It’s Back!
Mike Ilitch, owner of
AUTOMOTIVE
Tigers, Red Wings, dies B1, B4 GREENVILLESEE • WAYLAND • ROCKFORD AD IN TRANSPORTATION
$2 .00
P OW ERI N G M LIV E .C O M
SU N DAY, F EB RUA RY 1 2 , 2 017
MLIVE SPECIAL REPORT
Was anyone listening?
MSU doctor’s alleged sexual assault victims talked for 20 years.
USA Gymnastics Team
Questions often were adversarial, but congressman says
Mark Tower mtower@mlive.com G R A N D R A P I D S — U. S. Rep. Just in
Michigan State University Sports-Medicine Clinic
Holt community, Nassar’s home
USAG
A tough crowd, but Amash will be back interaction is important.
MSU HOLT
7976511-02
at 87.
Amash held his second town hall meeting of the year Thursday night, and, as expected, it was crowded and often contentious. But at the end, the Cascade Township Republican thanked those who attended and promised to continue the face-to-face meetings, “I think it is critical that members of Congress hold in-person town halls like this,” Amash said. “There aren’t enough of people on either side of the aisle who do it. That’s a shame.” Here are a dozen takeaways from the event. LEFT OUT IN THE COLD … AGAIN
TWISTARS Twistars, gymnastics training facility
For two decades, Dr. Larry Nassar was a star in sports medicine and a sought-after physician. If there was a dark side to Nassar, almost nobody saw it. Now, dozens of women have filed criminal and civil complaints against him alleging sexual abuse that occurred over 20 years. Read our MLive special report, D1-5.
Fists pounded relentlessly at the locked glass doors while frustrated people looked in at police officers and school officials, who stood with arms crossed. Many wondered why — though they arrived 10 minutes early and had to park blocks away — they couldn’t get into the meeting. A similar situation happened at Amash’s town hall meeting on Jan. 17 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Scores were turned away at the door after that auditorium’s 252-person capacity was met. STANDING ROOM ONLY
Amash chose City High Middle School because the auditorium seats 595, more than double the capacity of the Ford Museum room. Yet a few dozen people were forced to stand against the back wall of the auditorium Thursday, and others couldn’t get in the building. “I think we’re going to have to get a bigger auditorium next time,” Amash said. “Van Andel Arena, maybe?” ORGANIZED RESISTANCE
Some in the crowd were part of an organized opposition to the new presidential administration. Christine Lewis, director of Michigan People’s Campaign in West Michigan, said bringing the fight to individual congressmen at constituent meetings is one strategy of the movement formed as a reaction to President Donald Trump’s election. SEE AMASH, A2
8043301-01
Advice, E5 Business, A9 Classified/Jobs, F1 Health, E4 Local, A3 Obituaries, C1 Perspective, D1 Real Estate, G1 Sports, B1 Travel, E6 Weather, C8 Copyright @2017 The Grand Rapids Press Feedback: Send your comments to comments@mlive.com
A14