U.S. Congressman Markwayne Mullin’s Oklahoma town hall tour has been marked with protests, a cancellation and viral videos, one of which shows him telling constituents that the idea that they pay his salary is “bullcrap.”

The Republican announced a series of 26 town halls — one for each county he represents — in mid-March saying, via press release, that “Each year, I look forward to holding town halls and meeting with people in Oklahoma so that I can take their concerns back to Washington and work on behalf of my constituents.”

The events, like other congressional town halls across the country, have attracted constituents with strong opinions, including activists who rallied outside Mullin’s appearance in Pryor, Oklahoma. 

Inside the same Pryor town hall, Mullin and his staff got into a disagreement with a constituent who, after waving red or green paper to make her opinions on Mullin’s comments known, was confronted by police until Mullin stopped them, saying ”We’re going to play right into their hands.” Video of the event subsequently went viral and has been viewed more than three million times.  

At a meeting on April 10, in Jay, Oklahoma, the congressman said to the crowd: “You say you pay for me to do this? That’s bullcrap. I pay for myself. I paid enough taxes before I got here and continue to through my company to pay my own salary. This is a service. No one here pays me to go.”

A spokesperson for Mullin later told the Tulsa World that he was referring to the federal taxes he has paid as a business owner. 

Two days later, residents of Cherokee County left the Sequoyah High School gymnasium, run by the Cherokee Nation, in disappointment after Mullin abruptly scrubbed his scheduled appearance.

On his Twitter account, Mullin wrote, “Due to safety concerns, tonight’s town hall meeting at Sequoyah HS, has been cancelled. We will reschedule for another for Cherokee Co.”

“We’re very disappointed, and none of us are really sure what happened,” said Pamela Coonce, president of the Cherokee County Republican Women. “I want to remind the people here that 61.8 percent of Cherokee County voted for Markwayne Mullin. None of us know the reason [for the cancellation], or have any information. But I would like to mention that there is a minority that is disrupting what we come to hear: the information. It is disconcerting that a vocal group is depriving us of that opportunity.”

A number of “boos” cascaded onto Mullin’s chief of staff, Michael Stopp, as he announced around 5:15 p.m. the cancellation of the 5:30 town hall. Stopp cited “unforeseen circumstances,” and also said the town hall would be rescheduled.

“Due to safety concerns, tonight’s town hall in Tahlequah was cancelled,” Mullin said in a statement to a Tulsa TV station. “Over the past few weeks, we have seen an escalation of protestors at congressional town halls across the nation. We have even seen them right here in the Second District. I have continued to hold town halls and answer questions from constituents across the district, including those who have been vocal in their disapproval of my positions.”

He later posted a similar message on his Facebook page. Responses to that post amassed quickly, several from people who showed for the town hall, and many skeptical of safety risks and suggesting the congressman skipped to avoid questions from constituents.

Neither Stopp nor the Cherokee Marshals told the crowd about any safety concerns when the meeting was cancelled.