Or was it just a major misunderstanding?

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy and (the close up ones) Courtesy of Tom Vaughan of FeVa Fotos

More than 100 protesters, many with posters, showed up in front of Western New Mexico University Watts Hall this afternoon because a call to action to be at Watts Hall between 12:30 and 1:20 p.m. had been sent out by unknown senders, but might have included the Grant County Democratic Party, as it was on the list of organizing groups in the email.

Several that this reporter talked to had understood that Rep. Steve Pearce was going to hold a town hall at that location. And, although they didn't specifically say so, with their signs, had definitely planned a protest, and perhaps a disruption similar in scale and intent to those in other places throughout the country, as has been reported on national news.

One sign this author spotted said: Where is Pearce?

Congressman Pearce is in Washington, D.C., doing the job he was elected to do. Tonight he will likely attend the joint session of Congress where President Donald J. Trump will speak.

Another sign said: Hate has no home here. This author sincerely hopes that is fully true.

The fact of this whole matter is that, once a month, a representative out of Pearce's Las Cruces constituent office travels to Silver City, usually on a Tuesday afternoon and holds office hours nearly always between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. He comes to offer an opportunity for people to ask questions, to ask for help in addressing a federal issue or just to visit.

Often he's lonely in the office at the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce, but today he had more "constituents" than usual.

Individuals, who had known about the opportunity, had made appointments, which the representative, who often is and in this case was Joe Martinez, was happy to fulfill.

Martinez told the Beat that he cannot really answer questions, but takes the complaints, issues and other matters and forwards them to the Congressman's Washington D.C. office to determine the answers and solutions.

Those without appointments were allowed in during the time slots not filled, but because it is a small office, only three at a time could fit and for a limit of 10 minutes, so others would have a chance.

This author did not stick around long enough to see how many people got in to speak to Martinez.

Members of the Silver City Police Department, at the request of a nearby private property owner, asked that the protesters not protest from the property's parking lot. Also people were asked not to stand on the sidewalks or steps, which might block passage, as well as entry and exit into and from Watts Hall.

The protesters complied with the request without incident.

At the same time that all of this was going on, several folks were holding inside Watts Hall free tax help sessions  with those needing help with preparation of their taxes.