PLATTSBURGH — The renaming of the Clinton County Government Center in honor of late longtime clerk John Zurlo was overshadowed by dozens of protestors who came out to jeer Congresswoman Elise Stefanik at the ceremony Monday.
With Stefanik in attendance, local officials who came to speak in honor of Zurlo, who was the county clerk for 34 years until his passing in December of 2024 at 86 years old, were routinely interrupted by protestors.
During a prayer by Clinton County Coroner Chad Deans for Zurlo, one protester screamed out “hypocrite” twice in Stefanik’s direction.
Zurlo’s wife Mary, sons John and Michael, and his grandchildren were all in attendance.
The protest was originally set to take place between 9 and 10 a.m., concluding as the ceremony began. However, screams and namecalling toward Stefanik continued throughout the duration of the dedication for Zurlo.
When Stefanik went to the podium to speak, the rhetoric and boos intensified and drowned the congresswoman’s voice out.
“Stop supporting genocide,” one protestor screamed at Stefanik.
“Traitor,” another shouted.
“You’re a Nazi,” someone else yelled.
Stefanik tried to shush the crowd, which only escalated the booing. When it became obvious the protestors would not stop, Stefanik returned to stand next to the officials off to the side.
The screams did not die down until Assemblyman Billy Jones, D-Chateaugay Lake, rose to speak. Even then, mumbles and shouts continued.
But, adamant to honor Zurlo, Stefanik returned to the podium moments later to booing once again. This time, she finished her speech.
“There is no more deserving to have their name on this building than John Zurlo,” Stefanik said as the boos rained down. “He optimized what it meant to be a public servant, he impacted and touched countless individuals, families and community organizations and as county clerk, John continued that tremendous legacy of service …
“Today’s support shows just how significant that legacy is to the North Country,” she continued over the protestors.
Henry, who returned to the podium after Stefanik was done to introduce city of Plattsburgh Mayor Wendell Hughes, acknowledged the protestors and told them to quiet down.
“You’ve accomplished one thing, you have brought a widow and her family to tears. You should be ashamed,” Henry told them.
“She shouldn’t be here,” someone yelled.
Hughes, a Democrat, attempted to quiet the crowd as well by saying “today is not about politics, folks, it’s about John Zurlo,” but protestors again erupted.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Zurlo, I apologize,” Hughes continued. “Today, we remember and celebrate the life of John Zurlo, a man who was so much more than our Clinton County clerk. John was a steady hand, a trusted voice and a friendly face you could always count on. He gave us his time and his energy, his heart to his community, never seeking the spotlight, but always making a difference. John greeted everyone with kindness. He treated every challenge with fairness and carried himself with a quiet dignity that earned the respect of all who knew him,” Hughes said as people continued shouting.
Clinton County Republican Chairwoman Jerika Manning, who got into a public disagreement with Stefanik over the upcoming special election for the 115th district seat last week, told the media after the ceremony that she wished the event for her friend did not become political. She did not say whether or not she wished Stefanik did not come.
“I wish that it wouldn’t have become mean,” Manning said about the protests. “I was hoping they (the family) would remember this day in a positive light. I hope that they still can, and I hope that today’s protests didn’t impact that for them.”
Michael Zurlo, current county administrator, said he didn’t think his memory of the day would be tarnished by the protestors.
“I think every time I see that name up there, it’s going to be remembering my dad and not the day,” he told the media Monday. “So again, there’s a time and place for everything. I wouldn’t have chosen today, but that’s their right and privilege.”
In an email to the Press-Republican on Monday, one protestor at the event, Lois Roberts, said Zurlo deserved the honor of the government center being renamed after him and apologized to the Zurlo family for the timing of the protest.
“I want to make perfectly clear to the Zurlo family and the public that the protestors struggled with the opportunity his dedication gave us. We The People, could not pass up the only in person sighting of Stefanik we have had in years. Our intent was to respectfully be present for Mr. Zurlo’s dedication event, we accomplished that … by being quiet and applauding all the personal speakers of Mr. Zurlo,” Roberts wrote.
“Our love for our country, and ALL its people, demand that we let our supposed representative know we do not align with her agenda, therefore she was frankly quite respectfully told how we feel. We stood peacefully in our spots, and loudly booed her! We are no longer going to stand quietly and listen to her rhetoric. We will not and did not lower ourselves to her standards. Unlike Stefanik we did not use inflammatory terminology, we only repeated her voting history back to her.”