Comment on Demonstrations press Cruz to listen to constituents

More than 200 people with posters, placards and bullhorns gathered outside Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's downtown office Tuesday afternoon to urge him to meet with constituents who don't agree with him, his policies or his president. Rev. James Caldwell, director and founder of Houston's Coalition of Community Organizations, told demonstrators they have a right to speak to their elected representatives in person. Cruz did not attend the town hall meeting later Tuesday, but just minutes after the hourlong afternoon demonstration he met with some members of the crowd upstairs in a conference room, according to Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier. A planned press availability Tuesday afternoon with Cruz in the Texas Medical Center was canceled after an active shooter scare at Ben Taub Hospital. Jan Kaufman, a retired designer who lives in west Houston, started a grass-roots neighborhood organization called "Voters Taking Action" a few months ago after experiencing sleeplessness because of the presidential election results. The "town hall" meeting Tuesday evening was attended by about 100 people, and included greetings from U.S.