A rally was held in Yonkers Friday to protest potential state cuts to Medicaid.

It started outside of St. Joseph's Medical Center and ended in Getty Square.

The demonstration was one of seven that happened across New York state. The protesters in Yonkers were joined by thousands of others across Manhattan, Hempstead, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse, Rochester and Gov. Kathy Hochul's hometown of Buffalo.

Hochul has a proposed $1.2 billion in cuts from Medicaid programs in the upcoming budget. This could affect nursing homes, long-term care and other services.

Hochul is trying to cut spending growth, saying the state spent more than originally intended on Medicaid 2024. She has expressed the need to reign in that spending.

The protesters, however, say Medicaid funding levels are already low. They claim underfunding has led to hospitals and nursing homes cutting or reducing vital services.

"We need to get the full reimbursement. We are only getting partial reimbursement, and we need the nursing homes and the hospitals to stay open in our community," said SEIU Local 1199 delegate Antoinette Rose.

"And I think the only way to truly get your voice heard are events like this because elected officials, when they see crowds of people, they know there is real support," said City of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano.

A spokesperson for Hochul responded to the rally, saying, "Gov. Hochul's Executive Budget makes record-setting investments in New York's future while ensuring the state remains on a stable long-term fiscal trajectory, and she will work with the Legislature to craft a final budget that achieves these goals."

There was a real sense of urgency among the protesters as the finalized state budget is due in just over a week on April 1.