Indiana 'No Kings' protest draws thousands to the Statehouse
After a cold-weather-inflicted hiatus, thousands of people gathered to protest at the Indiana Statehouse on Saturday in the third rendition of No Kings Day.
The Indianapolis demonstration was one of about 3,000 events planned across the country. Protests were held in dozens of cities in Indiana, including Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Muncie and South Bend.
Organizers estimate 12,000 people attended Saturday's protests. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department did not provide an estimate in time for publication.
IndyStar reporters on the ground felt the attendance was on par with the previous No Kings protests that drew 4,000 last June and 6,000 in October. That said, Saturday's attendance was difficult to estimate since the crowd was dispersed around the Statehouse grounds.
Compared to other anti-Trump demonstrations, signage was overwhelming focused on U.S. President Donald Trump's leadership, which many accuse of being similar to a dictatorship.
Other topics protesters touched on include the wars in Gaza and Iran, reproductive rights, the Epstein files and health care. There was also a significant amount of rainbow-colored garb and LGBTQ pride hats, buttons, flags and T-shirts.
U.S. Rep. Andre Carson made an appearance and told protesters to keep it up. He said the resistance is working and cited the Trump administration's failed attempt to redistricting Indiana as an example.
"The resistance is working. The resistance is strong, and the resistance is here in the audience," he said.
He highlighted the outrage with federal immigration enforcement and mentioned the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. He also spoke of Liam Ramos, the 5-year-old boy who was detained by immigration agents alongside his father in Minneapolis. A photo of the boy wearing a blue hat with a scared look on his face during the detention went viral.
Outrage over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to be a major topic for protesters. Especially after the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, many people mobilized to protest during below-freezing temperatures and in the snow this January and February. In Indianapolis, roadside protests were frequent, and thousands of students walked out of class.
Carson wasn't the only politician. Several Democrats running for office — including Indianapolis mayoral candidate Vop Osili and U.S. congressional candidate Destiny Wells — had five minutes each to run through their platform and rile the crowd. They stood atop a black box with "SOAP" across in white letters. Organizers used a wooden hook to pull candidates who went over time off the soapbox.
Kim Saylor and other organizers repeatedly emphasized that Saturday's protest was a place of joy and happiness in the face of adversity, which they said is an effort to combat the administration's attempts to divide the public.
Organizers heavily intertwined art into their resistance on Saturday.
On the Statehouse steps, a member of the Indy Singing Resistance led the hundreds in the crowd in short, repetitive songs. Protesters weren't all-in initially on singing with many watching quietly and joining in over a couple minutes. Many cities, including Indianapolis, are seeing more choirs using their voices to push back against the administration.
Later, while singing a song about freedom, protesters unfurled a 520-foot brown paper banner that partially stretched around the Statehouse. Segments of the sign highlight topics of concern and words of encouragement. Others included the scribbled words of resistance and inspiration from attendees throughout the day.
On the east side of the Statehouse, people were layering tissue paper on a large canvas to create multi-colored flowers. Around it, people signed their name or wrote phrases, such as "Peace wins" and "Justice for none until justice for all."
A high school student who organized a anti-ICE walkout earlier this year read the names of people who died at the hands of federal immigration enforcement officers. People held up banners with each of their names, and a moment of silence was held.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana 'No Kings' protest draws thousands to the Statehouse