By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
About 70 people attended a No Kings protest along East State Street at Olean’s Lincoln Park Sunday afternoon.
Organized by the local group Voices of the People Movement, the demonstration was designed to coincide with President Trump’s birthday and a protest to the UFC fighting event he hosted outside the White House.
One of the organizers, Jessica Davis, said despite mostly sunny skies, the threat of heavy rains Sunday afternoon seemed to have kept people away. For more than a year, hundreds of protesters have attended demonstrations at the park opposing Trump and his policies.
“They can pay $60 million for the UFC fights at the White House, but we can’t have health care here in the 23rd Congressional District,” one woman stated.
“I think our government is corrupt,” said Heidi B. “We need to be following the law from the top[ down.” She said she wasn’t very political before, but that Trump is a rapist. He was convicted of 34 felonies before he got into office.”
Karen Belt of Randolph, who attended with her husband Dana, said she was protesting “losing our freedoms” under Trump. “He’s just destroying everything we hold dear. He wants his name on everything. Every day it’s 10 more things to worry about.” She said the UFC fights reminded her of the movie “The Gladiator” and likened it to “human cock fighting.”
Dana added: “We’ve been coming here and going to Jamestown for a year and a half now. We’re trying to do our little bit to try to get people to pay attention. You have to stand up and be out here.”
Jill Delaney of Ischua said she was there, carrying a sign because “I know we are making a difference. I’m here for my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren. To keep what we have is important — our freedoms and the Constitution. It’s important to take a stand.”
Kathlkeen Schaepher of Allegany, a retired social studies teacher, said, “It shocks me that we have a president who not only has never read the Constitution, but he thinks he is above the law. Right now, I’m afraid about voting rights being taken away all over the country.”
Janice Carson of Belmont said she was at the protest because “I don’t believe in Donald Trump’s policies. I am very opposed to the war.”
Across the street, standing in front of the Olean Municipal Building and waving a large American flag, was Dave Neeley of Olean, a retired Dresser-Rand employee who has dogged the Trump protesters from the beginning.
Neeley, who often uses off-color remarks and a bullhorn to respond to the protesters, said the demonstration on Flag Day was “disrespectful. They are supposed to be celebrating the symbol of our country, the American flag.”
He noted the protesters were mostly all carrying signs and almost none were carrying a flag.
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