Nicole Malliotakis

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Several dozen Staten Island residents gathered along Victory Boulevard in Castleton Corners on Monday evening to protest Rep. Nicole Malliotakis over her votes on health care and immigration enforcement spending while celebrating the 61st anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid.

Celebration with a political message

The demonstration, held across from Malliotakis’ district office at 1698 Victory Blvd., was part of the recurring “Malliotakis Mondays” protests organized by a coalition of local advocacy groups.

Participants carried signs, blew noisemakers and wore colorful party hats while handing out cupcakes in honor of the federal health care programs’ anniversary, turning the weekly demonstration into what organizers described as a birthday celebration.

Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 30, 1965, as part of the Social Security Amendments.

Medicare provides health insurance primarily for Americans age 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities, while Medicaid offers health coverage to millions of low-income children, adults, seniors and people with disabilities.

Organizers said the anniversary served as a reminder of the programs’ lasting impact while raising concerns over what they described as recent threats to the programs’ funding and accessibility.

Monday’s rally, dubbed “Celebrate, Defend, Improve and Expand 61 Years of Medicare and Medicaid,” was hosted by NY-11 for Health Care and co-sponsored by several local labor, political and advocacy organizations, including the Staten Island Action Coalition, Peace Action of Staten Island, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and Staten Island for Change.

Throughout the hour-long demonstration, speakers shared personal stories about how the programs had shaped their lives and urged Congress to reject further cuts.

“We’re here today to celebrate, defend, improve and expand Medicare and Medicaid,” one organizer told the crowd before protesters broke into chants of, “That’s why we’re in this fight. Health care is a human right,” which echoed repeatedly along Victory Boulevard.

Malliotakis response

Questions sent by the Advance/SILive.com to Rep. Malliotakis about the weekly demonstrations and organizers’ continued calls for a town hall, were not immediately returned as of Tuesday afternoon.

Personal stories and calls to action

Chris Johnson of the Staten Island Action Coalition said the effects of recent federal policy changes have not yet been fully realized by many families but argued the consequences will become increasingly apparent in the months ahead.

“As these impacts from the cuts start to affect people’s daily lives, especially if there are children involved, you’re really going to start to see an outcry,” Johnson said. “Our purpose is to educate, activate and mobilize. We’re going to be here every Monday, and we’re not stopping.”

Aiden Rivera, 30, of West Brighton, recounted his personal experiences with the nation’s health care safety net. Another speaker described growing up in a family that relied on Medicaid after both parents developed chronic illnesses, saying the program made it possible for them to receive medical treatment without sacrificing basic necessities.

“If it wasn’t for Medicaid, we would have been forced to choose between groceries, the mortgage or my father’s cancer treatments,” the speaker said, arguing that Medicare and Medicaid are earned benefits that Americans have paid into throughout their working lives.

Another attendee spoke about caring for her adult daughter with disabilities, describing the challenges of navigating the Social Security system following staffing reductions and administrative changes. She said her daughter recently lost Medicaid eligibility and now struggles to afford basic living expenses despite receiving Supplemental Security Income.

Organizers closed the event by encouraging attendees to educate voters about the importance of Medicare and Medicaid ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that turnout will be critical to preserving and expanding the programs.

As the rally concluded, participants gathered for cupcakes and sang “Happy Birthday” in honor of Medicare and Medicaid’s 61st anniversary.