A Republican lawmaker in New York is raising concerns over what he calls coordinated Democratic efforts to disrupt GOP events, after a protest at a business luncheon escalated into a physical altercation.
The incident occurred during a private gathering hosted by the Rockland Business Association on Thursday, where Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., was one of the featured speakers. Protesters, who had purchased tickets to attend, interrupted the event by shouting slogans and displaying a sign that labeled Lawler as “Elon’s Puppet.” Their demonstration was in response to Republican-led cost-cutting measures, including efforts tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Tensions quickly rose as attendees attempted to remove the demonstrators, leading to physical scuffles. Video footage obtained by Fox News Digital captured the moment protesters clashed with attendees who were trying to restore order.
Lawler’s team linked the disruption to recent remarks by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who stated that Democrats were actively mobilizing against Republican lawmakers in their districts.
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“We are sending people into Republican districts to challenge their policies and make them feel the consequences of their actions,” Schumer said in an interview with PBS. He added that continuous pressure could weaken Trump’s influence and voter support for GOP lawmakers.
Ciro Riccardi, Lawler’s communications director, condemned Schumer’s comments, suggesting they encouraged harassment of Republican officials.
“It’s disturbing that Senator Schumer appears to be fueling far-left activism that leads to intimidation,” Riccardi told Fox News Digital. “Just hours before this violent disruption, Schumer openly stated that Democrats were sending people into GOP districts to force Republicans to change their votes or ‘face consequences.’”
According to Riccardi, the protest included known activist Walter Masterson from Brooklyn, who has been involved in similar demonstrations in the past. “They physically confronted senior citizens while reading scripted remarks from their phones. Is this the kind of ‘consequence’ Schumer is promoting?” he added.
Lawler also took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Schumer of working with progressive groups to orchestrate protests, saying the Senate Majority Leader was “coordinating with far-left activists to gaslight people and manufacture outrage.”
The Rockland incident was not the only disruption targeting Republican lawmakers this week. Protesters also interrupted a town hall hosted by Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., heckling him for over an hour during the event.
Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer’s office for comment, but no response was provided at the time of publication.
