Latest news with #ActionTogetherNEPA
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.'
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protesters gather in Scranton to say ‘Hands off!' to Trump administriation
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Protestors gathered nationwide this weekend to say 'hands off!' to the Trump administration. Many gathered on Saturday in our own backyard for what are billed as Hands Off! Rallies. Tariffs, cuts to federal spending, and tax cuts for billionaires. These are just a few of the issues protestors say they're fighting here in Scranton. Hundreds of protestors took to Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, braving the wet weather to protest a number of issues with the Trump administration. 'We need to tax the rich like we did in the 60s and 70s when I was growing up, and middle-class America was strong. It's been deteriorated since the 80s, and now it's reaching a crescendo that is going to crush society,' said Dunmore resident Tony Manger. At the forefront of this rally? What protestors and organizers are calling 'executive overreach.' 'With every breath they take, they try to take the rights away from the least of us, and it's alarming. We've already fought these battles,' said Ellen Manger from Dunmore. Protests like this one are happening nationwide, part of a decentralized movement known as 50501: 50 protests, 50 states, one movement. The Scranton rally is just one of three protests held in NEPA alone, all organized in part by Action Together NEPA, a local non-profit advocating for social and economic equality. Ford offers employee pricing as tariffs begin While the issues at hand are broad, a common message rang through the heart of the electric city. 'We shouldn't be, like, minimizing the middle class for these billionaires. I think we should be taxing them so that we can live our lives,' said Greenridge resident Grace Wazowicz. A number of local and federal officials spoke at the rally, including an address by former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. While the protest covered a wide range of issues with the Trump administration, protestors 28/22 News spoke with agreed on one thing. 'Trump. We've gotta get rid of him. Hands off everything, as everyone is saying. He's destroying our country,' Dave Watkins from Scranton explained. 'Hands off our social security and our Medicare,' Wazowicz stated. Despite their frustration, some remain optimistic. 'We are stronger together than we are apart, so I think if we can all come together, we can finally, maybe, bring some of these idiots down,' Wazowicz added. These nationwide protests will continue throughout the weekend, and organizers say there are plans for future rallies as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crowds gather in Wilkes-Barre for ‘Hands Off!' protest
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — In Wilkes-Barre, a boisterous crowd gathered for a Hands-Off! protest. The crowd on Public Square held signs, heard speakers, and expressed dissatisfaction with job layoffs, social service cuts, and policies they claim are putting the country in peril. 28/22 News asked if they think these rallies will have an impact on policy in Washington. Protests gather in Scranton to say 'Hands off!' to Trump administriation 'I hope so if they're paying attention. I call my congresspeople all of the time and send them letters. That's important, too so. But I'm here just to show support for the effort because we have to show them we're not happy with what's going on,' said Protester Martha Franklin. 'The veterans fought for freedom, they didn't fight for fascism, and we all, the people, deserve not to be treated this way,' Action Together NEPA Member and Organizer Kayla Johnson stated. Besides Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, a Hands Off! Rally was also held in Stroudsburg. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Residents rally in Wyoming County for Medicare, Medicaid
TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — On Monday, Action Together NEPA hosted a rally with dozens showing up to participate. The budget resolution that narrowly passed in the House of Representatives in February calls for the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880,000,000,000 in spending over 10 years. Many are afraid those cuts will hit programs like Medicaid and they want local congress members to know they are worried. 'I deal with a lot of health issues which if he gets his way, first of all, I would never get out of medical debt. I've survived cancer three times. I'd be gone,' Tunkhannock resident Ruth Gorski. Gorski says she's a recipient of Medicaid and Medicare. She's one of many who showed up to voice their concerns Congress could target programs like Medicaid. 'I don't know what people would do without social security, and Medicare, and Medicaid,' said Marilyn Stark from Tunkhannock. Bresnahan, Meuser respond to claims of federal benefit cuts The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with members consisting of former Republican and Democratic lawmakers. According to the committee, the recent resolution does not cut Medicaid but adds future goals could be hard to meet without some Medicaid reductions. Attendees and organizers at Monday's rally called on their Representative Dan Meuser to host a town hall to address their fears. 'We've been calling and leaving messages but he's not, he's not doing the job for us. So that's a big problem we have,' Pat Bernet from Tunkhannock said. 'It's past time for him to show up for his own constituents,' Action Together NEPA Communications Director Jessica Brittain stated. We reached out to Representative Dan Meuser, as well as some other republican congress members who represent people in NEPA, about the budget resolution. Representative Meuser issued the following statement: As we've seen with similar protests across the country, these demonstrations are often orchestrated by outside groups with the sole purpose of creating chaos and spreading misleading claims. One of their latest falsehoods is that we are cutting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, which is simply not true–no matter how many times they say it, it doesn't make it remain focused on serving the hardworking people of our district by addressing real concerns, rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in government, and advancing policies that strengthen our economy. Republican Representative of Pennsylvania's Ninth District Dan Meuser Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protesters target McCormick's Scranton office
A group of protesters gathered outside U.S. Sen. David McCormick's office in Scranton on Monday to criticize Elon Musk's involvement in the Trump administration. Organized by Action Together NEPA and billed as 'Mondays With McCormick,' the group demanded McCormick represent all constituents equally, said Jessica Brittain, the bipartisan nonprofit's communications director. She citied issues surrounding Musk's 'illegal takeover of many parts of the federal government.' About 100 people attended. 'We're asking (senators) to speak out, because these issues are affecting their constituents,' she said. She pointed to the Trump administration freezing funds of federal agencies that provide services, leaving community organizations in the lurch concerning their expected funding and rendering Medicaid portals inaccessible. 'People deserve better, and they want their federal representatives to speak out against that,' Brittain said. She said a similar effort took place last week at the office of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. She said they intend to hold lawmakers accountable, including House members such as U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp. Brittain reported many of the protesters had trouble accessing the office by phone, but left messages for McCormick. She said many were optimistic about a social media post by McCormick's office indicating people had been contacting his office in recent days. 'It said they had heard from a lot of people, so we do know based on that that the message was getting through,' she said. 'That's the goal, to make sure that these folks who represent us are hearing from their constituents and taking their concerns seriously.' Brittain said another organization, Indivisible, was also involved in planning the event, and also explained that a large number of members of Action Together NEPA were all native to Northeast Pennsylvania. Move On and Working Families Party were also mentioned on graphics associated with the event. Lisa Wilkins, the secretary of the Wyoming County Democratic Women's Society, said a group from Susquehanna County committed to traveling to McCormick's office in Scranton to make their voices heard. 'We want Senator McCormick to know he needs to represent all of his constituents,' she said. 'That includes Democrats.' Wilkins voiced concerns about Musk, particularly his having access to 'everyone's information that should be private.' 'God only knows what he's done with it,' she said. Joanne Yanchick, of Hunlock Twp., a retired elementary school special ed teacher and education coach, said people traveled from many counties to protest. 'Pike, Lehigh Valley, Wyoming, Luzerne, Bradford, people came from out of the area to be there,' she said, adding the energy was good. 'People were very upbeat, they were united, people were honking horns in support.' Yanchick was concerned that defunding the Department of Education would hurt children. 'It's just so concerning with the public school setting, there's so much need and cutting that is just going to devastate them,' she said. Organizing Director of Action Together Northeast PA Jessica Steward Brittain speaks to supporters outside of the office of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick to protest Elon Musk and President Donald Trump in Scranton Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Protesters gather outside of the office of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick to speak out against the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk and President Donald Trump Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Protesters hold signs outside of the office of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick to speak out against Elon Musk and President Donald Trump in Scranton Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Protesters hold signs outside of the office of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick to speak out against the price of eggs in Scranton Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Jeff Grisewood, of Berwick, speaks into the megaphone during a protest outside of the office of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick on Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Scranton Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
