Protests forced cancellation of Rep. Casten's town hall

A town hall meeting with U.S. Representative Sean Casten in Downers Grove was cut short due to protests about the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Police intervened after tensions rose between supporters of both sides. During the meeting, which had around 200 attendees, a pro-Israel supporter confronted Casten while a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters also disputed his views. The protesters criticized U.S. military support for Israel amid its actions in Gaza. Casten asked them to respect other audience members who had come to discuss different issues. As the meeting progressed, interactions became heated. One protester accused Casten of being complicit in child deaths in Gaza. Casten suggested the protester should run for office, which led to further confrontations. Police were called in to maintain order and eventually decided to end the event for safety reasons. Afterward, Casten described the disruptions as "sad." He acknowledged that attendees had serious concerns but expressed disappointment that a small group chose to disrupt the conversation. He criticized some Republican colleagues for avoiding in-person town halls where people might disagree with them. Casten emphasized the importance of continuing to hold meetings that allow for civil discussion and debate.