CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN'S STATEMENT ON TODAY'S PROTEST AT HIS KINGSTON DISTRICT OFFICE

Congressman Pat Ryan’s Statement on Today’s Protest at His Kingston District Office 

KINGSTON, NY  –  Congressman Pat Ryan released the following statement on today’s protest at his Kingston district office. A video of the crowd attempting to enter his office is linked here.

“Today a crowd attempted to forcibly enter our district office in Kingston, climbing the roof, interrupting work with constituents, and directly threatening my staff. 

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 had to literally throw their bodies in front of a door to keep the crowd from forcing it open. 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. 

Free speech is foundational to our democracy. It’s a core American freedom I risked my life to protect. But forcibly entering and vandalizing federal property is not free speech, and it gets us no closer to a lasting peace.

Since the horrific attacks of October 7th, I’ve been meeting regularly with individual constituents and groups to listen and understand their views on the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. Informed by these conversations, the official briefings I’m receiving, and my time on the ground in the region, I’ve outlined a detailed plan for a lasting peace. Having seen the horrors of war firsthand,  I am committed to doing everything I can to both stop the ongoing violence and ensure a durable peace.  

I’ve linked my peace plan here. Please take a look, and share your opinion. Call my office, we always pick up the phone. Send a letter and make your voice heard. My team and I will continue to listen and engage with empathy and humanity.” 

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