'What's bird-dogging?': A look at the protests and protesters at town hall events

William A. | 9:01 PM on February 24, 2017

Writer Jon Schuppe covers some of the tactics of the left at town halls in this NBC article:

What's bird-dogging? Town hall protesters are giving a lesson https://t.co/kIkh4k2Ad8 via @nbcnews

— Jon Schuppe (@jonschuppe) February 22, 2017

Quote:

Bird-dogging,” Espey told them, “means you get to speak out and fight back with other like-minded folks. It’s liberating. And actually, in fact, when you bird-dog you may be called a heckler. And that’s OK.”

His tips: prepare pointed questions, bring several people, spread out in the audience, ask the questions repeatedly, create tension, attract attention, take video, and talk to the media.

Here are some more tweets showing some of the people and efforts behind these protests:

Story does not say protesters at events are "professional" but many are there as a result of organized planning led by activist groups. https://t.co/GHtp3l13ge

— Jon Schuppe (@jonschuppe) February 23, 2017

Here is one in Texas:

#NEW Bobby Copeland among N. #Texans who've organized grassroots Democratic groups. Theirs: @DFWIndivisible @CBSDFW https://t.co/kfxAbMGZ0R pic.twitter.com/lvAMLi9uPN

— Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) February 25, 2017

https://twitter.com/bobby_copeland/status/834891023201484800

We are #Indivisible. pic.twitter.com/njSx4ycq2m

— Impeach the MF (@DFWIndivisible) February 23, 2017

Here is Tomas Kennedy an SEIU member:

We finally caught up with Senator Marco Rubio at @FIU. He told us that he won't host a townhall because people act "rude and stupid." pic.twitter.com/DrefDkvrFD

— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) February 23, 2017

Sen @marcorubio did not show up to a constituent town-hall after being spotted at Jackson Memorial Hospital & @FIU today #EmptyChairTownHall pic.twitter.com/9r6bSYqhGU

— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) February 24, 2017