By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ALLEGANY — Between 40 and 50 demonstrators braved cold temperatures along West State Street Wednesday to protest President Trump’s policies, Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts and fears of cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
It was the seventh week of protests for Local Organized Protests, a Facebook page which first began protesting Trump cuts outside Rep. Nick Langworthy’s Olean Office on North Union Street on March 4. The first protest drew about a dozen protester
More than 120 protesters demonstrated on West State Street near the Independence Drive intersection on National Hands-Off Day April 5. Another 150 demonstrators turned out the same day on East State Street at Lincoln Park.
On Saturday, a Rally For Democracy will be held from 10-3 p.m. at the Lincoln Park gazebo with a protest, music, signs, speeches from candidates and voter registration. Bring a chair if you can stand for a long period of time.
Similar rallies are planned across the country to protest Trump policies, federal job and program cuts and illegal deportations without a hearing.
What brought the protesters out on such a cold day on Wednesday? The responses from demonstrators were as varied as the signs they carried.
Barbara Dyscant of Hinsdale said, “Freedom’s more important to me than a few hours standing out in the cold. I’m concerned that if a few peoples’ rights are abridged, that it will spread. I’m a grandmother, so I’m concerned about my children’s and grandchildren’s future.”
Nearby, Jessica Davis of Olean said, “Donald Trump is ignoring the Constitution. He’s ignoring the Supreme Court. He’s had people seized and sent to a prison in El Salvador. He’s violating human rights. Congress isn’t doing its job. The courts are trying to hold hom to account — even the Supreme Court.”
Mike Missel of Olean said he was out demonstrating again because “We’re in a tough spot. We need to do something about it. Every little bit helps.”
Etta Walton of Olean said she was protesting Trump’s “lack of caring for other people.” He has “humiliated the leaders of other countries, shown great disregard for disabled and trans individuals” among others.
Rob Mrowka of Machias said he was “protesting Trump and defending our freedom. If we lose our freedom of speech and freedom of the press, we lose our democracy.”
Rob Evans of Humphrey said he was protesting again because he and members of his family rely on Social Security and there is fear that it will be taken away by Elon Musk and DOGE. It’s a constitutional crisis.”
One of the anti-Trump rally organizers, Kathy Hardiman of Allegany said she was trying to make people aware of what Trump, Musk and others in nether administration are doing. “It’s about my kids’ and my grandkids’ futures that are at stake.”
She also expressed concern for the El Salvadoran immigrant from Maryland who was picked up by Immigration and Customs and Enforcement and deported to a prison in El Salvador despite a judge’s ruling.
The White House admitted the man was detained and deported due to an administrative error. The president is ignoring a 9-0 ruling by the Supreme Court to return the man.
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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
