A solidarity rally supporting transgender people, LGBTQIA+ residents and immigrants is planned for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Geneva City Hall. Seven organizations are sponsoring the demonstration.
Organizers announced the demonstration in a news release criticizing a mid-October campaign mailer from Mark Benjamin, the Republican candidate for New York’s 131st Assembly District. They described the mailer as attacking transgender people, spreading misinformation about immigrants and engaging in red-baiting.
The gathering will take place at 47 Castle St. The event, called “Defend Our Community! Rally against Hate!,” is intended to bring together Genevans, students and neighbors from across the Finger Lakes. Organizers said they want to demonstrate support for people targeted by divisive political rhetoric and call for leaders who protect everyone living in the region.
The release argues that candidates should focus on the cost of living, access to health care, landfill pollution and school funding. Organizers contend that blaming transgender people and immigrants distracts from those issues and from the responsibility of politicians and billionaires.
Seven groups sponsor the rally
Co-sponsors are Geneva Women’s Assembly, Students for Humanitarian Justice, Finger Lakes Justice Partnership, FLX Beacon, Keuka Compass, Naples Pride and the Party for Socialism and Liberation–Upstate New York.
H. May, a member of FLX Beacon and Geneva Women’s Assembly, said the demonstration is a response to politicians, news organizations and institutions increasingly abandoning or scapegoating transgender people, other LGBTQIA+ people and immigrants.
“We will not be divided by hate and fear. We demand leaders who protect the health and wellbeing of all who live in the region,” May said in the release.
Students for Humanitarian Justice also called for civic action in response to the mailer, saying its members stand in solidarity with people targeted by Benjamin’s rhetoric.
For information about the Friday gathering, the release lists press contact Karen Frost-Arnold at 315-521-0348 or kfrostarnold@gmail.com.
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