The noise of an India Walton rally in Niagara Square Tuesday had to be audible in the offices of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
A group of perhaps 100 people gathered in the square across the street from City Hall carried signs and chanted for Walton, a Democratic Socialist and political newcomer who shocked the four-term Mayor last week in the Democratic primary.
“I intend to end the reign of terror on City Hall employees and people who do business with the City of Buffalo,” Walton said while speaking in the square. “In the India Walton administration, everyone will be able to speak their mind and hold true to their values, without fear of retribution.”
The rally came one day after Brown announced he will launch a write-in campaign for the general election this November.
“This write-in is a distraction,” Walton said. “It's dragging our city into the dark side of politics. But we are and will continue to be the light,”
In his announcement, Brown criticized Walton for her politics and alleged she is not ready to be mayor. Brown also claimed he’s heard from residents who are fearful of Walton and “do not want a radical Socialist occupying the mayor's office.”
In response, Walton said she was tough on the mayor during the primary and will be harsher in the general election.
“If they thought we were a threat before, if they thought we raised issues and conversations like you've never seen before, I want to say you're being put on notice,” she said. “You ain't seen nothing yet.”
Walton said she's raising money from within Buffalo and from an array of other places for the campaign, including $40,000 on Monday from 600 people, and is gearing up for an even more intense door-to-door campaign than she waged in the primary.
