Rep. Tim Walz kicks off the first of two "Congress on Your Corner" events in Minnesota on Friday as lawmakers respond to last Saturday's shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Walz is holding his event at Mocol's Super Market in Mankato from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. This evening, Rep. Keith Ellison will also hold a "Congress on Your Corner" event at a grocery store in Minneapolis.
Walz and Ellison are two of a handful of House members across the country planning similar events this weekend as a way to show support after Saturday's shooting rampage at a Tucson grocery store.
Both Minnesota Democrats coordinated with local law enforcement ahead of Friday's public appearances. In a tweet earlier this week, Ellison said there would be "plenty of security - uniformed and undercover."
Following Saturday's shooting, Walz received a visit at his home from local police officers, said spokeswoman Sara Severs. She said his office typically talks to local police ahead of public events in Minnesota, and Friday's is no different.
Walz, Ellison and others in the Minnesota congressional delegation have pledged they will not change the way they regularly interact with the public — a core congressional job function — because of the Arizona shooting.
