It was an education event, but much of the anger surrounded health care policy as protesters greeted House Speaker Paul Ryan in Harlem. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.
House Speaker Paul Ryan was greeted by jeers in Harlem as he visited the flagship of the Success Academy Charter School network.
Some protesters spent hours waiting to denounce the powerful Republican, five days after he pushed a controversial repeal of Obamacare through the House.
"Paul Ryan has devoted his entire political career to tearing down public government programs that people rely on like Obamacare," said one protester.
Ryan waved at the hostile crowd as he dipped into Success Academy 1 Charter School to meet students and former Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz, the charter's network's controversial founder. Moskowitz's profile has been elevated ever since she met with Donald Trump after his election, and Ivanka Trump subsequently toured Success Academy 1.
Many protesters made clear that they were as angry at Ryan's support of charters as his repeal of Obamacare..
"I feel very sad. This isn't a public school, it's a charter school, and we should all be supporting public education," said one protester.
A Ryan aide said he did greet the principal of PS 149, which shares space with Success Academy, and stopped by one of its classrooms before moving onto the charter.
In a statement, Ryan praised the quality of teacher training at Success and said, "These remarkable kids are getting an excellent education."
Much of Ryan's visit with cloaked in secrecy. There was no official announcement he would be there and no confirmation by Success Academy it occurred until afterward. Reporters were not allowed inside as he toured the school, nor did he stop to answer questions outside.
In contrast to the protesters, parents NY1 spoke with said they were glad the speaker visited their school.
"Our kids always need inspiration from those that are in office," said one parent.
"It was nice that he came, but I seen some of the things that people wrote on the sidewalk. People are mad, you know, with this health care thing," said another.