By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — More than 120 people participated in Saturday’s No Kings 4.0 demonstration along East State Street outside War Veterans Park.
The demonstration, organized by the local Voices of the People Movement focused not only on President Trump’s unpopularity, but served as a get out the vote event before early voting starts next week.
“There’s 17 days until the Nov. 23 election,” said Jessica Davis, one of the demonstration’s organizers. Early voting runs from Oct. 24-Nov. 1.
The demonstration is the starting point for the group’s get out the vote efforts, Davis said. Volunteers are focusing on three Democratic races:
- Aaron Gies of Olean in the 23rd Congressional District where he faces an uphill battle against Rep. Nick Langworthy.
- Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has some detractors in the Southern Tier, “but she’s no Bruce Blakeman, a big Trump and MAGA supporter.”
- Victoria Guite, of Genesee County, who is running against State Sen. George Borrello.
The signs at Saturday’s demonstration were largely directed at the president.
“You have to hold him accountable for the war with Iran, with his economic policy and tariffs that are causing inflation,” Davis said. “He’s done nothing for the average American.”
Davis told the Olean Star the final count on participants was 125.
The demonstration was initially scheduled for outside Lincoln Park, but was moved down East State Street to War Veterans Park after city officials said an event was already scheduled at Lincoln Park.
Davis noted here didn’t appear to be any other group in the park between 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Olean Farmers Market is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
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