BUFFALO (WBEN) - A couple weeks ago, cars and protesters filled Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo to protect the New York pause order. On Friday afternoon, more protesters gathered outside the Rath Building, again calling for an end to New York's economic shutdown.
Another protest in Buffalo calling for the reopening of the New York economy - this time outside of the Rath Building. @NewsRadio930 pic.twitter.com/OFEIMFTZhV
— Brendan Keany (@BrendanKeany) May 1, 2020
There were some protesters driving around the block and honking their horns, but a majority of the participants, including a younger man that wanted to remain anonymous, demonstrated on the sidewalk.
"There's a lot of people probably with different opinions, but the reason why we're out here is because we just feel like a lot of our freedoms are being taken away in a fashion that is being portrayed as for our health, but it's more just to bring more restrictions on to us," he said. "We believe we can be safe during this and we can be safe during a reopening, but it just seems like there's just too many restrictions and not trusting the citizens of the state."
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz reacted to the protest on Twitter:
No traffic issues with protest. About 100 protestors and 15 cars driving around the building. Twice I was outside for about 10 minutes watching from the front of Rath Building. No one recognized me, though I did have my mask on. Generally a peaceful protest. pic.twitter.com/T8Nwxyx6Wh
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) May 1, 2020
