A Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) luncheon on Tuesday was disrupted by demonstrators, including several who were arrested while protesting the Wisconsin congressman.
Both pro- and anti-Paul Ryan demonstrators gathered outside the Greenfield, Wis. banquet hall Ryan was visiting for a luncheon with the Whitnall Park Rotary Club, according to Patch reporters Denise Konkol and David Cotey.
Ryan attempted to make light of the situation at the start of the event, saying "apparently you Rotarians don't like free lunches either. ... Welcome to a 'new normal' in Wisconsin."
Several protestors who paid to attend the lunch attempted to drown out Ryan by standing and shouting questions during his remarks. One woman asked, "When are you going to create jobs, Congressman?" while another man criticized Ryan for avoiding the topic of unemployment, saying "We're three minutes in and we haven't heard the word 'jobs' yet."
According to Patch, about a dozen protesters were escorted out of the building, and another dozen left the speech willingly. Three were arrested and given municipal citations.
Police told Patch they warned protesters in advance that they could face arrest if they disrupted Ryan's speech.
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