A few hundred activists marched into Niagara Square just before 6:30 p.m. Friday night for a rally hosted by the New York State United Teachers.
About 300 NYSUT activists walked from a winter leadership training conference at the nearby downtown Hyatt Hotel about 6:15 p.m. Friday to march into Niagara Square.
They were joined by hundreds of members of the Western New York Area Labor Federation and the Civil Service Employees Association.
The rallied against what they say are attacks on public education and retirement security.
At 6:30 p.m. the group held a moment of silence in solidarity. Kristin Sterling, BOCESTA president and NYSUT Board member, led the group in silence specifically on the impact of the proposed budget cuts on students.
The organization has also circulated a petition against the competitive grants with 33,000 signatures
Speakers at the rally included lawmakers and NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi.