Protest Buffalo, NY 4/5/25

Thank you my friends

Photo by Liam Edwards on Unsplash

Underneath the gunmetal grey skies, as the blustery wind swirled through Niagara Square, the sole of someone's shoe landed on the pavement in front of City Hall in downtown Buffalo.

The place where William McKinley was assassinated and later that day inaugurated Theodore Roosevelt in 1901.

Looking at the architecture around downtown Buffalo speaks to the great history of this once prosperous city. Once one of the great steel manufacturers in the United States. Unfortunately today it is not what it once was from a manufacturing standpoint.

As the suburban sprawl occurred, the once highly desirable city of the 1960s and 1970s has become a bit of an afterthought when it comes to the national spotlight.

We have the Buffalo Bills, who still are a bright spot in this community but ultimately a drag on our economy because unfortunately it costs our fading city a lot in tax dollars. This tax revenue also happens to get siphoned off to downstate areas like New York City.

Then another sole struck the pavement of Niagara Square. Then another and another.

Soon thousands of the leather clad feet arrived at the center of our once great city. Flags were flown and posters made at home from cardboard and magic markers were held up high.HANDS OFF OUR MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY, LIBRARIES, NATIONAL PARKS. FDT, FIRE THE TURD REICH. Signs everywhere in all shapes and sizes.

“STAND UP, FIGHT BACK” was shouted at the top of our collective lungs. People of all nationalities, white, black, gay, straight. It was an experience I felt lucky to be a part of.

We then marched down Delaware, then on to W. Chippewa then left onto Niagara Street to gather back at Niagara Square.

The coming together of all these people from the City of Buffalo to the suburbs like Tonawanda, Amherst, Williamsville, Hamburg and Orchard Park. Hopefully some from our rural communities as well now that the Trump regime has pulled US agricultural aid from farmers.

This type of gathering is happening all across the United States and even across the world. Germany, France, Canada and Britain are all part of this campaign.

So, as a guy from a little town in Buffalo, NY, I know I am part of something much, much bigger. This is what looks to be the start of something, and not just a one time event. We are going to have to be relentless and not let up.

We are going to have to be more relentless than the attack that is being waged against this democracy.

Today has been a great start. We have to ride this wave of momentum until we get what is fair and equitable to our population. Pushing average people around is not going to end well for the Trump regime. We will continue to gather, we will continue to fight back, resist, disobey, oppose, object, defy, obstruct, inhibit, frustrate and dig in our heals against this abuse of power. We will not be denied.

Love you all,

Erik

PS This song was played at the rally today. It'll give a little taste if you couldn't make it to a rally today!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=fKE34D_rrD4&si=oX86zCCyowSEBWpn