"Food is a human right": Protestors demand full SNAP benefits at Albany rally

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) —At a time when millions are struggling to afford groceries and SNAP benefits remain uncertain during the government shutdown — people in Albany are taking matters into their own hands.

At Townsend Park on Sunday there was a rally and food drive called Fight Back “Hands Off Our Food Stamps.” Protesters came and brought awareness to the issue of families still missing their SNAP benefits they depend on and at the same time, bringing non-perishable food to help those in need.

All the food and basic necessities brought will be donated to food pantries.

“We demand that Congress authorize SNAP fully. We demand that the Trump administration stop playing political games with people’s food and to restore the funding all the way. We’re seeing that they’re using this hunger crisis as a bargaining chip to demand that the Democrats and the government shut down. They want to use hungry people as props to put pressure on Democrats to come to the table,” said Bryan Paz-Hernandez, Co-Facilitator of No Kings Collective.

It has been confirmed that a recent federal court ruled that the USDA must resume full SNAP benefits for November. However, they don’t know when they will arrive because each state handles the actual distribution of SNAP funds to recipients’ EBT cards.

“I don’t have my SNAP benefits back and it’s really disheartening because, you know, right now I’m on maternity leave, so having access to basic human rights like food is something that we all should have,” said Chandler Hickenbottom, Co-Founder of Saratoga, Black Lives Matter.

Hickenbottom came with her baby to this protest and spoke about the struggles of not having SNAP as a mother to a newborn baby.

“A lot of people speak on how people who have access to SNAP usually are only on it for like 6 to 24 months at most and I was going to be one of those people that was only going to be on it for six months. And, you know, it’s a shame to realize that, you know, after only being on it for two months now, here comes the holiday season and I don’t have access to be able to provide for my family,” said Hickenbottom.

News10s Tyanna Xavier spoke to Amanada Eichenhofer who said her dad is on SNAP due to a traumatic brain injury that he sustained 18 years ago and cannot work.

“Folks like my dad, you know, he just wants to eat. He just wants to live a regular life just like the rest of us and I don’t think my dad, nor any disabled American, elderly American, or just anyone who is struggling financially should have this extra stress,” said Eichenhofer.

Not everyone at the event was depending on food stamps, but many say they’re here because they can’t ignore those who do.

 “I’m out here because I have plenty to eat and I know that there are a lot of people in this world that do not and they’re hanging by a thread. And things are so difficult and people are struggling. And I don’t think I can sit in my recliner at home and feel satisfied and comfortable when people are struggling to that degree,” said Frankie Reynolds, protestor at event.

Organizers say they’ll continue holding rallies like this until their voices are fully heard because they believe food is a human right, not a situation where someone doesn’t know where they are going to get their next meal from.