Olean Star

OLEAN — The local Voices of the People Movement will hold an anti-war demonstration Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at Olean’s Lincoln Park.

“Stop the Bombs: No War in Iran,” is the theme of the demonstration, which sponsors invited area residents to attend. 

About 6 in 10 Americans are opposed to a ground war in Iran.

A spokesman for Voices of the People said, “ On Easter Sunday, the President of the United States posted on his state sponsored social media platform, a cursed ladened message to the leaders of Iran threatening to send them all to hell if they did not comply with his demands.

“The next morning he threatened to commit genocide against their entire civilization if the two countries couldn’t make a ceasefire deal before 8 p.m. Trump, the President, has told the entire world that he would commit genocide. Freely, he hasn’t tried to hide it — unlike his partner in this war — Israel’s PM Netanyahu; who has already been charged with war crimes for his attempted genocide in Gaza.”

The spokesman added: “Don’t be idle on the sidelines while Trump spills blood on behalf of the billionaire class while they jack up the prices for gas, rent, healthcare and groceries. Rise up with us and take action.

“We know the bombs over Iran are about billionaires making themselves richer no matter the human cost. We stand united demanding an end to Trump’s illegal Iran War and also demanding action be taken by congress to condemn Trump’s actions and hold those in power accountable.

“Every dollar spent in wars overseas or at home is a dollar we paid for with our taxes – a dollar that could and should go to helping our communities thrive. We can have good jobs, better schools, access to healthcare and get our basic needs met, but not while our government works for billionaires and not for us.

“Join us in chanting, “Not another penny — not another dollar. We won’t pay for war and slaughter!”

The spokesman said, “Join us, rise up strong, and speak up. 

“As always, a core principle behind all our events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events,” the spokesman said.

Olean Star

OLEAN — A Texas couple driving to their native New England took time out of their trip Monday to participate with more than 100 other people in a Labor Day protest outside Lincoln Park.

Melvin and Jennifer Lawrence of Kingsbury, Texas, had spent the night in Columbus, Ohio when they decided to check the internet for any Labor Day protests along their route in New York on Monday.

“We didn’t want to miss the protest,” Jennifer Lawrence told the Olean Star. Had they been at home, they would have marched with the Guadalupe County Democrats in the national Labor Day protest Workers Over Billionaires.

“We stopped to add our voices,” she added. “I’m glad we found people we could hang out with for the protest.”

“The more the better,” said Melvin Lawrence.

“They showed up and we fixed them up with signs,” said Jessica Davis, who along with Cara Kretschmer, served as co-hosts of the protest from 4-6 p.m. Davis said she counted 110 protesters.

Davis, who has been active in local protests against President Trump’s policies and Rep.Nick Langworthy that began in March, said this Labor Day workers are finding they have to work longer and harder to keep up. Some states are relaxing child labor laws to find more workers.

Brittany Binz of Black Creek read a statement about how higher tariffs are affecting small businesses, threatening workers’ jobs.

Dave Neely of Olean, who regularly shows up for the Lincoln Park protests, stood on the other side of West State Street with an American flag and a bullhorn as an alternate demonstrator. His most annoying refrain to protesters was: “Donald Trump is your duly elected president. Live with it.”

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

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. 

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.

Olean Star

OLEAN — Due to the threat of thunderstorms on Thursday, a “Good Trouble Protest” was moved to Saturday at noon at Lincoln Park.

Jessica Davis of Olean, one of the sponsors of the protest, asked those planning to come to bring signs, whistles, water, chairs and follow safety plans to avoid engaging with counter protesters.

The “Good Trouble” aspect of the protest is a reference to the late Rep. John Lewis, the Civil Rights leader and congressman from South Carolina.

Aaron Gies, the St. Bonaventure University assistant theology professor who last week declared his candidacy for Congress to run against Rep. Nick Langworthy, will speak, Davis said.

First, the group will demonstrate along East State Street by Lincoln Park for about 30 minutes starting at noon, Davis said. That will be followed by a mock funeral procession with 27 tombstones representing the programs President Trump has closed or tried to close his first six months in office, she said.

Two musicians, Jessie and Michelle, will then perform a song by Joan Baez, “I Carried the Flame,”  followed by a moment of silence. Gies will speak then from the park gazebo. The protesters will then return to the  East State Street sidewalk until 2 o’clock to chant and wave signs, Davis said.

“We need huge numbers to keep the pressure on,” Davis said.

In the past several months, a growing number of protesters have demonstrated against Medicaid, Medicare and food assistance cuts to SNAP, along with DOGE’s USAID food aid cuts to the world’s poor, federal employee dismissals and immigration and mass deportation by ICE.

(rmiller@oleanstar.com)

“Today, Congress delivered a generational win for the American people. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, we are launching the next great American comeback—and putting working families first once again.

“This bold, sweeping legislation rewrites the tax code to deliver the largest middle-class tax cut in history. It eliminates taxes on tips and overtime pay, provides substantial relief for senior citizens, expands the Child Tax Credit to help families thrive, and lifts the arbitrary cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction that punished homeowners in places like New York.

“It unleashes economic growth with 100% expensing for American-made manufacturing and makes the U.S. the best place in the world to build, hire, and invest.

“It secures our border with full funding for the wall and immigration enforcement, restores law and order, and reinstates commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving public assistance—an idea that once had broad bipartisan support under President Clinton.

“The bill cuts nearly $2 trillion in reckless Washington spending, protects our safety net for those truly in need, and ensures government works for taxpayers—not the other way around.

“It also delivers major wins for Upstate New York and rural America, including two of my bills—the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act and the Dairy Farm Resiliency Act—bringing long-overdue fairness and stability to our dairy producers.

“This bill is the product of relentless work and a united Republican majority. While Democrats cling to fear tactics and failed ideas, we are delivering real, measurable results. On the very day this bill passed, we saw a booming jobs report and new trade deals announced. That’s not a coincidence—that’s the America First agenda in action.

“On the eve of Independence Day, this is more than legislation—it’s a powerful declaration: America is back. We are rebuilding our economy, securing our borders, restoring pride in work, and reaffirming that the American Dream is alive and well for the next generation.”

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

Olean Star

More than 300 people participated in the No Kings in America march in Olean Saturday afternoon, walking from Delaware Park Centre to Lincoln Park, where their numbers surged to more than 400.

The protest march was one of more than 2,000 in cities and towns across America. Organizers, the 50501 group, estimated up to 5 million took part in the demonstrations protesting a wide range of policies by President Trump.

“What does Democracy look like?” leaders shouted into bullhorns as the march got underway at 2 p.m. from the Big Lots parking lot. “This is what Democracy looks like,” came the response from marchers, who included more younger people than in local demonstrations over the past three months. More than half the marchers appeared to be in their sixties and seventies.

Mary Brooks and Liz Boyer, both of Randolph, carried the large blue No Kings banner at the head of the march.

“I’m here to protest the Trump administration,” Brooks said. “The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ passed by the House threatens Medicaid, healthcare and our hospitals.”
Boyer said she was protesting what looks like rising “authoritarianism and facism in this country and to defend our democracy.” 

Cars and other vehicles honked in support as the marchers made their way down North Union Street toward State and Union. 

Once the marchers arrived at Lincoln Park, they started to spread out on the sidewalk along East State Street and on both sides of South Union Street near the roundabout.

Waving their signs, the chants began. “Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho. Donald Trump has got to go.” Passing vehicles honked their horns in support. 

One man drove by several times with an American flag and a Trump flag flying from his car, using a bullhorn to belittle the demonstrators. “Happy birthday Donald Trump,” he shouted into the bullhorn while driving.

Another man rode his bicycle back and forth numerous times sporting a large American flag and a No Kings sign.

A counter demonstrator across the street from the Lincoln Park rally waved a large American flag and spoke with supporters who agreed with him, while occasionally raising his voice to protesters. He shouted at the bicyclist not to let the flag drag on the ground.

A woman from Caneadea in Allegany County, carried a sign that read: “$45 million for a parade and not for Vets.”

She said, “I will not remain silent,” and seemed to take comfort in the large number of like-minded people that surrounded her. She didn’t want her name used.

Lily Anna, a young woman from Wellsville, said she too, was “fighting for our democracy.” She said it’s very important for people to express their opposition to what is happening. 

Another woman said she joined the local No Kings march
“to help save our country. Don’t use my name. One of my kids doesn’t like it (demonstrations). The other would be here. I’m worried we’re going to become an oligarchy.” Kitty Cooley of Portville was concerned Elon Musk and DOGE did too much cutting to Medicaid, social services and Health and Human Services while spending millions on a military parade for Trump’s birthday. Democracy is on the line. Everybody should be aware of that.”

Former Olean Mayor Linda Witte took part in the demonstration at Lincoln Park. “There are over 300 people here. People have to get out and voice their opinions.” She said the “scariest part” of the $800 billion in Medicaid cuts passed by the House is the effect on Olean General Hospital. “They could have to cut back or close down.”

While she wasn’t carrying a sign, if she had one it would simply say: “Try to be human.”
Athena Godet-Calogerus said of Trump, “It doesn’t seem that he cares about people. Our country is one of the wealthiest in the world and they are treating people like they don’t matter.” She carried a sign that said: “For health’s sake, No cuts to Medicaid. In Cattaraugus County, one-third rely on Medicaid.

Kelly Chaffee sat nearby carrying a sign that read: “ Trump is not a King. He is a joker.”

Deb Ensell of Portville said she was participating in the No Kings protest “because I have a real fear about the direction the country is going in. I feel I have to do my part to help us save our democracy.”

Shelbi, who did not give her last name, said she was there “to fight fascism. This administration has taken us too far and crossed lines they should not have.” She was one of the leaders with bullhorns leading chants. 

While between 450 and 500 people may seem like a small number compared to many of the 2,000 other No Kings marches, it is a big number for Olean — the biggest since local protests began in front of Rep. Nick Langworthy’s Olean district office on North Union Street in March, said Jessica Davis, one of the march’s co-creators.

She said she was protesting the “trans madness” the administration continues to whip up. She said she has a non-binary child she fears for with all the hate speech directed toward trans people.

Trump “is trashing the Constitution, defying the Supreme Court and he seized LA,” Davis said. “He is putting the military in blue stats and blue cities. He has done nothing but divide us. We are supposed to be Americans. I didn’t think it would get so bad this soon.”

Robert Evans, another local No Kings march co-creator, said it was good to see so many people and that “more young kids are out here.” The demonstrations are going to continue, he added.

One of those young people, Ray Maynard, an Olean High School student and head of the Book Club, said, “What Trump is doing is bad and is ruining people’s lives.” The sign she carried read: “Immigrants are people too!” She came with her parents, who sat nearby.

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

Olean Star

ALLEGANY — Potter Lumber Company, a 115-year-old Allegany company located on the Five Mile Road, has announced the lumber mill will close in the coming months.

The Potter Family sold the lumber mill, one of Cattaraugus County’s largest remaining lumber mills, to the Baillie Lumber Co., one of the country’s largest hardwood lumber manufacturers, more than 10 years ago.

“Significant headwinds created by tariffs, in conjunction with other market challenges, has unfortunately led to the point where a difficult decision was made to wind down the operations at Potter Lumber,” Baillie spokeswoman Jill Meyer said in an email to the Olean Star on Thursday.

No specific timetable for the closing was disclosed in the email.

“We are currently in the initial part of the process of an orderly wind up of the location that will take place over the next several months,” Meyer said. “When this is complete the facility will continue to serve as a log yard.”

Meyer did not respond to a follow-up question of how many employees were at Potter Lumber.

Baillie Lumber has 13 lumber mills, five of which are in New York state. The Allegany location and three other New York sites also have dry kiln operations.

Potter Lumber Co., started the water-powered mill on Five Mile Creek 1910. The mill advanced to steam power in the 1940s and electricity powers the double cut band mill.

Potter Lumber Co. has access to some of the finest hardwoods in the U.S., according to its website. They include: ash, cherry, hard maple, poplar, red oak, soft maple and white oak.

The loss of jobs will likely spread past Potter Lumber Co. to contractors who survey, cut and transport logs and others associated with the logging industry.

Much of the hardwood logs harvested in Cattaraugus County are sawn into lumber by Amish sawmills. Potter Lumber Co. was one of the biggest non-Amish mills.

It’s unclear whether any of the other four mill sites in New York will be affected. There are New York mills in Cayuga, Davenport, Owego and Smyrna.

One source in the county’s wood industry said Potter Lumber was a victim of an oversupply of hardwoods at a time when there is less and less wood going into housing construction.

The materials being used instead include plastics and other products that are manufactured in China. Those products too will become more expensive under tariffs.

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

The nonprofit braces for an 8.5 percent net decrease in food distribution capacity in 2025 as community need continues to surge, according to recently announced financial projections. The decrease in critical funding and food allocations stems from sweeping federal cuts to the USDA/TEFAP program and emergency food purchases through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). 

The Trump administration in March announced a 13 percent cut to federally funded food banks including OFP’s greatest food source, FeedMore WNY. As southwestern New York’s largest food assistance organization, Olean Food Pantry relies on an annual allocation from the regional food bank. Last year, it provided $289,000 in total assistance.

What does the spending cut mean for communities served in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties? 

“Things in our area always seem to trickle down, so we needed time to assess exactly what the cuts mean for Olean Food Pantry,” said Jerry Hustak, OFP operations manager. 

“Thanks to the generosity of community members and funders, the hit will ultimately be less than 13 percent but still a crushing blow to our service capacity. 

The pantry served 27,162 people in 2024, up from 26,038 in 2023. That’s more than 2,200 individuals and families each month — a number that has more than doubled since 2020.  

“By these numbers, we will no longer be able to provide such a large quantity of food and support,” Hustak added. “That’s many tons of food and tens of thousands of dollars in assistance. We will still serve the record numbers of people who come to OFP each month, but they’ll likely come away with less – much less.”

A reversal of Biden-era CCC allocations cut off an expected $500 million in support for food banks nationwide. FeedMore WNY has confirmed it will lose $3.5 million in food. That includes 12 canceled truckloads of chicken, turkey, pork, cheese and eggs scheduled for delivery, much of it en route to Olean Food Pantry.

OFP must now work harder to stretch its services, said Board President David Potter. The organization is calling for assistance from community members with the means to help. To make a tax-deductible cash donation, visit www.oleanfoodpantry.org/donate. 

“We’re not just looking at numbers on a spreadsheet,” Potter said. “We’re talking about thousands of real people – neighbors, families, veterans and people working two jobs — who now face the terrifying prospect of empty cupboards with less hope for relief. Many people in our lines are here for the first time due to an unexpected layoff or financial hardship.

“They still deserve to eat. If they can’t eat, they can’t envision a brighter future. You can’t job search or battle addiction without a good meal.”

The slashed federal programs had provided $1 billion nationally to help food banks purchase fresh, high-value foods like meat, dairy and produce.

“This isn’t just a food bank problem,” said Fred Welch, an OFP board member. “This is a community crisis. Many people don’t know the majority of our food acquisition comes through FeedMore WNY. The community’s generosity is enormous, but the need is even greater and must be supplemented by a variety of sources beyond local nonperishable donations alone. 

“It’s heartbreaking to see support pulled back at the exact moment when more people than ever are walking through our doors.”

FeedMore WNY reported more than 2.1 million pounds of food distributed last year were tied to now-canceled CCC purchases. The ripple effect is enormous for small, volunteer-run organizations like Olean Food Pantry, Potter said.

“Protein-rich foods like poultry, eggs, and dairy are what we’ll have the hardest time replacing,” he added. “They’re also the most essential for families with young children, older adults and people living with health conditions. These are not luxuries — they’re survival staples.”

With rising food prices, inflation and high fuel costs, replacing those supplies with local donations is nearly impossible without urgent community help, Potter said. 

The cuts threaten to widen the gap between need and supply at a time when poverty and food insecurity in the OFP service area nears 25 percent, among the highest in New York state. Nationally, it’s estimated as many as 60 percent of Americans are just one missed paycheck from hunger, according to Feeding America. 

“Olean Food Pantry has been fighting hunger on the front lines for over 70 years,” Potter said. “But this year, we’re going to need an army beside us. If this community doesn’t step up — if we don’t rally — the consequences will be felt in thousands of empty refrigerators.”

Despite the challenges, OFP remains committed to innovation and resilience. The pantry’s $1 Million Fundraising Campaign recently eclipsed $400,000 to build a more sustainable future — including investments in solar energy, food preservation equipment and expanded outreach to rural clients. These efforts aim to reduce long-term costs and ensure reliable food access even as traditional funding sources become less certain, officials said.

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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.