WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren OhioOhio Valley Tea Party stages protest at Congressman Wilson's office

Ohio Valley Tea Party stages protest at Congressman Wilson's office

CANFIELD, Ohio - While the Senate is preparing for tomorrow's controversial healthcare vote, local protesters are targeting a Congressman who already voted for the House version of health care reform.

21 News was the only Valley television station at Wednesday's rally at Charlie Wilson's office. About 25 people of all ages gathered at the Congressman's office in Canfield. There was a lot of yelling, but Congressman Wilson wasn't there to hear it because he was working out of another office.

The Ohio Valley Tea Party staged the protest at Wilson's office. Duke Bennett from the Ohio Valley Tea Party brought the Congressman an early Christmas present. He said, "By bringing this lump of coal, we're saying Charlie, this is your Christmas present from your constituents. You've been naughty. Naughty Congressmen get a lump of coal for Christmas."

Bennett said "It is unconstitutional. Never before in the history of America have you had to buy something from someone to be a citizen in good standing. That's ridiculous, that's just outrageous. If our representatives aren't going to listen to us then we're going to get rid of them. We're going to vote them out of office."

However, not everyone in the crowd agreed. Stephen Barton from Salem said, "They got four years. Let them have their four years. If they (the protesters) think they're going to overthrow this government they're going to have to come through me."

Congressman Wilson's office did not return our calls for comment.

The police were called, but nobody was arrested.

There was some charity that came out of the protest. Anyone in the crowd who wanted a lump of coal to give the Congressman had to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to local families in need.