Hawley says ICE protestors prevented him from entering Capitol in Albany

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

ALBANY – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) issued the following statement after being blocked from entering the state Capitol today.

“I was physically prevented from entering the Capitol today by a group of ICE protesters this afternoon on my way to the Assembly Chamber. What I find most troubling—and frankly frustrating—is that when I asked the State Police for assistance, I was told they had been instructed to stand down and not intervene.

“I fully support our men and women in uniform and understand they are being given orders in this circumstance. But, orders to troopers to stand down and not assist a law-abiding lawmaker from entering the Capitol to attend session and represent the people who elected me are deeply concerning and difficult to understand. This incident raises serious questions about security protocols and the ability of lawmakers to safely and freely carry out their duties.

“No elected official should be denied access to the Capitol, the very place where we are elected to serve the people of New York. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right, but it cannot come at the expense of public safety or the functioning of government. I am calling for a full review of what occurred and immediate action to ensure this never happens again.”