Immigration reform activists made their presence felt in Connecticut on Sunday afternoon, interrupting a speech made by President Obama no less than five times. Small groups, composed primarily of young adults, heckled the president during his speech, demanding that he puts an end to the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Obama’s response to the interruptions remained the same as before, pointing out that the immigration advocates are heckling the wrong person. “I gave you relief administratively, and we’re going to work on the next one,” he says. “So I support you. I’m with you. I’m with you. I’m with you. And you need to go protest the Republicans. Because I’m not the one blocking it.” Obama first became the target of protesters in San Francisco one year ago, which drew national attention. Since then such interruptions have become increasingly common, with other Democrats also targeted. Last Thursday the first lady, Michelle Obama, was greeted with heckling in Connecticut, the same day on which Hillary Clinton was interrupted several times while making a speech in Maryland. Protesters also forced Senator Kay Hagan to end a speech early last week.
The activists are furious with the president for delaying his plans to take action on immigration reform via executive action, but many Democrats believe that their actions are misguided. “It’s a little disturbing now days before the election to see so much focus on Democrats when it’s still absolutely clear that the Republicans are the enemy,” says the former communications director for Senate majority leader Harry Reid, Jim Manley.