By RICK MILLER
Olear Star
OLEAN — A local version of this weekend’s national 5051 “Rage “Against the Regime” demonstration was held Saturday afternoon in Olean’s Lincoln Park.
Democratic congressional candidate Aaron Gies of Olean, a theology professor at St. Bonaventure University was the featured speaker at a rally that began at 2 p.m. in front of the park’s gazebo.
Gies thanked supporters and local activists for their support and went on to criticize Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-Pendelton, for his silence on what he said was corruption by President Trump and his family and the president’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Gies said, “It’s good that Langworthy says he’s fighting corruption, but he has nothing to say about the Trump family’s multi-billion dollar crypto bribery scheme that they’re running right out in the open.”
He said, Langworthy also had nothing to say about the “free Qatari jet for his personal use that we’re all paying a half billion dollars for.”
Also, the congressman “has had nothing to say about Trump’s pardons, whereby his buddies that give him money have been pardoned for offenses like defrauding employees out of tens of millions of dollars, buying and sling public offices and even committing violent crimes against police officers,” Gies told a group of about 150 who gathered in the park to listen to him speak.
The Medicaid cuts supported by Langworthy and the Republican congress will result in hospitals and nursing homes closing, Gies said.
“Why is he (Langworthy) supporting Trump’s tariffs?” he asked. “Republicans in Congress could stop his tariffs tomorrow if they were just willing to do their job.”
Gies also noted Langworthy’s determination to stop renewable energy and unleash American energy. “He knows perfectly well that American has never pumped more oil than we’re pumping right now.”
While Langworthy touts the “no tax on tips and overtime” provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill, “almost no one will qualify,” Gies said. “But if Nick were really supportive of workers, we would be fighting for a living wage, not a longer work week.”
Gies said he was furious over Trump’;s attacks on women’s rights, LGBT rights and on peaceful and law abiding immigrants, many of whom were on a path to citizenship. I am furious of Trump’s attempt to turn ICE
Into some kind of secret police.”
He said “Common sense conservatives like Nick Langworthy who do not stand up for our civil rights and freedoms, who do not stand up for our Constitution or due process and the rule of law are in some ways worse than the card carrying fascists like Stephen Miller and Tom Homan.”
Gies said, “I am for a life that is healthy and dignified and safe, a life where if you work hard, you get ahead. That’s the American dream and unfortunately we are in a position where we need to reclaim it because it is slipping away.”
He said education and health care are both badly in need of reform. A new generation of skilled tradesmen needs to be trained. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are witing for them. Instead of granting more money for rich people. “We need to invest in invest in each other, trust each other and lift each other up.”
Gies concluded by saying, “I’m grad the American dream isn’t dead. It’s waiting for us to fight for it.”
Before the rally, protesters walked by mock tombstones marking the many programs and federal employees chopped by Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE.
Before Gies spoke, Kathleen King of Hamburg, who is assisting the campaign, said Democrats need to flip Congress in the midterm elections next year.
The 23rd Congressional District is solid Republican and doesn’t often get support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, King said. If Gies begins to show some momentum in terms of campaign contributions, that support could come.
“No one has paid attention ton this district for years,” King said. “Ig they see he’s got momentum, they will pay attention.”
Only two Democrats have been elected in the Southern Tier district in over 100 years and Trump and Langworthy got nearly two-thirds of the vote last year.
Following the rally, demonstrators grabbed their signs and walked over to East State Street where they chanted until 4 p.m.
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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
