Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that protesters supporting a ceasefire in the Palestine-Israel conflict disrupted a swearing-in ceremony of elected town officials that was officiated by Rep. Pat Ryan on Jan. 2 in Ulster County. A statement from the protesters demanded Ryan “immediately and unconditionally support a permanent ceasefire and end military aid to Israel.” About a dozen protesters interrupted the event, holding a banner reading “Permanent Ceasefire” and chanting, “Ryan Ryan, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,” “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes,” and “No justice, no votes.” Audience members there for the swearing-in ceremony yelled back at the protesters to sit down and shut up. Gardiner resident Linda Geary said that the protest was “embarrassing and rude and I think they didn’t make any points to Pat Ryan that he hasn’t already heard.” Many local citizens have been exercising their right to protest Ryan recently, with several rallies outside his local offices. Ryan did not release a statement after the protest, but has repeatedly come out against a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.