Cattaraugus-Allegany group to hold protest at Great Lakes Cheese starting at 4:30pm
From CALC, Follow them on Facebook
FRANKLINVILLE, NY – The Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective is calling on local residents to join a protest demanding accountability from Great Lakes Cheese for nearly a year of illegal dumping of toxic chemicals into Ischua Creek, with demands that the company stop immediately.
The protest will take place in front of the Great Lakes Cheese plant located at 1958 Integrity Way in Franklinville from 4:30-6:30 PM. Community members are invited to join for any amount of time that works for them.
Parking and Transportation Details
Parking is available at the American Legion ball field at 13 Plymouth Ave, Franklinville, NY 14737. Pink-vested volunteers will be available to escort participants to the protest location outside of Great Lakes Cheese. A volunteer will also be providing shuttle services throughout the event for any who need transportation assistance.
Environmental Impact and Corporate Accountability
According to the organization’s statement, Great Lakes Cheese has caused a massive die-off of native wildlife and has been consistently polluting Ischua Creek since they opened less than a year ago. Since November 2024, the company has been dumping waste and chemicals (including chlorine, ammonia, and phosphorus) at levels exceeding their already generous state permits by 27 times.
“This poisoning of waterways and communities is the inevitable result of a system where corporations can do whatever they want, so long as they have the money to pay for it,” the collective stated. “The Department of Environmental Conservation [DEC] cannot be trusted to clean this up, because they are a part of the very system that created the mess.”
Broader Environmental Justice Mission
The Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective views this environmental abuse as part of a larger pattern of corporate exploitation occurring worldwide. The organization believes that preventing environmental devastation requires a complete system overhaul of the structures that allow toxic facilities to operate in communities.
Community Solidarity and Indigenous Rights
“If we are going to stand a chance against corporate greed, we must demand and work together to create a world where people & planet are prioritized over profit,” the collective stated. “We must respect the sovereignty of the Indigenous people of this land we occupy and commit to learning and following their lead in proper stewardship. We must recognize our shared interests & stand in solidarity with our neighbors and community members across town & county lines.”
The organization emphasizes that this protest represents an opportunity for community members to unite against corporate environmental violations while building broader solidarity for environmental and social justice causes.
Contact Information
For more information about the protest or the Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective, interested parties are encouraged to attend the demonstration or connect with organizers at the event. calccrew@proton.me
Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective organizes locally, linking up with others engaged in related struggles, regionally and uniting with the global struggle against exploitation and social injustice of all kinds, including LGBTQ+ and tenants’ rights, workers’ and women’s rights, environmental and racial justice, healthcare rights for everyone, and a free Palestine. We fight for everyone’s liberation!
