she would like to ask Huffman. “Why the hell are we letting that Nazi run our country?” she answered indignantly, referring to Musk, who has been labeled as such by many on the left. “We are heading toward a totalitarian country and a huge depression,” she added.
The sentiment reflected the general mood of the event. Many attendees shared similar concerns, which Huffman affirmed. He warned that Trump and Musk were releasing “economic chaos” and accused Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of being run by “unaccountable non-experts that are ransacking through our government.” Many Democrats have criticized DOGE’s layoffs of government employees as reckless.
Huffman touted his role as the ranking member (meaning the highest-ranking Democrat) of the House Committee on Natural Resources, which oversees legislation related to natural resources, environmental conservation, and Native American issues. He also championed recent victories for his agenda in his district, such as the removal of dams and restoration of the Klamath River, as well as funding for affordable housing, transportation, energy, and other environmental initiatives.
Protesters outside the event held banners criticizing Huffman’s support for Israel. “CONGRESSMAN HUFFMAN: STOP FUNDING WAR CRIMES,” one sign read. Huffman has voted for bills providing Israel with military aid in their war against Hamas. The war has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The large death toll and destruction of the war have inspired outrage from many, particularly on the left.
Attendees inside the event, among them McKinleyville High School teacher Alexandria Rumbel, also challenged Huffman’s support for Israel. Huffman expressed that he shared concerns about the war’s impact. “I’m horrified by the way this war has been carried out,” he said, but reiterated that he was supporting Israel’s defense against Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist groups. After repeated interrogations about the topic and a disruption from a protester shouting from the back of the room, he berated the pro-Palestine movement for “misplaced advocacy” and called campaigns against pro-Israel Democratic candidates a “dumb idea.”
Largely absent from the crowd were supporters of President Trump and younger people. “We don’t see enough people your age,” one attendee told me, adding that younger people should be more involved in politics because it will affect their lives more.
You can watch the full town hall via Access Humboldt on YouTube.
