'Where is Rudy?' Constituents picket outside congressman's office over lack of public face time 

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Republicans across the country are seeing intense pressure from angry voters, demanding answers about the current overhaul of the federal government under President Trump’s second administration.

Friday, hundreds showed up for an organized rally outside Congressman Rudy Yakym’s Mishawaka office.

Protestors, chanting "Where is Rudy?" as they lined Grape Road holding picket signs, some reading, "Where is community Rudy" and "Where's my town hall Rudy?"

"Congress is in recess. We had asked for a town hall with representative Rudy Yakym and he has refused," said Carrie Bowie, protest organizer with Michiana Alliance for Democracy. "We have so many constituents that are concerned, that are frightened, that want to talk to him, and he has refused to talk to us."

"I am totally appalled by what our government is doing, and Mr. Yakym seems to think that his only constituents are Republicans. He's not taking into consideration that there's a heck of a lot of people in this country that are not Republicans," said another protestor, Coretta Vandriessche.

The outraged constituents organized the protest over what they say is Yakym’s refusal to hold a public town hall, or to meet with the public face-to-face at all.

Meanwhile, many of them filed into his office, one at a time, to leave feedback forms for the congressman. His staffers collected the comments to deliver to him.

Yakym stayed away from his Mishawaka office Friday, which had police stationed on-site.

"I think Rudy Yakym is a coward, he's afraid to stand up for what he believes in. And I'm not, and I stand up for what I believe in," said protestor Stephen Poyser, who is also a Vietnam veteran. "He's not doing anything to stand up against Donald Trump and his class of clowns, and he is going to be complicit in turning the United States into a place like Russia."

However, Yakym was in Michiana Friday. He stopped by Elkhart for a small business roundtable at Stephenson's and refused to make any comment for the news about the protest just minutes prior.

Instead, ABC57 received the following written statement from the congressman:

"Listening to Hoosiers, their thoughts, concerns, and ideas, is the most essential part of my job. That's why I prioritize traveling to all 11 counties each month, meeting with people where they live and work, engaging in meaningful and productive conversations, and bringing their voices back to Washington to better represent them. My team and I remain dedicated to serving every constituent in Indiana's Second District with respect and integrity. However, we will not allow our efforts to be derailed by individuals whose sole intention is to disrupt and create chaos."

"He's on the House Ways and Means Committee. His committee is over taxes, over tariffs, and over our social services. And he is letting Trump dismantle all of that," Bowie said. "He's not protecting Hoosiers. And we're frightened, and we're concerned."

Yakym wouldn't take questions Friday, but he did joke about the rally during his Elkhart roundtable, calling it a "block party."

Yakym is not the only representative getting this kind of heat from voters; it's widespread for many Republican lawmakers nationally. In fact, Republicans are being encouraged not to hold in-person town halls from party leaders, who are citing safety concerns.