Sunday a group of individuals hoping to gain support for a somewhat radical cause headed out in the community. Vince Briga explains why they need help from their neighbors.
BAINBRIDGE, N.Y. -- A group of secession advocates were in Bainbridge on Sunday, rallying to gain more community support for their movement. They’re pushing to secede from New York State and merge with Pennsylvania.
While the idea of secession in 2015 seems like a radical idea, advocates of the plan are hoping to do just that. They plan to show residents why breaking away from downstate New York and joining Pennsylvania will help what we know as upstate, prosper.
"I hope this event inspires people to get more involved politically with their state. It's important that people know what's going on," said Victor Furman, a Sapbush Road Group employee.
"I hope it wakes people up to see that this is a problem. We need to address it and we need to address it now before it gets any worse," said Sandra Davis, a Deposit resident.
At a political rally Sunday, secession supporters were thrilled to see dozens of members of the community coming out to show their support. And help from neighbors is exactly what they'll need to continue with their plan.
While advocates of the idea were happy with the large turnout, they say they're not surprised.
"I think everyone on some level understands New York state is broken and nothing can fix it but secession," said Aaron Price, a Secession advocate.
For a portion of a state to secede and join another, it must first receive community support as well approval from both state legislatures. Families living within miles of the Pennsylvania border came out to join the movement, saying secession would have a large economic impact on their communities.
"We'll be able to thrive. We'll see natural gas drilling which will make us independent on our own. We won't have to count on the state to help us out. We can be thriving on our own little entities," said Davis.
Organizers of the rally hope it brings upstate New Yorker's a new sense of pride about their future. Secession advocates say they will continue to hold community rallies around the state until they gain enough support.