By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — About 120 demonstrators protested along East State Street by Lincoln Park in Olean Saturday — a “Good Trouble” protest honoring the late Rep. John Lewis.
The protest — aimed squarely at the Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” that will strip healthcare and food benefits from millions across the country while giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations and increasing the deficit — was postponed from Wednesday due to the threat of thunderstorms.
“That One Big Beautiful Bill will be impacting rural health care,” said one of the protest’s sponsors, Jessica Davis of Olean. “A lot of people will lose Medicaid coverage, which will affect all of us.” She was critical of Rep.Nick Langworthy for his support of the cuts.
A co-sponsor of the protest, Kara Kretschmer, said Olean General Hospital is at risk from the Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful, which passed on narrow party-line votes in the House and Senate before president Trump signed it on the Fourth of July.
Kretschmer said the government’s own estimates show 11.8 million will lose Medicaid benefits nationwide, while as many as 60,000 in the 23rd Congressional District will no longer be eligible. More across the Southern Tier will see cuts to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Brittany Binz, a Black Creek resident from Allegany County, who said she was protesting Medicaid cuts and getting signatures on petitions to overturn them, said she was forming an exploratory committee to look into her running for Congress in the 23rd Congressional District.
“I’m a single mom, a regular person,” said Binz. “i want to bring awareness that anyone can do this.”
A Florida native, Binz moved two years ago to Black Creek, where she has ancestors. Her 10-year-old daughter Claire, is a big help in her petition drive. “I’m tired of sitting in my house wanting change. I don’t like Rep. Langworthy or what he represents.”
There is already at least one Democrat who has thrown his hat into the ring for Congress in the 23rd Congressional District.
Aaron Gies, a St. Bonaventure University theology professor, announced his candidacy earlier this month after starting a similar exploratory committee. He has been critical of the cuts to the social safety net that Trump and Langworthy have supported and vowed, unlike Langworthy, to hold regular town hall meetings across the congressional district.
One demonstrator, Tim Harvey of Bolivar said, “I’m tired of the lies and broken promises from Trump. He’s not a very good person.”
“This is a show of support so folks will know they are not alone,” said Chris Kaminski, an Olean native who was impressed with the number of protesters.
Davis, the protest host, said people were out demonstrating to try to show how Republicans’ actions were going to affect them. The group also had a voter registration site in Lincoln Park. They were also collecting money, food and clothing for victims of recent flooding east of Olean.
Virginia Cox of Belfast was attending her first protest on Saturday. “I don’t like Trump. I don’t like his politics. It’s more of a gut reaction. I feel like most people are middle of the road. They (Republicans) are using politics to divide us.”
Maria Wright of Olean said, “I have two young daughters. I care about what happens to democracy in this country. Our freedoms are being stripped away by the government, The only thing they understand is money and selfishness. Our country has a beautiful, rich history of lifting each other up.”
Barbara Casey, 70, of Olean, was one of the original Tops protesters protesting Mideast wars and one of four Enchanted Mountain war protesters.
“We started on that corner” in front of the bank at State and Union, she said pointing at the former Manny Hanny Bank.
The protestors had different chants like:
“No Trump
No KKK
No fascist USA.”
While they had bullhorns, the protesters faced a county demonstrator across East State Street in front of the Municipal Building as they have for the past few months.
Dave Neeley of Olean carried a large American flag and a bullhorn to compete with the protesters.
His favorite refrain: “Trump is your duly elected president. Live with it.”
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All Rights Reserved. Eric M Firkel. Star News LLC.
