Congressman Mike Lawler protested at Rockland County NY business lunch

NYACK – A business group’s luncheon chat with U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler took a temporary detour Thursday, March 20, when about a dozen protesters walked in, unfurled a banner and chanted “lawless Lawler.”

After the brief disruption, which included a scuffle involving a couple attendees and some protesters, the group walked out of the meeting room at Hotel Nyack.

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Republican Lawler and RBA President Ken Zebrowski, who had stood on the dais during the protest, obscured by the banner, restarted the event after the protesters left and the crowd of about 150 attendees returned to their seats.

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“If you think that was bad, you should see what happens when I return home after two weeks” in D.C., Lawler quipped.

“They’re upset because they didn’t win an election,” Lawler said. “I really don’t give a s–t,” he said, that people want to scream at him. Calling himself one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, Lawler said he prefers a robust debate rather than the stifling of debate. “They want absolutism.”

The protesters held a banner that read “Elon’s Puppet” and had “Climate Defiance” across the bottom.

The crowd at the RBA included elected officials and business and nonprofit leaders.

Some press for in-person town halls

The gathering came the day after Lawler held a “tele-town hall” that drew about 4,000. Only a few of about 11 questions that were asked tackled issues that have caused turbulence at other GOP town halls.

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Democratic groups and voters have pressed the second-term congressman to hold in-person town hall gatherings. Lawler has said they will be slated throughout the 17th District, which includes Rockland, Putnam and parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties, but dates and locations haven’t been set.