WATCH: Eau Claire leaders push back against Van Orden’s ‘unconstitutional’ funding threat

“Unconstitutional.”

That’s what Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge is calling US Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s new bill to withhold federal funding from both Eau Claire and Ellsworth over comments made by two city council members in Eau Claire and a teacher in Ellsworth following the shooting of activist Charlie Kirk.

This week, Van Orden introduced legislation that “prohibits federal funding for entities that employ individuals who condone and celebrate political violence and domestic terrorism.”

Rally-goers in Eau Claire stood up for free speech.

“We are here today because Congressman Derrick Van Orden has threatened to punish the entire City of Eau Claire for the comments of two individuals.,” Chippewa Valley Indivisible’s Cyndi Greening said. “This is an attack on free speech—plain and simple.

“By threatening our federal funding, Rep. Van Orden is not punishing a few individuals, he is punishing working families, seniors, and children. He is removing our healthcare, public safety, and schools.”

🎥: Chippewa Valley Indivisible