The Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization rallied in Niagara Square Thursday morning to urge the city's School Board and New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to proceed with the ouster of Carl Paladino.
About 200-protesters demonstrated, calling for Paladino to resign his board seat for what they said were racists comments against the Obama's.
"That Carl Paladino must go," stated Rev. Mark Blue, Buffalo's NAACP president.
Many of the demonstrators accused Paladino of being racisits. They chanted "Paladino needs to go".
Blue said he wrote to the national NAACP asking for help in calling on the state education commissioner to remove Paladino from office.
"He is no longer effective. He is ineffective. As a matter of fact, he almost lost his last election to an 18-year old," shouted Blue at the rally. "'Everyone here knows that he needs to go."
The BPTO is working on filing a formal petition to the education commissioner. She must abide by state law in the removal of a school board member, which includes a hearing.
Masten District Council Member Ulysees Wingo is demanding Paladino leaved his Park District seat.
"Carl Paladino, we don't want your half-ass apology. We want you to step down," declared Wingo.
The crowd applauded and shouted loudly.
There were a couple of Paladino sympathizers at the rally. One held out a sign "Hang in there Carl", but they were outnumbered by the demonstrators.
Paladino has stated that he will not leave.
