About 20 organizers gathered Tuesday outside Rep. John Katko’s (R-Camillus) office in downtown Syracuse to protest his endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Katko, who represents Onondaga County in New York’s 24th Congressional District, said in January that he would support Trump’s reelection in 2020. The congressman cited Trump’s economic and trade policies as reasons for his endorsement.

Indivisible NY24, an activist group resisting Trump’s presidential agenda in central and western New York, staged the rally at noon outside Katko’s office building on South Warren Street.

Speakers and organizers cited Trump’s behavior and controversial policies, specifically his stance on immigration, as reasons for their disapproval of Katko’s endorsement.

“We’re sending a message to Representative Katko and the people of central New York, that if he’s going to side with President Trump, then we need somebody else in this office,” said Thomas Keck, an organizer and member of Indivisible NY24, and a professor of political science at Syracuse University, in an interview with The Daily Orange.

The Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network began the rally with a 15-minute silent vigil. The organization holds vigils every Tuesday outside Katko’s office to protest detainment camps at the United States’ southern border.

Mary Kuhn, Onondaga County legislator for the 7th District, criticized Trump’s immigration policies in a speech. She said she couldn’t imagine a good reason anyone could have for endorsing Trump for president.

“We have watched families separated, infants taken from the breasts of their mothers, children in cages,” she said. “John, were you thinking, ‘Let’s make American white again?’”

Jim McKeever, a local activist who spoke at the rally, also criticized Trump and Katko’s stance on immigration.

“Mr. Katko is fond of using the term ‘illegal alien,’” McKeever said, pointing up to Katko’s office on the seventh floor. “Now, can you think of two worse words to put together to describe a human being?”

Democrat Dana Balter, who is running to unseat Katko in the November 2020 elections, attended the rally. Balter lost the 24th Congressional District seat to Katko in 2018.

Trump is one of the most corrupt presidents the country has ever seen, Balter said.

“John Katko failed us,” she said. “When he had the opportunity to stand up, he cowered in the corner and said to the president, ‘Please don’t hurt me.’”

Protesters also criticized Katko for not holding a town hall during his term. While he’s willing to meet with groups in private on occasion, Katko has repeatedly turned down requests to hold town hall meetings where constituents can ask open and unfiltered questions, Keck said.

“Take care, John,” Kuhn said at the end of her speech. “Enjoy your last couple of months. You’re out.”

Organizers repeated, “You’re out!”

Published on February 25, 2020 at 10:02 pm

Contact Sarah: scalessa@syr.edu | @sarahalessan