Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — Thousands of residents gathered in Syracuse’s Forman Park for the “Hands Off!” protest, one of more than 1,000 nationwide over the weekend.
A group of organizations, including Citizen Action of New York, CNY Solidarity, Indivisible Cayuga County and student-led groups from Syracuse University, organized the event in response to President Donald Trump’s administration policies.
“The well-being of so many people close to me and around me is at risk,” Mattie Klein, a student at SUNY Geneseo, said. “When things as basic as food are not considered human rights, it’s unacceptable.”
Recently-imposed Trump tariffs on imported goods will significantly affect food prices for all consumers, raising the cost of everyday essentials.
Klein also addressed the cuts to U.S. health agencies and her father’s health being affected by the Trump administration’s threats to cut Medicare.
“Over 10,000 people have been laid off from the healthcare field,” Klein said. “My dad is on Medicare, his health is at risk.”
More than 66 million Americans get their healthcare coverage from Medicare, including around 98,000 people living in Syracuse.
People from all walks of life, including members of the pro-Palestine community, LGBTQIA+ advocates, as well as older and younger generations, stood side by side at the protest.
“The biggest thing that brought me out was the attack against trans, non-binary people, and gender queer people,” said Syracuse resident Derek Januszka. “I’m out here to support them. As my sign states, there is no LGB without the T.”
From the rollback of transgender rights to cutting funds for federal services and healthcare, the crowd rallied against policies they believed disproportionately harmed marginalized communities.
Older generations expressed frustration over high poverty rates as Syracuse sits at over 29%, higher than the national average.
“We are in a city that has the highest structural poverty rate of any region in the nation,” Clemmie Harris, the Director of African Studies and Associate Professor at Utica University, said. “So we are allowing the silence and extinction of an entire generation. We cannot sit idly when structural inequality exists, but we urge on those who are often unseen because they cannot speak for themselves. That is why we must see ourselves differently.”
Younger residents also voiced their concerns over the future of education in spreading awareness about important issues.
“I’m in the news program at my school and I try to help by making posters and making segments about all that is happening in the world,” Bella Taipia said.
She added that it’s often hard to take in so many issues at once, but she feels responsible for staying aware and contributing in any way she can.
The protest brought community unity through the far-reaching effects of government decisions and a major demand for change. As the event ended, locals called awareness to advocate for policies supporting all members of the community.
“We are all human and we need to understand what Dr. King said, ‘Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love,'” Harris said.