Kansas Residents Push Back Against Marshall’s Claim

By Scout Nelson

A town hall meeting in Oakley, Kansas, last week sparked controversy after Republican U.S. Senator Roger Marshall claimed that attendees were paid to disrupt the event. The meeting quickly became heated, with audience members shouting and booing Marshall. Many residents expressed concerns about recent funding cuts to agriculture programs and the mass layoffs of federal workers. Despite the claims made by Marshall, those who attended the meeting described themselves as concerned Kansans trying to speak directly with their elected representative.

The meeting drew national attention when former President Donald Trump posted on social media, accusing the attendees of being “paid troublemakers.” "I don't have firsthand evidence," said Marshall. "But that was the rumor there. The townspeople, that's what they had told me, that those people there were whispering, 'How much did you get paid to do this and who paid for your gas?' Some of those types of things." However, Marshall later retracted these claims during a radio interview, admitting that he had no direct evidence but was merely repeating rumors he had heard from locals.

“None of them made me feel like I wasn't supposed to be there,” said Anne Parelkar, a registered Republican. “But Roger Marshall represents me and everybody else in that room, just as much as he represents those people from Oakley.” Other attendees included Kristi Khan, a mother from Colby, whose son, a transgender youth, tragically died by suicide. Khan attended the meeting to discuss transgender issues but was disappointed by Marshall’s lack of engagement on the topic.

Farmers from western Kansas also attended, voicing concerns about the delayed payments for federal contracts, which were affected by funding freezes and other policies under the previous administration. Some farmers also expressed anxiety about potential tariffs on agricultural equipment, particularly from Canada, a key trading partner.

“If they were going to have a paid actor, they would pick somebody a hell of a lot better looking than I am,” said Chuck Nunn, one of the final speakers.

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