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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘No Kings' protest against Trump draws hundreds to downtown Scranton
Jan Needham of Moosic spent part of her Saturday afternoon at the 'No Kings' protest on Scranton's Courthouse Square because she thought it was important to speak out. Hundreds of people attended the event in response to the Trump administration's large-scale military parade, also held on Saturday. 'We're here to stand up for America,' she said. 'We're in trouble if we don't stand up to Trump.' Aaron Newhart of Falls Township agreed. A veteran, he takes issue with the reported $45 million Trump is spending on the day's festivities held in Washington, D.C. The money, he said, would be better spent on resources to assist to families and help for veterans. 'He's really just having his own birthday party,' he said. 'That's what dictators do.' Legislators speak out State Representative Bridget Kosierowski told the crowd she was not only a state representative, but also a registered nurse. Trump's proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other supportive services, put the health and wellbeing of citizens at risk, she said. Kosierowski also expressed hope in the democratic process and people's willingness to speak out. 'We can do better,' she said. 'And, we will.' * Protestors gather on Courthouse Square in Scranton for a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Protestors gather on Courthouse Square in Scranton for a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Protestors march around the Lackawanna County Courthouse during a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp, addresses the crowd at a 'No Kings' rally on Scranton's Courthouse Square Saturday. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 4 Protestors gather on Courthouse Square in Scranton for a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan took to the podium and encouraged people to speak out against the Trump administration and its policies. 'History does not look kindly on those who remained silent,' he said. He said Trump supporters have a Bible in one hand and hate in the other. 'They talk about Jesus,' he said. 'And walk with cruelty.' He quoted a line from a poem written by Emma Lazarus, which is inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty: 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.' Now, he said, those huddled masses are being chained, tackled and deported. 'We will not stop until Donald Trump's name is written in ash in the mouth of history,' he said. State Representative Kyle Donahue pointed out FOX News reported that such rallies were composed mostly of paid protestors. 'Are you paid?' he shouted to the crowd, who responded with a resounding, 'No.' 'We are here to remind people today that were are not subjects, we are citizens,' he said. Counter protestors Several pro-Trump protestors were sprinkled through the crowd and periodically heckled speakers. Republican Bob Bolus brought his commercial truck to the event, which bore Trump's likeness alongside a depiction of Jesus and the American flag. Gaughan encouraged the crowd to ignore them. 'They're not important,' he said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘No Kings' protests against Trump draws hundreds to downtown Scranton
Jan Needham of Moosic spent part of her Saturday afternoon at the 'No Kings' protest on Scranton's Courthouse Square because she thought it was important to speak out. Hundreds of people attended the event in response to the Trump administration's large-scale military parade, also held on Saturday. 'We're here to stand up for America,' she said. 'We're in trouble if we don't stand up to Trump.' Aaron Newhart of Falls Township agreed. A veteran, he takes issue with the reported $45 million Trump is spending on the day's festivities held in Washington, D.C. The money, he said, would be better spent on resources to assist to families and help for veterans. 'He's really just having his own birthday party,' he said. 'That's what dictators do.' Legislators speak out State Representative Bridget Kosierowski told the crowd she was not only a state representative, but also a registered nurse. Trump's proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other supportive services, put the health and wellbeing of citizens at risk, she said. Kosierowski also expressed hope in the democratic process and people's willingness to speak out. 'We can do better,' she said. 'And, we will.' * Protestors gather on Courthouse Square in Scranton for a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Protestors gather on Courthouse Square in Scranton for a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Protestors march around the Lackawanna County Courthouse during a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp, addresses the crowd at a 'No Kings' rally on Scranton's Courthouse Square Saturday. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 4 Protestors gather on Courthouse Square in Scranton for a 'No Kings' protest in Scranton on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan took to the podium and encouraged people to speak out against the Trump administration and its policies. 'History does not look kindly on those who remained silent,' he said. He said Trump supporters have a Bible in one hand and hate in the other. 'They talk about Jesus,' he said. 'And walk with cruelty.' He quoted a line from a poem written by Emma Lazarus, which is inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty: 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.' Now, he said, those huddled masses are being chained, tackled and deported. 'We will not stop until Donald Trump's name is written in ash in the mouth of history,' he said. State Representative Kyle Donahue pointed out FOX News reported that such rallies were composed mostly of paid protestors. 'Are you paid?' he shouted to the crowd, who responded with a resounding, 'No.' 'We are here to remind people today that were are not subjects, we are citizens,' he said. Counter protestors Several pro-Trump protestors were sprinkled through the crowd and periodically heckled speakers. Republican Bob Bolus brought his commercial truck to the event, which bore Trump's likeness alongside a depiction of Jesus and the American flag. Gaughan encouraged the crowd to ignore them. 'They're not important,' he said.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal cuts, tax breaks for wealthy condemned at rally
SCRANTON — From a former service member to a retiree to a city council candidate, about 75 people gathered along Courthouse Square on Tuesday afternoon to oppose potential budget cuts to Medicaid, Social Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs and call for billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes. During a Tax Day rally hosted by Action Together NEPA – a grassroots progressive organization dedicated to community action and political advocacy – participants clamored for the ousting of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk – a White House adviser – and the protection of social services. 'Hands off Medicaid, hands off SNAP,' some chanted. 'Fund our families, not fat cats,' others exclaimed. Action Together NEPA hosted similar rallies Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre, Bethlehem and Tunkhannock. Dave Mattern, 68, of Clarks Summit, who worked as a drafter among other occupations before retiring, joined the rally to fight against potential tax cuts for billionaires and expressed concerns about the future of the social security trust fund. 'The fear is just running out of money,' he said. 'Especially with the way things are going, it's going to be tight enough without losing everything.' Aaron Newhart of Falls Twp. held a 'Veterans Against Trump' flag throughout the rally to show opposition to proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Newhart, 51, who served four years each in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, called out the Trump administration for their actions toward members of the country's armed forces – including planned cuts to the VA. 'Just the way he's treating the veterans, it's very hurtful,' Newhart said. 'There are a lot of veterans out there who wouldn't get the care they need. How can you do cutbacks and have veterans care? They're doing indiscriminate cuts to VA health care. It's absolutely crazy. Also, he's planning on cutting Medicaid and Social Security – they need to stay away from it – he's hurting the American people.' * Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Aaron Newhart, Falls Twp., holds a 'Veterans Against Trump' flag during the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The Army and Marines vet came out because he's concerned about the budget cuts the federal government is making. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Mary Batty, Dalton, joins in a chant with fellow protesters during the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 6 Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Frankie Malacaria, 33, of South Scranton, a Democratic candidate for City Council, noted federal cuts hit close to home. 'I know many, many people in this community are affected,' he said. 'We're a low income, working class community. My family is on LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance program) and we were thankfully able to get on it last week. Then, literally two days after, the Trump administration decided to cut the entire staff in Health and Human Services that handles the distribution of LIHEAP funding. Millions of people across the country rely on LIHEAP in order to be able to heat their homes in the winter. Unfortunately, without this funding, it may not be here next year.' Karen Gray, 63, made the trip to Scranton from Tobyhanna Twp. to show her overall disapproval of the Trump administration. 'My signs are not big enough to hold everything I'm against that he's doing,' she said. 'It feels like our country's not the same. Our democracy is gone … it's upsetting to me.'
