Latest news with #NorthCountryNeighborsforCivicEngagement
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protests of federal government changes scheduled for Saturday across the north country
Apr. 2—MASSENA — More than 50 individuals have signed up so far, and more than 100 others have expressed interest in taking part in a peaceful protest against changes under the Trump administration. They'll gather from noon to 2 pm. Saturday at the intersection of Main Street and Route 37 in Massena, and they won't be alone. Similar protests will be taking place throughout the United States, including in Potsdam, Watertown and Plattsburgh. Organizer Jeanna Matthews said her involvement started on March 14, when veterans and supporters were called up for a nationwide march, dubbed the Veterans March, to protest the impact of cuts on critical programs that support former military service members. The protests were spearheaded by 50501 (short for "50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement"), a political action organization founded to protest the policies and actions of the second Donald J. Trump administration. "I heard about a veterans march on March 14 that was being organized all around the country. I had been hearing about cuts to veteran's benefits and things like that, and Elon Musk and his team of programmers going in and just firing tons of people," Matthews said. "It was playing pretty fast and loose with essential services and veterans benefits, people who deserve much better treatment." She said she felt strongly enough about it that she talked to some friends and decided to hold an event that day, along with others that were taking place in the U.S. "The way they said it was in Washington, D.C., in every state capital, or in your town, at a street corner near you. Basically, do something where you are. I thought I could do that," she said. "So, some friends and I decided to just organize something." They then decided to do another similar event in conjunction with the nationwide protest on Saturday. That's being done in partnership with the North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement. "They have a lot more experience with this kind of thing," Matthews said. The event details have been posted on Facebook. "'We've been very clear that we should avoid the driveways. It's a peaceful protest and I really encourage people to focus on slogans on their signs that are convincing and respectful, and really try to get people to think about the direction things are going," she said. She has suggested several possible slogans for signs that might resonate with north country voters, like "Hands off Social Security," "Canada is our ally not Russia," "Reverse damaging cuts," "Stand with our allies," "Firing air traffic controllers makes us all less safe," "Protest DOGE," "Don't cut services for veterans," "Fund our schools," "Rural seniors need Social Security phone service," and "Musk's Tesla pays less taxes than you." "There's a lot of issues going on right now. I know there's a lot of things I'm concerned about. They're cutting Meals on Wheels. They're making Social Security difficult to access. They haven't outright cut Social Security, but they're saying you have to show up in person and you can't contact people on the phone. Especially for seniors in a rural area, that can be the difference between them being able to get access or not," Matthews said. "It would be nice if we could have just one problem and focus on that. But there's a full frontal assault of problems and I think a lot of them are very impactful up here." She suggested that some of the changes taking place in Washington aren't agreeable to many people. "I think many of these things were not what people voted for or advocated for," she said. "If they've done surveys, would you have wanted legal visa holders or green card holders targeted? Would you want cuts to veterans benefits? Would you want cuts to buying produce from farmers for food banks? Would you have wanted to make it difficult for the people who have paid into Social Security all of their life to be able to get those services? I think it's deeply unpopular all across the country, even in areas that voted strongly Republican. I think people are alarmed and afraid and want to have their voices heard." Peaceful protests have been planned on April 5 in: NEW YORK Albany Avon Batavia Beacon Binghamton Buffalo Canandaigua Corning Cornwall Delhi East Hampton Elizabethtown Farmingville Fredonia Gardiner Geneseo Glens Falls Greenport Hamilton Hastings on Hudson Hector Herkimer Highland Falls Ithaca Mamaroneck Massena Middletown Mineola Monticello Mount Kisco Nanuet New York Newburgh Norwich Oneonta Ovid Owego Patchogue Plattsburgh Potsdam Rochester Sag Harbor Saranac Lake Saratoga Springs Saugerties Seneca Falls Staten Island Syracuse Troy Utica Warwick Watertown VERMONT Barton Bennington Brandon Brattleboro Burlington Chester Hartford Jericho Manchester Center Newport Saint Albans City Shelburne South Burlington South Royalton Vergennes Winooski
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Stop the Cuts' rally protests Trump policies
PLATTSBURGH — Allison King wants people to sit up and pay attention. The proposed federal funding cuts to social programs are a generational threat, she said, standing in front of the Clinton County Government Center for the 'Stop the Cuts!' rally Saturday afternoon. Protesters filled the Government Center plaza in Downtown Plattsburgh in protest against the proposed cuts to social programs — particularly Medicaid — under President Donald Trump's administration. Organized by North Country NY Indivisible, North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement and Adirondack Voters for Change, the rally served as an urgent call to action. 'There are a lot of people in the North Country who may otherwise fall through the cracks without these programs,' King said. 'I am 67. I have never seen anything like this in our nation. It could take generations to recover.' King expressed her shock over the current administration's policies, warning that ignoring the impact of these cuts would lead to irreversible damage, criticizing those who remain indifferent. 'What scares me is the people letting it all go by, not paying attention to the impact it will have,' she said. But she was happy to see the rally's turnout this weekend. 'It is great to have people here, listening to and supporting our messages and caring about the issues,' King said. A CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT The crowd demanded their voices be heard, emphasizing the importance of social services, particularly Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. The event featured guest speakers including activists, political analysts, directors of local agencies and attendees had the opportunity to speak as well. Each speaker shared concerns about the direction of the current administration and the devastating impact the proposed cuts could have on communities across the nation. Kary Johnson, president of Adirondack Voters for Change, opened the rally with a powerful message of unity and resistance before introducing the guest speakers. 'Today, specifically, is a chance for the community to speak out about how they feel with what is going on,' Johnson said. 'There are a multitude of issues at hand, but today we are primarily focused on the cuts.' TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY Johnson emphasized that public funds should serve the people, rather than being cut from crucial programs that provide medical care and financial security. She praised the growing activism in the region and encouraged people to continue standing up for democracy. 'It is going to take the whole community to do something,' she added. 'But join: join with friends, join with neighbors. You do not have to do it alone. We are all here to protect democracy.' Rally attendee Nancy Church highlighted a sentiment shared by many about the frustration with the chaos surrounding government decisions. 'A lot of people here are so sick of the chaos,' she said. 'Most people don't mind seeing cuts, but they need to be thoughtful and need to be backed by facts and data. You can't just fire people and wait to see what happens.' Church's words reflected a key concern of the rally, which is the lack of careful planning in the administration's approach. Many in attendance agreed through cheer and applause that fiscal adjustments should not come at the expense of the country's most vulnerable citizens. 'EACH TIME, THE CROWD GETS LARGER' For Laura Collier and her husband Robert, attending these rallies is a necessary act of defiance against an administration she believes is making 'reckless' and 'dangerous' decisions. 'It's a frightening and terrible thing to live with such uncertainty and fear,' she said. 'Taking away Medicaid and working on taking Medicare, I feel like he is just trying to kill and destroy the older population. I don't see any other endgame for them.' Laura also criticized the administration's foreign policy, particularly its treatment of allies such as Canada and Ukraine. 'I am devastated to see what he has done to Ukraine and Canada, with the insults and the comments,' she said. 'Canada has been one of our staunchest allies and closest friends, what we did to them is unforgivable.' Robert emphasized the importance of grassroots activism. 'The only chance we have to get any changes is to make people realize, and it has to be grassroots,' he said. 'This is our third or fourth time out here—we are looking forward to more. Each time, the crowd gets larger.' He warned that many Americans, who voted for Trump, might not fully grasp the consequences of these cuts until they experience financial hardship firsthand. 'People who voted for him will realize when their retirement savings are half what they are today, when they cannot pay for health insurance, and when they have no Social Security,' he said. 'Maybe then, they will wake up and realize, 'Oh, I made a mistake.'' 'STOP THE CUTS' As the rally concluded, and the music resumed, the energy of the crowd was undeniable. Following the speakers, the crowd was given the opportunity to start some chants. Some chants the crowd came up with included: 'Stop the cuts!' chanted the crowd. 'Stop the cuts!' And another: 'A rally a day keeps the fascists away!' 'A rally a day keeps the fascists away!' the crowd repeated.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Neighbors group gathers in Ogdensburg to protest DOGE cuts
Mar. 17—OGDENSBURG — Approximately 200 protesters gathered in front of Ogdensburg City Hall Saturday to rally against the federal cuts being made by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency. The protest, titled a "March To Stop The Cuts," was sponsored by Adirondack Voters for Change and North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement. According to a press release from North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement, the group is concerned with a February budget resolution passed by House Republicans that would cut nearly $880 billion over the next 10 years with expectations that deep cuts would be made to Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. "The budget resolution passed would enact a vast tax giveaway to billionaires, funded by ripping away up to $880 billion in Medicaid funding that millions of Americans rely on. This would be a looting of our nation's safety net on a massive scale, making our nation sicker and poorer. We call on members of Congress to stop these egregious cuts to prevent severe harm to working families, children, pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities and all who rely on Medicaid for the care they need," George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, said in a statement. NY-21 congressional candidate Blake Gendebien, a Lisbon farmer, said that families and seniors in the district are "feeling the squeeze." "Too many working families and seniors in our district are feeling the squeeze, struggling to keep up with rising costs. But instead of making life more affordable, politicians in Washington and Albany are busy playing political games. With nearly half of our community over 65 and living on fixed incomes, we need real solutions to bring prices down and make everyday essentials affordable. That's why I will never vote to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid — seniors and families deserve the care they've earned," Gendebien said. Steve Knight, former CEO of United Helpers, said that nursing home and home care costs have been inflated due to inadequate Medicaid reimbursement. "Many times I've seen a private pay resident's life savings be devoured in 2-3 years leaving no legacy for their children or loved ones. Thousands of North Country jobs and countless businesses depend on organizations who rely on Medicaid reimbursement," he said. A similar protest took place at the Clinton Government Building in Plattsburgh. Both have offices for Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, who is expected to vacate her seat this year and be confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
