Hundreds rallied at the Indiana Statehouse Saturday afternoon, joining a wave of protests across the United States opposing the policies of President Donald Trump.
Branded as “Hands Off!” protests, the demonstrations called on lawmakers to “take their HANDS OFF,” according to a flyer circulated by organizers. The protest was part of the 5051 movement — 50 protests in 50 states on one day — to push against the actions of the Trump administration this year.
Protestors demanded action to “remove corrupt politicians and those who refuse to oppose them, reverse damage done to civil rights through governmental overreach, and reclaim a democracy created to be for the people — not politicians,” according to the protest’s call to action posted online.
The protestors expressed concerns about freedom of expression, health care access and the economy.
“We are so close to losing our country,” said one protestor, who did not want to be named because of fear of retaliation. “Democrats — we’ve never really spoken out like we should. We’ve allowed [Republicans] to have a bigger voice, and they believe that they’ve taken their country back with Trump.”
The Trump administration has been criticized for its policies and actions targeting protestors on U.S. university campuses. Trump has threatened to deport students who participate in “illegal protests,” most notably pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which his administration described as antisemitic and “pro-Hamas” protests.
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” Trump wrote on his social media website. “Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came.”
Amber Brown, another protestor who traveled from Northern Indiana, said she’s stopped posting online about her political views because she’s worried about being targeted.
“I’m concerned about the dismantling of all the institutions and organizations that people rely on to have a full functioning society,” she said. “We’re being barraged right now with so much of this slash and burn that you can’t focus on just one thing. They’re doing it all at once.”
The protest drew demonstrators of all ages. Many older participants expressed frustration over perceived threats to Medicare, Social Security, and the future of their children and grandchildren.
Younger protestors, like 24-year-old Tanner Thomas, a trans protestor from Noblesville, emphasized the importance of standing up for the rights of future generations, who will bear the long-term consequences of today’s policies.
“Walking around today at the protest, I’ve seen a lot of children, and they are our future,” he said. “We need to make sure that we’re educating them and making sure that we’re not stripping away rights from individuals who haven’t even been able to experience or live life yet.”
James Devane, a home health aide, said he’s worried for many of his clients who rely on Medicaid for their care.
“If they lose their Medicaid, I can’t help them, and they need help,” Devane said. “It’s exhausting for their family to be helping them, so if they lose that, they’re not going to make it.”
While President Trump has said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, the White House and congressional Republicans are weighing proposals that could result in significant cuts to the program over the next decade.
Dennis Byrne, an Air Force veteran from Fishers, stood outside the protest carrying a large American flag. He said the actions of the Trump administration threaten the Constitution he swore to defend.
“I don’t care if you’re an immigrant or not, or an illegal immigrant, you have due process. You have human rights. And what they’re doing is not right,” Byrne said.
“I hope other veterans and other Americans can see that and stand up and resist it, because otherwise, it’s a slippery slope, and we’re on our way to 1939 in Germany.”
Ty Williams, who is non-binary and transgender, drove several hours from Valparaiso to Indianapolis to protest the Trump administration. Williams held a sign saying “Fear rich creeps not trans peeps,” featuring illustrations of the marshmallow candy Peeps, since “it’s Easter, right?”
“The way everything is going right now, the way Donald Trump is handling things, the way Elon is cutting everything across the board, we need to speak out about it.”
Kelly Douramacos, who lives in Anderson, held a sign that said, “I will not go quietly back to the 1950s.” Douramacos, who attended the protest with her husband Yorgo, said she has been horrified by the state of reproductive health care and abortion bans in the U.S.
To her, the policies of the Trump administration are moving the country backward, not forward.
“I don’t want to go back in our laws and our rules,” she said. “I want to go forward.”
This article was written by WFYI reporter Farrah Anderson.