More than 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Success Academy 1 charter school in Harlem, N.Y., to protest House Speaker Paul Ryan. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc) visited a Harlem charter school Tuesday, May 9, only to be met with shouts of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” from protesters stationed outside.
Ryan was greeted with loud chants as he arrived at the Success Academy 1 charter school, which is part of the larger charter network run by Eva Moskowitz, the former New York City councilwoman who was touted as possible pick for education secretary for President Donald Trump.
The hour-long visit, which fell on National Teachers Day, also featured a meeting with special-needs students at neighboring school P.S. 149, according to Newsday. Mindy Rosier, a special-education teacher at the school, said Ryan spoke with autistic children in the class.
“The class they went into is an extremely friendly class,” Rosier said.
The crowd outside the building wasn’t as friendly, however.
More than 100 protesters rallied across the street Tuesday, waving hand-made signs and chanting, “Health care for all! Not just for Paul!” Some demonstrators beat on drums while others asked the speaker, “Health care is a human right! How can you sleep at night?”
Paul Ryan just entered the Harlem Success Academy. Crowd chanting "shame". pic.twitter.com/HlSHQ3gAaZ
— Kelly Weill (@KELLYWEILL) May 9, 2017
Here's the scene @SpeakerRyan's about to encounter as he visits a charter school in Harlem. pic.twitter.com/zchc2NhGBT
— Vocativ (@vocativ) May 9, 2017
.@SpeakerRyan ends his visit in Harlem to a chorus of boos. pic.twitter.com/6ic2icAzsB
— Vocativ (@vocativ) May 9, 2017
The heated protest comes just days after the House narrowly passed the GOP health care bill that will repeal and replace Obamacare. The legislation is now headed to the Senate where it faces tough opposition from both Democrats and Republicans.
Upper West Side resident Margot Becker told Newsday she wanted to make it clear that Ryan nor the Trump agenda were welcome in New York City.
“We do not want Paul Ryan in our city visiting a school on Malcolm X Boulevard, a school with mostly minority children, to have a photo op,” Becker said.
Despite the tense experience, Ryan issued a cheery statement after his visit, describing it as “special.”
“These remarkable kids are getting a great education,” the House speaker said. “That’s what matters — giving every kid a fair shot at the American dream.”
