Protesters will lay out objections to Trump administration polices at “No Kings” events on Saturday, Oct. 18, in Hornell, Wellsville and elsewhere around the region.
Organized by the City of Hornell Democratic Committee, Hornell rally-goers will gather from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Union Square Park at Seneca and Genesee streets.
The Maple City protest coincides with a nationwide “No Kings 2.0” day of action and mass mobilization Oct. 18 in response to what organizers call the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.
In June, national “No Kings” leaders estimated that “No Kings” demonstrations drew over five million people to more than 2,100 events across the country.
Local organizers said in a statement that the Trump administration is “targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants; threatening to overtake elections; gutting health care, environmental protections, and education when families need them most.”
Hornell Democratic Party Chair John Clinton Bradley said as of Oct. 14, 27 people had registered to attend the protest. Participants are encouraged to register so organizers can send them updates if last-minutes changes take place.
In their application to the city for an event permit, organizers estimated the protest could attract up to 50 people.
The permit is expected to be issued after the Hornell Board of Public Works signs off on it at its Oct. 16 meeting.
Bradley said there is no agenda or speakers scheduled for the protest. He said participants will carry signs and encourage honks and support from passersby.
“I do want to emphasize that this is a peaceful event,” Bradley said. “All ‘No Kings’ events are meant to be non-violent, peaceful, no civil disobedience. I am going to discourage people from anything that would exacerbate negative feelings from the other side.”
Bradley noted the Hornell protest may not appear on national “No Kings 2.0” maps and listings because it came together so late.
Second No Kings rally planned in Wellsville
Wellsville hosted a No Kings rally in June on Main Street at the Fassett Greenspace, and organizers are planning another event Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon.
This time, attendees will line up on the “skywalk” that spans the four-lane Genesee Parkway connecting Island Park and Tullar Field. Any overflow will line public walkways around the bridge. The center lane of the skywalk will be maintained for pedestrian traffic, organizers said.
Other regional events are planned in Hammondsport, Corning, Coudersport, Olean, Elmira and Watkins Glen.
No Kings rallies in Livingston County Oct. 18
Meanwhile, Genesee Valley Indivisible is sponsoring three No Kings 2.0 rallies in Livingston County Oct. 18.
Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace and Peace Action Geneseo will host a rally at Veterans Memorial Park at 132 Main St. in Geneseo from 10-11 a.m.
The 5 & 20 Alliance is hosting a rally at the Lima Four Corners, at East Main and Rochester Street in Lima from 12-1 p.m.
Hemlock Rising is hosting a rally at the corner of Routes 20A and 15 in Livonia from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell Democrats holding ‘No Kings’ rally Oct. 18. Other events in Wellsville, Livingston
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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