KINGSTON – Congressman Pat Ryan’s (D, NY-18) Kingston office came under attack by protesters on Friday, inflicting terror on the three staff members who were inside the office. In December, his Newburgh office was vandalized by protesters who demanded the military veteran push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Pro-Palestine supporters have picketed near his district offices in Newburgh and Kingston. Friday’s efforts by protesters included direct threats to the three staff members in the building.
“Today a crowd attempted to forcibly enter our district office in Kingston, climbing on the roof, interrupting work with constituents, and directly threatening my staff,” said Rep. Ryan. “Three members of our constituent services team – whose primary job is to help seniors with Social Security, assist veterans with health benefits, etc – were at the office. Two of them literally had to throw their bodies in front of a door to keep the crowd from forcing it open,” Ryan explained. “I know and work closely with these dedicated public servants, who just want to show up every day to help people in our community. The fact that they had to experience this today and fear for their safety is deeply upsetting and totally unacceptable.”
Daniel Atonna, the political action director of the activist group “For The Many”, based in Poughkeepsie, was one of the protesters and he posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. He says Ryan is lying about the forced entry, claiming that the protest was peaceful. The video, which does not show his colleagues pushing through the door, can be viewed here.
The video received from the Congressman’s office, showing the attempted forcible entry, can be viewed here.
An employee of another business in the building contacted police twice before they arrived, a Ryan staffer told Mid-Hudson News. When the police arrived, a protester came into the building and yelled up to the others on the third floor that police were on the scene. When that notification was made, the protesters left the building. It is unknown if any of the protesters were questioned by law enforcement.
The peace plan that Rep. Ryan has released includes seven points he says predicate a permanent and mutual peace. Ryan says all hostages must be returned, that perpetrators of rape and sexual violence must be brought to justice, and Hamas must surrender. He also called for a new Palestinian government in Gaza committed to the well-being of the Palestinian people, and recognition by Israel of the new government so that a long-term peaceful two-state solution could be achieved. Ryan also called for an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
