“We are going to condemn violence on all sides of the equation,” Reed said. “I got an undertone of a message from folks here that somehow they can rationalize violence because they’re justifying it to stand up to what they believe is unjust or racist or extreme ‘right’ type of behavior.”

Reed repeatedly condemned racism in America. He also made it clear that he disagreed with Trump on how he handled recent racial tension and clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia. Community members praised Reed when he said these things, but thought he back tracked when pressed about how racism should be approached.

Despite the slightly heated exchanges between Reed and a few people in the audience, the meeting never got out of hand.

One of the major points on Reed’s original agenda was tax reform, something he feels will be a number one issue in the following months.

Reed interacts with Fredonia Central School seniors.

“I really do want to make sure we emphasize what’s going to be the top issue of the foreseeable future, and that’s tax reform,” Reed said. “We are rolling up our sleeves. Tax reform is going to happen … not only is it the right thing to do, it is going to unleash economic opportunity and jobs (in Chautauqua County).”

Reed and his fellow congressmen are in the early stages of his tax reform plan. While it was too early for Reed to pinpoint an exact issue that needs to be focused on, he did mention one facet that he is most excited about.

“To me the biggest goal is growth,” Reed said. “So, anything that can lead to direct and immediate investment and our job opportunities, our work force development and anything that is going to unleash that capital out there, to me, is a step in the right direction.”

One major proposal from their plan is immediate expensing. This means that individuals will, conceivably, have quicker and easier access to their invested money.

While Reed’s goal was to get feedback from the local community, many members of the community felt that he was too evasive when it came to more sensitive topics.

Two members in attendance who stuck around after the scheduled Town Hall Meeting were Wayne Jones and Susan Royal. The pair weren’t particularly pleased with how Reed handled some of the talking points.

“I would just say that he twists the words,” Royal said. “Somebody asked a question and he counters with some kind of ‘double speak’ and doesn’t really address the issue, especially on the racism.”

Many people who voiced their opinion during the Town Hall Meeting felt that the Republican Congressman should come out and voice his opinion louder when it comes to racism and when he disagrees with President Trump, so that the public knows where Reed stands.

“I think it was helpful in knowing full well where he stands as far as the Republican agenda,” Jones said. “It seems like there were very few people here in support of Tom Reed.”

Despite Jones’ assessment of who was in attendance, there were some in favor of what Reed had to say.

Other disputed talking points included the “border wall.” Reed expressed interest in protecting children impacted by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy under the Obama Administration, but that there would be a need for compromise from Democrats and Republicans. He said he’d be willing to work to help the illegal immigrants who were brought here as children. He also said that in that potential and hypothetical legislation that border security would also need to be addressed.

The discussion was, for the most part, open and a two-sided conversation, but things were most heated when talking about racism and the violence that comes with it. While Reed condemned racism over and over again, saying that racism has no place in America, he also said violence has no place.

“You cannot rationalize violence and to somehow give a message that some violence is okay because you disagree with that person or that person may the most appalling person when it comes to a racial belief that they might carry,” Reed added. “I’m just not going to be a proponent of that type of rhetoric and I was very concerned to hear that rhetoric coming from more than one individual.”