Peaceful Protest and Rally in front of Paladino’s Headquarters

Thursday, October 14 · 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Loehmanns/Tops Plaza in Brighton
1900 South Clinton Avenue (14618)
Rochester, NY

Words matter. This month our nation has seen the harvest of homophobia. There are reports of as many as 9 young people who have died by their own hand within the last few weeks trying to escape the misery of anti-gay harassment.

The GOP candidate for NY Governor Carl Paladino just added more fuel to the fire of ignorance and hate. Watch his speech at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKL9TRaePww.

Mr. Paladino followed this up with multiple national interviews using “gay-baiting” rhetoric obviously trying to rile and mobilize his base. Add this to his racist and sexist slurs and it is obvious his hateful words are simply a campaign strategy. If Mr. Paladino is “sorry” at all it is only because his strategy is not working that well…

Please join us Thursday (10/14) from 4:30 – 6:00 PM to protest Mr. Paladino’s homophobic and discriminatory statements. We are planning a peaceful public demonstration at the entrance to Loehmann’s Plaza (Tops Market) 1900 Clinton Ave. S in Brighton where Carl Paladino has his campaign headquarters.

We want to make it very clear to Mr. Paladino that Rochester does not share his views and that discrimination will not be tolerated.

Please help us make a big statement to Mr. Paladino by showing up Thursday at 4:30 and spreading this message to everyone you know. Please share this event into, post it on your profile, spread the word, and make your voice heard!

Additional food for thought:

“I wonder how candidates of such questionable quality become part of our political landscape?,” asked local activist Anne Tischer. “Paladino touts bigotry and intolerance like he is proud of it. He cynically believes that it will draw voters to him. I have a much higher opinion of the voting public: I believe most citizens want their vote to represent a stand for sanity and civility in today’s political climate of aggressive disrespect and division.”

“There is a relationship between the recent rash of reported teen suicides resulting from anti-gay harassment and the toxic climate that is created by homophobic rhetoric like that used by individuals such as Carl Paladino,” wrote Rochesterian Todd Plank. “This rhetoric demeans and marginalizes gays and lesbians, and the people who speak it have blood on their hands for damaging the self-esteem of our vulnerable young people and adults. Their words goad those who are already hostile to LGBT people into actions that directly or indirectly cause real harm to our youth.”

This event is organized and promoted by Equality Rochester and Marriage Equality New York.See More
Wall