U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures addressed the packed Alabama State University Dunn-Oliver Acadome Banquet Room Thursday, March 6, where constituents gathered to hear updates from Washington and voice concerns about proposed federal cuts and the future of education, jobs and civil rights protections.
The town hall offered an open forum for residents across Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Figures, a first-term congressman, fielded questions for more than two hours, tackling topics ranging from executive overreach to education funding disparities and potential threats to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts at universities.
“We are talking about real people, people with mortgages, car notes, student loans and families, not just data points on a spreadsheet,” Figures said. “It is not just bad policy. It is immoral.”
Figures criticized what he called “indecent and inhumane” job terminations occurring across the federal government, citing recent examples of employees receiving layoff notices via email with no warning. He warned that budget decisions being made in Washington could have a devastating impact on everyday Americans, particularly in rural communities across Alabama.
One such attendee, Laquann Wilson, a graduating political science major and English writing minor, said he appreciated the congressman’s detailed responses.
“What I really liked is how the congressman was able to answer every question with facts and details,” Wilson said. “He was honest. Whether people liked the answer or not, he explained it clearly. That is what leadership looks like.”
Tyrin Moorer, a senior finance major, student government association senator and president of the university’s NAACP chapter, echoed that sentiment but criticized the direction of the conversation during the question and answer session.
“The spirit tonight in this room was quite high, but I am quite perturbed that certain members were focused more on the censoring of Al Green instead of what is going on here at home in District 2,” Moorer said. “People should remember they did not show up in November the way they should have. They did not take people to the polls. Now they want to get on social media and complain. As I always say, get off the phone and get in the field.”
Audience members expressed concern over the administration’s freezing of 1890 land-grant scholarships, which largely impacted historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), while funding for 1862 land-grant institutions such as Auburn University remained unaffected.
Figures also pointed to the potential sale of the Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, calling it “a building of historical significance not just to Black people, not just to Montgomery, but to who America is today.”
In response to criticism that Democrats have not done enough to push back, Figures urged unity and voter mobilization.
“We do not have the ball right now, we are playing defense,” he said. “But the one thing we can control is the vote. If we want to change what is happening in Washington, we have to turn out.”
Some attendees voiced concern over specific legislative decisions, including Figures’ vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act, which has drawn scrutiny for perceived expansions of immigration enforcement.
Kimberly Hartfield, a political strategist for the New Order Human Rights Organization, said she was not satisfied with the congressman’s explanation.
“He said it was a messaging bill and that it gave the federal government no more power than they already had, which it does,” Hartfield said. “I understand the concept of going along to get along, but my message to our congressman is to not sacrifice the people in order to get along with them.”
Still, others left the event with a renewed sense of engagement. Wilson said issues such as DEI rollbacks and widespread job losses must remain central in public discourse.
“People getting $5,000 sounds great,” Wilson said, referring to a proposed one-time dividend, “but at what cost? That is what has to be emphasized more in the media.”
Figures closed the evening by reaffirming his commitment to fighting for the people of District 2, even amid national challenges.
“I do not care if I never make CNN,” he said. “I care about keeping hospitals open, getting ambulances where they are needed, and making sure our kids can go to school with the resources they deserve.”