Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) was met with a wall of boos and loud protests on Monday, forcing her off stage during a public event in Plattsburgh, New York.
The event was meant to honor John Zurlo, a longtime public servant. But the moment Stefanik was introduced, the crowd turned hostile.
“You’re a Nazi!” one protester shouted.
“Go home!” another screamed, as the audience erupted with chants of “Shame!” and nonstop booing.
Signs in the crowd read: “ELISE JUST GO AWAY” and “STEFANIK IS A BULLY.” Many protesters refused to stay silent, drowning out speakers and making it impossible for Stefanik to continue. She stepped away from the podium without delivering her full remarks.
According to NBC-5 reporter Sophia Falbo, “Protesters made up more than half of the crowd, many of them holding signs and booing Congresswoman Stefanik.” Falbo added that calls for Stefanik to “hold a town hall” echoed through the crowd, even as other speakers tried to continue the ceremony.
The protest was organized in part by local activist groups, including one called Show Up.
After the event, Stefanik told reporters: “Today’s event was about honoring John Zurlo. It is a disgusting disgrace that this is what the far-left does rather than understanding that his family has been through a tremendous amount. It was about honoring his legacy.”
On social media, Stefanik doubled down, writing:
“Today #NY21 witnessed shameful conduct by radical Far Left Democrat agitators who disgracefully attempted to drown out and silence a non-political event in Plattsburgh to honor the lifelong service of John Zurlo in Clinton County as the building was named in his honor.”
She added, “I was proud to deliver my remarks and privately give them to one of John’s sons along with the Congressional Record presented to the Zurlo family previously.”
Watch the report below from Local 22 News.
