RBA Event Honoring Congressman Lawler Disrupted By Protestors

By Idy Perl

A private event honoring Congressman Mike Lawler was interrupted by protestors demonstrating against recent DOGE cuts. 

The luncheon event, hosted by the Rockland Business Association (RBA) last Thursday, was held at Hotel Nyack and brought together various local officials, including Rockland County Executive Ed Day and several Town supervisors, with local business owners and RBA executives. The event provided an opportunity for business owners to meet with Lawler and discuss concerns and questions about the local economy. 

The event was abruptly disrupted when 10-15 protestors entered the ballroom when Lawler was speaking and starting chanting while holding large signs criticizing Lawler. Things quickly took a turn when the protestors and officials clashed and the situation escalated to a physical confrontation, causing several people to fall to the ground. 

Police were called to the scene and peacefully escorted the protestors out of the hotel. Attendees at the event expressed regret at how the situation went down, but asserted that interrupting a private event isn't the way to initiate meaningful conversation. 

"Far-left activists are resorting to violence to intimidate Republican members of Congress, exemplified by last week's disruption of a bipartisan Rockland Business Association luncheon," a spokesperson for Lawler tells Rockland Daily. "This is their tactic to silence opposition.”