05-03-2025
"We are the resistance": Cass Dems protest Micah Beckwith visit with own Abe Lincoln dinner
'It's standing room only in Logansport,' Dana Black said as she began her speech at the Cass County Democratic Party's Real Abe Lincoln Dinner: A Night of Unity and Justice.
The dinner, held in the Lounge at the Vibrant Event Center, was planned as a protest against the Cass County Republicans who invited the controversial Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith to be the guest speaker at their own annual Lincoln dinner. It was also a protest towards the Republican party's turn towards extremist values that do not reflect those held by Abraham Lincoln.
'Lincoln dinner and Micah Beckwith, there is nothing more contrarian than that,' said Lita Rouser, chair of the Cass County Democrats.
Beckwith is a self-professed Christian Nationalist who was elected as Governor Mike Braun's running mate by Indiana Republican delegates during the state's GOP Primary. Braun had wanted Julie McGuire as his running mate.
The Democrats invited Black to be their guest speaker. She is the host of the podcast 'Turn Left' and a contributor to the 'Indianapolis Business Journal' and WISH TV's 'All Indiana Politics.' She also served as the Deputy Chair and Engagement in the Indiana Democratic State Party.
The mood was jovial throughout the evening, though many Democrats showed their disgust toward Donald Trump's treatment of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House earlier in the day. Black called the incident 'the most embarrassing day of our American history.'
'We'll listen to the political pundits from all over the country and those of us who have an ounce of mental capacity will say that was disgraceful but [Trump's] spineless supporters will tell you that was a sign of strength,' she said.
Black opened her speech by saying that many Americans will say that the country has never seen anything like what is happening now.
She then reminded the audience of the Trail of Tears, Wounded Knee and the summer of violence towards Black Americans known as the Red Summer of 1919.
'Some parents will go home and have to talk to their kids about that horrible display in the White House but it will never be the same as when my father was talking to me at the kitchen table in 1977 and expressing his emotional disgust at what happened to Emmett Till in 1955,' she said.
Education in Indiana
Black touched on many topics during her speech but one of those in which she focused most on was education.
Black asked the audience if there were any charter schools in the city. After the they answered no, she asked about private schools.
'[Republicans] have decided that they will take a whole lot more money from public schools and give it to charter schools,' she said. 'And Logansport don't have any charter schools. So that means y'all have to do more with less…you still got to pay the teachers, you've got to keep the buildings updated, you've got to give [students] technology but they are giving your money to charter schools.'
She also noted Logansport would not benefit from universal school vouchers.
Black called Governor Mike Braun 'an orange man sycophant' who was out to bring local communities to their knees by making them do more with less.
Another example of the Republican's attack on public education that she referenced was House Bill 1501 which would have public schools sharing their school transportation with private schools.
'They're just taking your money and giving nothing back,' she said. 'There is a goal in defunding public education. The goal is 'if I keep you without the information then I can abuse you.''
Black said that was always the plan, that a less educated population was easier to lead astray.
How to help
Black said there were many ways to get involved and help fight the MAGA movement without having to stand up and give a speech.
She first suggested learning about marginalized communities that had been through state sanctioned oppression. She asked for those in attendance to learn about their resiliency and how they resisted their persecution.
Continuing to show up and be heard is also important.
'Once we become silent, they win,' she said. 'And remind them that this is a representative government. They are supposed to be talking with you so keep hounding them until they do. And then remind them, despite every effort they will put forth not to have an election in two years, we will have one.'
Black said those with cooking skills could bake food for marchers and protesters, those working phone banks or going door to door to raise awareness.
Those skilled in technology could help get the message out on the internet and those who were good with children could offer to babysit, especially for women candidates. Others could help read through bills and alert the community to which ones would help and what would hurt.
'This is our democracy,' she said. 'It's not pretty. It does not move in a linear way. It circles back and forth, round and round. We take two steps forward and sometimes we take one step back. Sometimes we take five steps back. We still keep moving forward. We are resilient.'
