During a weekend fundraiser hosted by Paul Ryan in Key Biscayne, two activists were kicked out for confronting the House Speaker about gun reform.
According to the Miami Herald, “Maria Thorne, a Key Biscayne activist, said she noticed motorcade traffic clogging up her commute home from her job as a fifth-grade teacher at iPrep Academy. where she spent the day reassuring scared students that she could keep them safe from a shooter.”
Thorne found out the motorcade belonged to Ryan and decided to attend the event with a friend.
According to the report, Thorne found Ryan in the middle of the room and introduced herself as a teacher and Key Biscayne. “I shook his hand and everything,” she said
“Nice,” Ryan replied.
“Nice?” Thorne said. “You’re here celebrating the death of 17 children.”
Ryan tried dodging Thorne by saying he “didn’t want to talk politics” or argue.
The fifth-grade teacher kept on confronting the Republican congressman and was eventually escorted out by security. On her way out she shouted: “No more guns!”
Thorne spoke to the Herald about the incident.
“I’m tired. Nobody listens,” Thorne told the Herald. “Everybody tries to twist it around. I’m a registered Democrat, but right now I just don’t want anybody that’s been fed by the NRA, otherwise, this is never going to stop.”
PerSisters, an activist group, posted a video and photos of the event on Twitter to blast Ryan for having a party just 48 hours after the tragic shooting took place.
This is @SpeakerRyan's version of Thoughts and Prayers. Odd, it looks like a donor event in the tropics. #Parkland #GunReformNow #Resist pic.twitter.com/JTQtRiNMMl
— PerSisters (@PERSlSTERS) February 17, 2018
Sorry we crashed your donor party, @SpeakerRyan, but seriously.. A PARTY 48 hours after the #Parkland massacre?
As the teacher you're talking to in this photo said before your security guys had her and the scary pediatrician lady tossed, "No More Guns!!"#GunReformNow #Resist pic.twitter.com/6kmYjkDOkq
— PerSisters (@PERSlSTERS) February 17, 2018
