Olean Star

OLEAN – More than 300 people demonstrated at Lincoln Park Saturday, part of a national Pro Democracy movement protesting President Trump’s policies.

They brought signs and determination. Traffic passing on East State Street honked and waved in support. Others were less supportive.

“What does democracy look like?” one protestor chanted. “This is what democracy looks like,” came the reply of others lining the park. Some demonstrators took their signs and their chants to the opposite side of the street in front of the Municipal Building.

The demonstration was happening at the same time as hundreds of other protests across the country, part of the 50501 movement that signifies 50 protests, 50 states, one movement.

Coincidently, the protests that took place on Saturday was on the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.  

At the same time, during a rally at the Lincoln Park gazebo, an Olean man stepped forward to say he is forming an exploratory committee to look into running for Congress against Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-Niagara County.

Aaron Gies, a professor of theology and Franciscan studies at St. Bonaventure University, said, “Nick Langworthy is really not listening to his constituents, He’s rubber stamping everything Trump and DOGE are doing.”

Gies said Trump was decimating services, ignoring civil rights and abandoning our allies. “That’s not the kind of representative I want. I expect a lot of Democrats and independents agree.”

Gies was carrying a blue and yellow Ukrainian flag he said signified Trump’s abandoning Ukraine. He said he was embarrassed by Trump’s actions during the Oval Office meeting earlier this year with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Meanwhile, the anti-Trump demonstrations that began with a dozen protesters in mid-March carrying signs outside Langworthy’s Olean district office on North Union Street, continue to grow.

Organizers said the Lincoln Park protest and rally easily surpassed 300 people. Vehicles honking in support drew shouts and sign waving by protesters.

“I’m here for democracy,” said Terri Edel of Olean. “I’m here for Social Security. I’m here for my daughter’s rights to control her own body. I’m here for due process. Nobody is a king.”

Stephanie Spittal of Allegany said, “I think it’s kind of wonderful so many people are here.”

Tom Barber of Belfast said he accepted a friend’s invitation to come to the Olean demonstration “to do my part to see what we can do to change the situation in Washington and all over the country. It starts in Olean.”

One woman, a retired teacher from Allegany and the mother of a special needs child, said she was there to protest the restricted access to Social Security from closed offices and fired employees due to “the recklessness of DOGE.” 

She said she was wearing a Montreal Canadians’ jersey as a symbol of the the longstanding friendship between the U.S. and Canada that Trump has threatened with his tariffs. “It’s terrible what’s happening. It has to stop. Now the president is defying a Supreme Court ruling” to return a migrant who was illegally deported to the U.S. for a hearing.

Gerry Zimmerman of Olean, a Lutheran pastor, said, “Jesus came to stand with the marginalized and thye poor. I feel Jesuis is here. I’m happy to be here. These are my people.”

It was the first protest Richard Bossard and his wife, Nancy of Almond attended together. “We’re here for democracy,” Richard said. He’d attended an earlier protest in Corning. “It’s good to see how many people are out supporting democracy.”

There was one counter protester waving a flag in front of the Municipal Building. He exchanged an occasional word with them. Later, some of the protesters walked over and talked with the man.

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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.

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.

Olean Star

Sign-waving demonstrators protesting a number of President Trump’s potential cuts including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans programs held two events Saturday involving a total of nearly 300 people.

They were part of more than 1,200 “Hands Off” rallies held across the nation, including Washington, D.C. protesting Trump, Musk and DOGE.

At noon, people with signs began lining up along West State Street in the town of Allegany between the entrance to Walmart and Independence Drive.

As the number of people grew, so did the response from passing motorists. Demonstrators said the number of encouraging comments and thumbs up they received outnumbered people giving them the middle finger.

By 12:15 p.m., the number of demonstrators had grown to 120. Organizer Kathy Hardiman was grateful to see such a large turnout, publicized mostly through Facebook.

It was her group’s fifth and largest demonstrations, which began last month with a dozen people with signs outside Rep. Nick Langworthy’s Olean district office on North Union Street. They later moved to Lincoln park.

Many of those attending the 1 ½-hour West State Street demonstration also went to Lincoln Park, where another group organized a demonstration from 2-3 p.m.

At the West State Street demonstration, the Olean Star asked a number of people why they were there. Many of the older people attending expressed concern over Social Security, while others said they feared for democracy itself under Trump.

“Why am I here?” asked Amy Sarver of Olean. “For Social Security. I don’t like DOGE taking a hatchet to our necessary services. I don’t like how the courts are being ignored. I don’t like a lying felon in the White House. This is a moral moment for us as a country. We all know what’s right.”

Debbie Harvey of Bolivar said many older people are not just concerned about their Social Security, but about their grandchildren’s future. “I’m afraid we’re heading in the direction of an oligarchy. A lot of people on Medicare are worried.” She’s also concerned about mass deportations. “I could go on and on. I don’t have a sign big enough for everything. If we all stand back and do nothing, it will kep getting worse.”

Sharon Mathe of Ellicottville said, “I can sit at home and complain or I can come out and protest in a peaceful way how these cuts are going to impact real people. There are already a lot more people unemployed. I worry more about my grandchild than I do myself.”

Becky Groelle of Allegany said the issue of tariffs was a clear indication the country was going in the wrong direction. “There’s a lot of cruelty in this (Trump) administration. He’s alienating all our allies.”

Charles Warren of Olean, a former teacher who is a senior on a fixed income, said he was “worried for Social Security. It looks like we’re healing toward a dictatorship.”

One Olean woman, Holly Scordo, wasn’t carrying a sign, but the American flag. “I love my count]try and I want to keep it free and Democratic.”

Janis Carson of Belmont, said, “There’s a million reasons why I’m here, but mainly because I’m an American and I think we are being treated unfairly.

Bill Baxter of Allegany said he was worried “that they are going to cut veterans funding, Social Security and Medicaid. I’m pissed. We need somebody in there who is by the people and for the people like (Sen.) Bernie Sanders.”

Rick Crandall carried a sign that read “It’s too late to do nothing. RESIST.” He said he was there to demonstrate because “We’ve got to do something or we lose America.”

Nearby, Jan Rhody said, “You have to have justice. We have to restore our democracy and get back to checks and balances before we tip over the edge of no return.”

Tammy Sharpre of Little Valley, said, “I disagree with what the GOP are doing and the convicted felon in the White House is trashing our constitution and taking away our rights.”

Nicole Marvin of Allegany brought her children to the demonstration on West State Street. Both carried signs. “I want my kids to have more rights than I do, not less.”

Lois Hilton of Humphrey, who led the Humphrey contingent to the West State Street protest, said she was there “to be a supporter of my neighbors and my community and my country.” She added: “Compassion, love and integrity in our government is what I want to see.”

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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.

Participants carried signs voicing their concerns regarding a variety of topics that are affecting our lives and communities, including the future of Social Security, the implications of Musk’s Doge involvement, the potential firing of federal workers, the ongoing war in Ukraine, tariffs impacting our local economy, and the broader state of democracy in our nation. 

The turnout from our diverse communities underscores the urgency of these issues and the need for our elected officials to listen and respond to the needs and concerns of their constituents. It is crucial that we continue to engage in open dialogue about these matters, advocating for policies that reflect our values and priorities.

On a personal note from my husband and myself – being parents and grandparents, recent events have highlighted the fears and worries that resonate deeply within our families. As parents and grandparents, we want a world where our children can thrive, feel secure, and have opportunities for a better life. It is our responsibility to advocate for them and to ensure that their voices are heard.  As retirees we are also concerned about our social security checks as we depend on this money.  We, like many other Americans, paid into this program for many years. With all the personnel firings from the Social Security Administration there is a high probability that checks will be delayed and I honestly fear that they may be cut off completely at some point with this administration. This would be financially devastating to us.  

I encourage all community members to stay informed and involved in these important discussions. Together, we can make our voices heard and work towards solutions that benefit everyone.

-Deb Harvey