Police out in force to separate hundreds of pro and anti bill protesters, protect Lopez. Satmar and Catholic Church Send Busloads Of Protesters To Support Lopez And Attack The Child Victims Act
Top two pictures: Rabbi David Neiderrman of Satmar.
Priest supporting Lopez.
Priest with Lopez.
Catholic survivor's car in from of Lopez's office.
Catholic and Jewish child sexual abuse survivors.
All photos: The Munkatcher Maven.
The story should be in NYC papers tomorrow and on TV news tonight.
There were 200 or so pro-Lopez demonstrators. Both Satmar and the Catholic Church bused in people to support Lopez and protest against the Child Victims Act.
Lopez walked toward the demo with Satmar's Rabbi David Neiderman.
I'm told Lopez's chief of staff made a speech claiming the Child Victims Act (the Markey Bill) created two classes of victims – public school students and religious school students.
But this claim is false. The bill was amended weeks ago to include all students from public, private or religious schools. (And public school students currently have other protections religious school students still do not have.)
This speaks volumes about Lopez and his supporters in Satmar and the Church.
Even though the Church and Satmar outnumbered Catholic survivors and Jewish survivors, Lopez was clearly shaken by what happened.
This may be the biggest protest directed at a NY State Assemblyperson in years.