Complaints mount over weekly protests in Mount Kisco

Protestors line Main Street last Saturday afternoon in Mount Kisco. The weekly demonstrations have raised tensions with those who believe the protestors are hurting the village and receiving special treatment. MARTIN WILBUR PHOTO

By MARTIN WILBUR

Mount Kisco officials sought to clarify this week what is permissible protesting in the wake of a growing number of criticisms of the weekly Saturday afternoon protests on Main Street outside Village Hall and the library.

Village Attorney Jonathan Nelson addressed the matter at the Oct. 19 board meeting, stating that the government takes no side but ensures that people and groups of all views are treated equally. He cited multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases that emphasized how the content or point of view of protestors cannot be a reason to deny a demonstration.

Nelson called the sidewalk “one of the oldest stages in American democracy” and constitutionally protected under the First Amendment.

“When people stand on that sidewalk holding a sign, they’re using it for exactly the way it has always been for, and New York adds its own guarantee, Article I, sections 8 and 9 of our state constitution protects speech, assembly and petition independently of the First Amendment and New York’s highest court has at times used these protections even more broadly,” Nelson said.

“In Mount Kisco, the sidewalk belongs to everyone, and so does this podium,” he added. “The village may not favor or disfavor speech because of what it says.”

He pointed out that there are limits to that right, and that protestors must comply with local ordinances.

Long-running protests

The Rally for Democracy protests started in February 2025, a couple of weeks after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. For about five months the protestors assembled on Kisco Avenue near the Tesla dealership in protest of the actions of the administration and Elon Musk, who at the time led the controversial Department of Government Efficiency.

Starting in July 2025, the gatherings have mostly been held by Village Hall and the library, although when there are conflicting events, they are shifted to Green Street and Lexington Avenue.

During recent Village Board meetings, some residents have lodged complaints with the Village Board, arguing that the crowds have been blocking the sidewalk along Main Street, making excessive noise, displaying offensive signs, disrespecting the flag and even planting partisan signs on municipal property around Village Hall.

Too much noise?

Others have contended that the protestors are violating village ordinances. Former Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora said she observed the protests on Oct. 10 and 17, and organizers have not complied with the terms that were agreed to with the village. 

She charged that the use of amplification that regularly features a DJ, music and announcements, blockage of the sidewalk and signs placed on village property are violations. Originally, amplification was only to be used to read portions of the Bill of Rights and Constitution, she said.

Flora called the board “derelict in its duties” for failing to rein in the demonstrations, which have been going beyond their original parameters, and for failing to enforce local ordinances.

“This is not government of, by and for the people. This is government of, by and for one political party and it’s being enabled by the board,” Flora said. “I’m not surprised that not much has gotten accomplished here over the past year because everyone’s worrying about politics instead of our quality of life.”

One of the protest organizers, Marianne Delaney, dismissed the complaints, pointing out that those who assemble are doing so peacefully, joyfully and respectfully. Most weeks the event lasts an hour and monitors and others clean the area afterwards. The rallies have also featured guest speakers in addition to music, she said.

Critics have their own goals

Delaney said most of the critics have their own political goals.

“Much of it has come from a small number of individuals with a distinct agenda and engaged in ongoing political disputes that long predate our presence,” said Delaney, a Bedford resident. “The accusations are based on disinformation or distorted facts that do not reflect who we are or what we do. There is a trend among them to willfully misrepresent the truth, to demonize us. Usually, it is for political gain on behalf of those who they support or their own future political ambitions.”

Tony Giardina said he has attended the rallies from the start and has never witnessed problems.

“We have never intimidated a soul, we work diligently to keep the sidewalks clear and the access to the building clear, and I, just for the record, want you to know that we are all in favor of keeping our protests in an orderly fashion,” Giardina said. “We may get a little exuberant once in a while, but that is to be understood.”

The Rev. Emily DeTar of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Mount Kisco said the protests have provided those who haven’t felt heard on important issues a way for them to exercise their rights in their community.

Call to vary locations

Another speaker, Meighan Gallagher of Mount Kisco, suggested that there should be a rotation between the protestors using Main Street and another location. Gallagher said she hopes the library can bring back the Saturday Story Time for the spring and fall, which previously took place outside the library.

Before Delaney spoke, there was a brief shouting match between those critical of the board and officials. The village’s recently revised public comment policy limits speakers to residents and businesses along with a strict three-minute cap for each speaker. Resident Kim Terlizzi, who earlier in the meeting said she agreed with Nelson’s explanation of the right to protest, said officials are failing to follow their own guidelines.

“You need to take control of this, Mike,” Terlizzi said to Mayor J. Michael Cindrich. “Your board made the rule. Your board made the rule about the three minutes and about non-residents. How can you let this happen?”

Cindrich said that he was disappointed that organizers failed to abide by their word to only use amplification for readings. He also said the village would explore the use of a police officer or a volunteer firefighter to serve as a crossing guard, since some complaints focused on potential liability of untrained monitors helping people cross Main Street.

The mayor reminded Delaney and organizer Fred Silverman that every other event held in the village, including various festivals, goes through an approval process and perhaps the same should be done here. When the protest location changed last year, Cindrich said the events would be toned down, which hasn’t occurred.

“It’s every weekend with me the complaints that I get,” Cindrich said. “It’s unfair to me. Marianne just said it’s only an hour. It isn’t only an hour; it’s more than an hour with the complaints that I’m getting.”