Two groups opposed to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and “Big Beautiful Bill” will rally July 26 in Dansville.
Organized by Genesee Valley Indivisible and Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, the “Liberty and Justice for All” rally will take place at 11 a.m. at 150 Franklin St., at the roadside right-of-way outside the Dansville Village Plaza entrance.
The agenda includes an introduction by Dr. Arnold Matlin of the Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace and Walter E. Pond of Genesee Valley Indivisible.
This will be only the second time that Genesee Valley Indivisible rallies as an organization in Dansville. The group held a pro-democracy rally there in May.
“It was pouring rain and cold and we didn’t have as much publicity,” Pond said. “Hopefully (Saturday) is going to be more well attended and more visible than the previous one.”
Pond said the rally is focused on issues that are resonating right now in local communities.
Speakers will include Rev. Laurel Nelson, who will address the impact of ICE locally, and Dr. David Breen, who will address the Republicans’ sweeping legislation that cut taxes and slashed Medicaid spending.
Citing what organizers called “increasing” incidents of detention, rally speakers will provide fresh updates on the actions of ICE in Western New York’s rural and agricultural counties south of Rochester, rally organizers said.
Organizers point to reports of migrant workers in Livingston, Ontario, Wyoming, and Genesee counties being detained at immigration court in Buffalo, at their homes the night before a scheduled immigration court appearance.
Breen, a retired pediatrician, is expected to address concerns that cuts to Medicaid threaten the sustainability of the region’s rural hospitals.
The groups said the rally will also include music, including a performance by Mary Lester.
The rally is scheduled for 60 minutes in length.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Organizers: Dansville rally will target ICE raids, ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ What to know
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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