Rick Miller
Olean Star
Sign-waving demonstrators protesting a number of President Trump’s potential cuts including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans programs held two events Saturday involving a total of nearly 300 people.
They were part of more than 1,200 “Hands Off” rallies held across the nation, including Washington, D.C. protesting Trump, Musk and DOGE.
At noon, people with signs began lining up along West State Street in the town of Allegany between the entrance to Walmart and Independence Drive.
As the number of people grew, so did the response from passing motorists. Demonstrators said the number of encouraging comments and thumbs up they received outnumbered people giving them the middle finger.
By 12:15 p.m., the number of demonstrators had grown to 120. Organizer Kathy Hardiman was grateful to see such a large turnout, publicized mostly through Facebook.
It was her group’s fifth and largest demonstrations, which began last month with a dozen people with signs outside Rep. Nick Langworthy’s Olean district office on North Union Street. They later moved to Lincoln park.
Many of those attending the 1 ½-hour West State Street demonstration also went to Lincoln Park, where another group organized a demonstration from 2-3 p.m.
At the West State Street demonstration, the Olean Star asked a number of people why they were there. Many of the older people attending expressed concern over Social Security, while others said they feared for democracy itself under Trump.
“Why am I here?” asked Amy Sarver of Olean. “For Social Security. I don’t like DOGE taking a hatchet to our necessary services. I don’t like how the courts are being ignored. I don’t like a lying felon in the White House. This is a moral moment for us as a country. We all know what’s right.”
Debbie Harvey of Bolivar said many older people are not just concerned about their Social Security, but about their grandchildren’s future. “I’m afraid we’re heading in the direction of an oligarchy. A lot of people on Medicare are worried.” She’s also concerned about mass deportations. “I could go on and on. I don’t have a sign big enough for everything. If we all stand back and do nothing, it will kep getting worse.”
Sharon Mathe of Ellicottville said, “I can sit at home and complain or I can come out and protest in a peaceful way how these cuts are going to impact real people. There are already a lot more people unemployed. I worry more about my grandchild than I do myself.”
Becky Groelle of Allegany said the issue of tariffs was a clear indication the country was going in the wrong direction. “There’s a lot of cruelty in this (Trump) administration. He’s alienating all our allies.”
Charles Warren of Olean, a former teacher who is a senior on a fixed income, said he was “worried for Social Security. It looks like we’re healing toward a dictatorship.”
One Olean woman, Holly Scordo, wasn’t carrying a sign, but the American flag. “I love my count]try and I want to keep it free and Democratic.”
Janis Carson of Belmont, said, “There’s a million reasons why I’m here, but mainly because I’m an American and I think we are being treated unfairly.
Bill Baxter of Allegany said he was worried “that they are going to cut veterans funding, Social Security and Medicaid. I’m pissed. We need somebody in there who is by the people and for the people like (Sen.) Bernie Sanders.”
Rick Crandall carried a sign that read “It’s too late to do nothing. RESIST.” He said he was there to demonstrate because “We’ve got to do something or we lose America.”
Nearby, Jan Rhody said, “You have to have justice. We have to restore our democracy and get back to checks and balances before we tip over the edge of no return.”
Tammy Sharpre of Little Valley, said, “I disagree with what the GOP are doing and the convicted felon in the White House is trashing our constitution and taking away our rights.”
Nicole Marvin of Allegany brought her children to the demonstration on West State Street. Both carried signs. “I want my kids to have more rights than I do, not less.”
Lois Hilton of Humphrey, who led the Humphrey contingent to the West State Street protest, said she was there “to be a supporter of my neighbors and my community and my country.” She added: “Compassion, love and integrity in our government is what I want to see.”
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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
