Genesee Valley Guardian

Vol 2, Issue 6 – February 10, 2026

“STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!” RALLY REPORT

GVI’s “STAND UP, FIGHT BACK Saturday” series continued in the Village of Lima on Saturday, February 7th, emphasizing the theme, “ICE OUT FOR RENEE GOOD” and “REMEMBERING ALEX PRETTI”.

This was the fourth rally in this series. Forty protesters showed up in zero degree weather with double digit below zero wind chills to protest the murderous and unconstitutional acts of ICE and CBP.

Lima has a rich history in education, religion, and transportation. The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and College was founded in 1831 and was the first in the nation to admit both men and women. Lima’s history is also tied to former stagecoach lines and railroad routes, as it served as a travel hub in the 19th century. The heart of Lima features charming 19th century architecture with many historical and well-preserved Victorian and Federal-style structures.

GENESEE VALLEY VOICES

From Jeff Farruggia, Leicester, NY

One of the concerning issues to me is the erosion of our civil rights. We have a Supreme Court that was more than willing to roll back a woman’s right to choose. An administration that freely deports people without due process. A president who legislates by executive action. John F. Kennedy, in a speech on June 11, 1963, called civil rights a moral crisis saying “We face, therefore, a moral crisis as a country and a people… It is a time to act in the Congress, in your State and local legislative body and, above all, in all of our daily lives”.

The problem is Congressional Republicans are incapable of acting. This wasn’t always the case. When Nixon flouted the law and tried to cover it up, it was congressmen of his own party who threatened him with impeachment and conviction if he didn’t resign. Will current Republicans in congress ever grow a spine?

KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING

We will be at the traffic circle (aka Avon Village Circle Park) at Noon on Saturday, February 14th, at Noon.

This “Stand Up, Fight Back Saturday” event will focus on the Epstein Files. At the time this is being planned, members of Congress have been given access to 3 million unredacted pages out of the 12 million pages of Epstein files that the Department of Justice says it has in its possession. Is giving members of Congress access to the unredacted files enough!? Will Congress insist that the files be released to the public using the criteria of the Epstein Files Transparency Act? After all, that is what Congress almost unanimously instructed the Department of Justice to do on November 19, 2025. It feels like members of Congress need a reminder that they answer to The People. And the people are not happy with them, either! Take a stand for full transparency and for justice for the victims of Epstein and his cronies who abused girls and young women for years. Join us.

Town Hall Forum

February 15, 2026 12:00–3:00 PM

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Diana Kastenbaum and Alissa Ellman, candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 24 seat; Ken Estes, Jr., running as an Independent; and Claudia Tenney, seeking re election, have been invited to attend. IOC has also extended invitations to all elected officials representing local, county, and state offices.

The Vigil & Protest plans in Batavia continue to grow. The GLOW Community Alliance has added a rally ahead of the Vigil starting at 3pm and ending at 4pm, as participants make their way to the Vigil.

RSVP for the Batavia Vigil & Protest

RSVP for the Batavia pre-Vigil Rally

RSVP for the Canandaigua Vigil & Protest

It’s ICE or Us 2026 ICE Boycott List

See the companies supporting ICE in 2026

This ICE boycott list identifies companies that financially support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through detention contracts, financing, technology services, and operational support. The list is updated regularly and includes banks, private prison companies, government contractors, and corporate vendors connected to ICE detention operations.

Amazon

Apple

Aramark

AT&T

Avelo Airlines

Axon Enterprise

Bank of America

Bank OZK

BlackRock

Blue Owl Capital

Booz Allen Hamilton

Cellebrite

Citizens Bank

Comcast

CoreCivic

Dell

Equifax

FedEx

First Horizon Bank

General Dynamics

GEO Group

Google

HBO Max

Hilton

Home Depot

Hulu

L3Harris

Leidos

LexisNexis

Weekly Geneseo Wednesday and Friday Protests

Wednesdays and Fridays — 3:00–4:00 PM (Winter Schedule)
Gateway Corner Park in Geneseo, NY (across from Wegmans)

Join the ‘Genesee Valley Visibles’ – all are welcome, even if you can only stay for 10 minutes!

Weekly Hemlock Protest

Wednesdays — 3:30–4:30 PM (Winter Schedule)

Southeast Corner of Rt 15A and Rt 20A (aka “Dollar General Corner”)
Organized by Hemlock Rising Indivisible (hemlockrising8@gmail.com)

Anti-ICE Action

For members who attended the February 5th GVI meeting, the flyer is for the anti-ICE event starting at the Federal Building. Mark your calendar and talk with friends about carpooling!

NYS ACTIONS

Primary Elections – June 23, 2026

Deadline to Register to Vote in Primary Elections – Feb. 14, 2026

NYS holds Primary Elections in June for Governor, Congress, State Legislature, and Municipal offices so that the Democratic and Republican parties can select their candidate for the General Election in November. To vote in the Primary Election, a person must:

Be registered to vote
Confirm your registration at vote.org, at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov, or Livingston County residents may contact the County Board of Elections at 585-243-7090 or 585-335-1705.
Be registered to vote as a member of the Democratic or Republican party
If your voter registration shows your party affiliation is “BLANK,” or if you are registering to vote for the first time, you must select a political party and the Livingston County Board of Elections must receive your Voter Registration Form by February 14, 2026.

NATIONAL INDIVISIBLE NEWS

What’s the Plan Calls: A weekly, national Zoom call with Indivisible National founders and co-CEOs. Questions from the audience are encouraged.

LIVE – Thursdays from 3pm to 4pm (2026 registration link)
PODCAST – Available to listen on Fridays

Check out the website redesign at Indivisble.org!

Cleaner layout and better navigation.
Can you find the box, “Stay Connected. Subscribe to Our Newsletter” near the bottom of the home page?

UPCOMING EVENTS

GVI Weekly Community Meeting

2/5 – Postcarding plans this month; Team Meetings

2/12 – Starts at 6:00 PM; Bring your own dinner; Write postcards; Team Meetings

Thursdays, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Geneseo, NY

Welcome. No RSVP required.
Address & map
Enter through the red door in the back of the church.
Weather cancellations will be emailed to all GVI members by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Join our member email list.

GVI Calendar

Assemblywoman Jen Lundsford (D-135)

on Opening Day of Assembly, 2026

Advocacy 101 Webinar

Feb. 17, 6:30 – 7:30 pm (rescheduled from 1/29)

This event has been rescheduled due to winter weather. Those who registered for Jan. 29 do not need to re-register. Join your friends at Indivisible Rochester for an empowering webinar with Assembly member Jen Lunsford, D-135, on the basics of advocacy and how laws are made in New York state. A Zoom link will be sent the day of the event.

Community Support Meeting (in-person event)

Feb. 15, 12:45 – 1:45 PM, 121 Fitzhugh St., Rochester (Quaker Library) inside United Presbyterian Church

Join a free supportive group meeting. Contact sarahsocialworker@gmail.com with questions. No need to RSVP; just show up. This is not a religious event.