'Time to wake up': more than 4,000 Hoosiers protest Trump administration at Statehouse

Indianapolis Star

18 hours ago

The Indianapolis 'No Kings' protest in opposition to President Donald Trump drew more than 4,000 people from across the state to the Indiana Statehouse on June 14.
Organized by the volunteer-led 50501 movement, the peaceful protest focused on Trump's policies surrounding immigration, the LGBTQ+ community, and deep cuts to federal spending by the Department of Government Efficiency. Many protesters criticized Trump's disregard for democratic processes, citing times when he's insulted judges and attempted to circumvent their orders.
The rally in Indianapolis was one of more than 1,500 across the country and took place ahead of Trump's $40 million military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th birthday.
Protesters withstood a deluge of rain and humidity to hear speakers who ranged from veterans to state lawmakers. An organizer told IndyStar that they had counted 4,158 protesters with a clicker when protesters first started marching shortly after noon, but said many stayed behind on the lawn and were not counted. Organizers estimated there were an additional 2,000-3,000 attendees throughout the course of the event.
Live coverage recap: Thousands attend rain-soaked Indianapolis 'No Kings' Anti-Trump protest
Indianapolis police detained a protester just 20 minutes into the event when the protester ripped a pro-Trump flag from a counter-protester. The counter-protester chased the man, falling and scuffing his elbow and knee.
IndyStar reporters did not see any other significant disputes during the three-hour event. Organizers encouraged protesters to remain peaceful, pointing to a bucket of whistles for protesters to use to alert others if they landed in a confrontation.
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Scott Johnson, state organizer for the 50501 movement, wore a shirt with the words 'unpaid protester,' a nod to the familiar claim that protesters are paid to attend political events.
Johnson, 57, said he funded the event with his own money and that none of the attendees were paid.
The Fishers resident attended his first protest in February, when he saw a 50501 organizer handing out snacks. He offered the organizer money for the snacks and quickly became connected with the movement, becoming the state organizer when the previous leader left.
Johnson said it's one of the best things that's ever happened to him.
'It felt like I had found a home,' he said.
A Vietnam war veteran. A first-generation American. A former Trump voter.
IndyStar spoke with people who had a variety of reasons for attending the June 14 protest.
One was safety and security volunteer Joe Stuteville, a 68-year-old Vietnam veteran and former military police officer from Indianapolis. He said he fears democracy is in danger.
'This has been sneaking up on us for years and people have been sleeping,' he said. 'Time to wake up.'
Stuteville said he views the size of the military parade in Washington, D.C., as unnecessary.
"Speaking as a veteran, we don't need military parades," he said. Instead, many veterans carry a sense of pride and honor within, he said.
Another protester, Janet Orozco, held an anti-MAGA sign written in Spanish.
'As a first-(generation American), I want to represent those before me,' she told IndyStar through tears. 'It's personal for me.'
Though protesters were united against Trump's actions, their political ideologies differed.
Leland Lindahl, an independent, said he voted for Trump in 2020.
'As soon as January 6 hit, I immediately regretted it,' Lindahl said.
The 47-year-old from Noblesville grew up in a conservative, Christian community and voted for Republicans throughout his life. His first time voting for a Democrat was in 2024.
While he doesn't agree with everything some of the protesters believe, Lindahl said he came to the Statehouse because he didn't want to sit on his couch and complain — he wanted to take action.
What was a smattering of rain throughout the event became a persistent downpour shortly before 2 p.m. The crowd remained, albeit reduced, with people seeking refuge under trees, umbrellas and ponchos.
Annie Bowling, 46, was one of hundreds of protesters who withstood the weather.
'This is a testament to people in Indiana, one of the reddest states,' she said, holding a rain-soaked sign that had stained her hands red. 'That shows you that we will not be deterred by some weather because we know what's at stake.'
Bowling drove to Indianapolis from Bloomington to attend both the protest and Indy Pride, which took place the same day, to, as she said, stand up for the LGBTQ community and other people at risk due to Trump's policies.