Faith leaders, immigrant advocates and elected officials detail the implications of one year under the Trump Administration.
Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado delivers a fiery speech to a crowd of over 150 protestors, highlighting the cruelty of the Trump Administration, and the ways to fight back. CREDIT: Dylan Wheeler
Yesterday, local faith leaders, immigrant leaders, and elected officials gathered for a FREE AMERICA rally at the Hon. Charles L. Brieant Jr. Federal Building and Courthouse in White Plains. As one of 600 rallies planned nationwide as part of the Women’s March, organizers worked to bring attention to one year under the Trump Administration and how New Yorkers are fighting back.
In one year under the Trump Administration we have witnessed an attack on the rule of law and democracy itself, while our most vulnerable neighbors have disappeared. Since Donald Trump’s inauguration we have seen:
- New Yorkers disappeared: New Yorkers have been illegally rounded up in mass since the beginning of 2025. In one instance an upstate mother and her three children were wrongfully abducted and sent to a detention center in Texas.
- Civil liberties trampled: The Trump Administration has clamped down on peaceful protest and dissent using militarized police to silence opposition.
- Slashing of our services: Since taking office the Trump Administration has cut over 1 trillion dollars in Medicare and Medicaid through his “One Big Beautiful Bill” to give tax breaks to the top 1%.
- Economic chaos : The undemocratic Trump Tariffs have led to a rise in inflation with Americans now paying for his trade wars and increased unemployment.
- Firing employees and replacing them with loyalists: Plans to replace civil service workers with individuals loyal to the next conservative president, ensuring alignment with the administration’s policies.
“What we’re seeing from this administration is an attempt to govern through fear; raids that terrorize families, silence dissent, and tell people to stay in line or stay quiet. Said Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado. “New Yorkers are saying no. Today’s walkout is about refusing to accept cruelty as normal and about building what comes next. That means actually protecting our immigrant communities by passing the New York For All Act to ban police collaboration with ICE. It also means taxing the ultra-wealthy who have captured our politics, and getting corporate interests out of government so democracy truly belongs to the people again.”
A group of over 150 gathered at the Hon. Charles L. Brieant Jr. Federal Building and Courthouse in White Plains. Protestors brought signs and had their voices heard. CREDIT: Dylan Wheeler
“Since day one, the Trump regime has been relentless in its quest to undermine democracy, strip reproductive care, terrorize immigrants, criminalize protest, and target trans people — but New Yorkers aren’t standing for it,” said Ignacio Acevedo, Senior Organizer for the NYCLU in the Hudson Valley. “From Buffalo to Long Island, New Yorkers are marching, organizing, and demanding that our state leaders act swiftly and boldly to combat Trump’s dangerous, deeply-unpopular agenda. Now is the time for Albany to protect New Yorkers and defend our rights.”
“This walkout is a result of the people of this state and this country being sold out to millionaires and billionaires.” said Ravo Root, Lead Organizer with Citizen Action New York. “Politicians who are bought and paid for gave us Donald Trump by not representing everyday people. Instead of standing with families and communities, corporate elites are being empowered, and a bloated, corrupt, and out of control operation like ICE is being given the ability to be weaponized against our own people. We should be passing real solutions like New York for All, not doubling down on cruelty. This is not a time for half measures or more of the same. We need bold leadership right now, and the people in power must step up instead of playing politics with people’s lives.”
