Hudson Valley, NY – State Assemblymember Dana Levenberg, State Assemblymember Patrick J. Carroll, Westchester County Legislator Emiljana Ulaj, Ossining Town Supervisor Elizabeth Feldman, Village of Ossining Mayor Rika Levin, Village of Nyack Mayor Joe Rand, Village of Ossining Deputy Mayor Omar Lopez and Village of Nyack Deputy Mayor Pascale Jean-Gilles released the following joint statement today: 

“We represent communities in New York’s 17th Congressional District. We are hearing from constituents who are outraged by the forcible removal of two women we represent from Congressman Mike Lawler’s town hall in Somers this past Sunday. After reviewing video footage and news coverage of the event, we share their concerns.

One of our constituents was removed from the event for recording a state police encounter with another constituent, whose conduct at the event did not appear to be out of keeping with the general tenor of the meeting. The right to record police encounters is well-established, and it is troubling that she was removed from the meeting for exercising this right. The overall optics of this event - with police forcibly removing women from the premises while permitting men behaving similarly to stay - are disturbing. Many people are asking questions about the role state police played in Sunday’s event; we have reached out for more information about this and look forward to a timely and complete response to these questions.

Congressman Lawler’s subsequent statements about the town hall are also troubling. As elected officials, it is inevitable that some of the people we represent will disagree with us at some point in time. However, we would never think it justified to release a public statement directing scorn and ridicule at a specific individual we represent for their political views, or to impugn their mental state. If someone’s actions warrant a police response, the public record can speak for itself. It is completely inappropriate for someone with as much power and influence as Congressman Lawler to publish these kinds of comments about an individual he is supposed to be serving, and we are surprised that he did not deem it beneath the dignity of his office to do so. 

Our nation is in turmoil as a result of our president’s daily attacks on our economy and the rule of law. Many of our constituents want to know if and when their Congress will start acting like a co-equal branch of government and use its authority to restore stability. Congressman Lawler should think about how he can answer that question, instead of attempting to deflect attention away from himself and onto the people he has been elected to represent.”