Story highlights Protests over the plans to repeal Obamacare are expected to continue during a recess later this month

Ryan told reporters after the meeting that he respected free speech

Washington (CNN) House Speaker Paul Ryan and top House GOP leaders are urging rank-and-file members to increase security after several unruly town hall meetings dominated by Obamacare protests, including one that involved a member needing a police escort.

Members were cautioned at a closed-door conference meeting on Tuesday to be aware of organized efforts to disrupt events at home and told them take steps to ensure their own safety and that of their aides.

Protests over the plans to repeal Obamacare are expected to continue during a recess later this month, according to multiple Republicans who attended the session, so the message from the entire leadership team was to get prepared now.

"There a growing ugliness out there," California Rep. Tom McClintock, whose meeting over the weekend in northern California drew large crowds and more police were called to the scene. "We were warned by both the Capitol police and the local police that there was local agitation."

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After hundreds of protestors screamed at McClintock and criticized President Donald Trump's policies, several officers helped McClintock leave the event and avoid contact with the boisterous protestors.

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