As members of Congress retreated to their home states and districts during the 2009 August recess, the growing Tea Party movement and anger over the pending health care reform bill led protesters across the country to confront their elected representatives at town hall meetings.
Demonstrations at some of these gatherings led to fistfights, arrests and even hospitalizations. News networks and protesters with camcorders and cell phones captured the often unruly gatherings as disgruntled citizens took the opportunity to execute — often loudly — their right to free speech. [cont.]
Martha Shanahan, NPR