Lawler town hall: one disenchanted evening

Emily Feiner being carried out of the town hall by security. JEFF MORRIS PHOTO

Rep. Mike Lawler and Assemblymember Matt Slater on stage before Town Hall was disrupted by protesters. JEFF MORRIS PHOTO

Rep. Lawler’s chaotic affair results in two attendees being removed by security

By JEFF MORRIS

A local town hall held by Rep. Mike Lawler on Sunday, May 4, devolved into near chaos as two attendees were carried out by police.

The expulsions were part of a loud and explosive atmosphere at the Lawler event, held at John F. Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School in Somers. The auditorium was packed with people who had been vetted to ensure they were residents of the 17th Congressional District, which Lawler, a Republican, has represented since 2023. He was reelected in November.

Preregistration was required to get in, and security was tight, as New York State Police, Somers town police, and private security guarded the entrances. Numerous police vehicles were stationed along Route 138, where the town had posted “no parking” signs on both the main road and side streets. Restrictions were placed on those who were planning to protest outside the event, with small contingents of demonstrators holding signs in the rain some distance from the site, along Route 138 at the entrance to the Goldens Bridge train station parking lot and in front of Somers town hall.

The lockdown was partly in reaction to what was said to be an even more boisterous session held April 27 in West Nyack, but even as Lawler was met with frequent boos and shouts at that event, there were no reports of anyone being physically removed by force, as happened in Somers. While the earlier town hall was held at Clarkstown South High School, a public school, Sunday’s event was characterized as a private event on private property, with the state police present under contract to the town.

The expulsions went on as Lawler was answering questions from those in the audience, who were picked at random from a bingo-type container holding slips of paper on which they had written their names. The selections were made by master of ceremonies Matt Slater of Yorktown, a fellow Republican who holds Lawler’s former 94th Assembly District seat.

In the lead-up to the town hall and in introductory remarks, emphasis was placed on ensuring it was an “open, respectful dialogue,” with attendees asked to “be respectful to one another, staff, and the congressman” and to “refrain from shouting, yelling, or standing during the event.” The invitation warned, “Disruption of the event or violation of the rules may result in removal by law enforcement or security.”

Nonetheless, Lawler’s remarks were frequently met with jeers, derisive laughter and shouts of “answer the question!” from those who expressed frustration with his responses. 

Such was the case with Emily Feiner, a retired social worker who asked what his “red line” was regarding what she saw as unconstitutional actions taken by President Trump. When she felt he had not provided a direct answer, she continued to demand to know what his “red line” would be. As was documented on multiple videos taken by both press and fellow attendees — who had been prohibited from making any recordings — she was then surrounded by security, told to leave, and carried out by police as she went limp and raised her hands in the “peace” or “victory” sign. As she was being ejected, many in the crowd chanted “let her stay!” and subsequently, “shame!” as she was carried out. 

Lawler’s reaction was to tell everyone to “behave” in order to have their questions answered.

Jennifer Cabrera, chair of the Westchester-Putnam Chapter of the New York Working Families Party and a friend of Feiner, pulled out her phone and recorded what was transpiring. She, too, was told she had to leave, and was carried out after also going limp. Both women were then told they had to leave the premises or be charged with trespassing on private property.

Afterward, Feiner compared what had happened to Germany in 1938, referring to the use of authoritarian tactics to “stifle dissent.”

Video of the incident went viral and circulated worldwide. Lawler responded with a statement characterizing Feiner as “a radical far-left activist, who was escorted out of my town hall last night by state police after repeatedly disrupting the event, disrespecting fellow attendees, abusing my staff, and ignoring orders by state police.” He took offense at her comparison with 1938 Germany, saying she had “compared her experience to the brutal murder of six million Jews in Nazi Germany,” though she contended she was referring only to the suppression of free speech. “With all due respect, that›s insane and offensive. She needs help,” said Lawler.

Several men were also seen being escorted from the auditorium after speaking and standing up in defiance of guidelines, though they left under their own power.

While all this was going on, Lawler continued to answer questions that were posed, the vast majority of which challenged him to take action against the Trump administration’s positions on tariffs, deportations, and defunding of government agencies. Though there was a contingent of supporters who asked less challenging questions and applauded his responses, they appeared to be greatly outnumbered by those who were overtly critical of both the White House and of Lawler’s insistence on continued civil dialogue and engagement with the Trump administration. 

The main takeaway from the town hall was that Lawler would continue to hold them, despite the Republican Party advising against it, as a way of reinforcing his claim to be someone who will work with those on both sides of the aisle.