Nationwide No Kings protest draws thousands to the Indiana Statehouse

Across the U.S., thousands of protests commenced on Saturday as part of the No Kings movement, a national day of defiance against President Donald Trump—held the same day as his birthday, Flag Day and a Washington, D.C, military parade marking the 250th anniversary of the Army.

On the steps of the Indiana Statehouse, upside-down American flags flew and handmade signs criticizing the “monstrous MAGA mafia” were held above a chanting crowd of thousands.

“No, you can’t have my rights. I’m still using them,” one sign read.

As protesters marched to the beat of one attendee’s bongo drum, “Another Brick in the Wall,” Pink Floyd’s protest song, blared from a participant’s portable speaker.

Some protesters wore dark colors, camouflage and pieces that made a statement. One woman had on a shirt that said, “Jezebel Spirit,” which may have reminded some attendees of Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s use of the term in describing his female Democratic opponents during the 2024 election.

But also mixed in the crowd were people with rainbow eye makeup, glitter face paint and net fairy wings. Indy Pride’s Celebration on the Circle was in full swing just down the street, drawing participants who may have looked more colorful but had some of the same concerns as their less vibrant counterparts.

While rainbow bandanas, flags, sunglasses and hair set a celebratory tone at Indy Pride, a girl in a rainbow tie-dye crop top walked toward the Statehouse with a neon green sign that said, “NO KINGS.”

—Anna Cecil

‘We re-elected a criminal’

Coming straight from the Indy Pride parade, Gayle and Steve Beebe contributed to the rainbow splashes of color worn during the gray and rainy Indiana day of the No Kings protest.

They weren’t protesting for themselves, they said, but rather the people who do not have as much of a voice.

“I think about the women who are of childbirth age, and they should be able to make decisions on their own bodies,” Gayle said. “We have a queer son and want to make sure that he and his partner are protected. We want to make sure that we get to vote again, we want to make sure that people who are poor, homeless, marginalized—we want to make sure that they have what they need.”

Talking about it brought her to tears.

“How big of a list do you want?” she said in regards to why she was protesting Saturday. “We should be supporting people who don’t have things. There’s no such thing as illegal aliens. They’re immigrants period.”

She finds it hard to understand the morality of current government actions like ICE raids.

“We re-elected a criminal,” she said. “He is raping this country like he has raped all those women.”

Steve Beebe said he understands his “white male privilege.” “Equity doesn’t bother me,” he said.

They both hope the future will see American leadership as “for the people.”

“Whoever is elected should be looking out for everyone,” Gayle said.

—Olivia O’Neal

‘I really worry about the country my grandchildren will live in’

“I never thought I’d protest for this,” Stephanie Sabatie said.

Donning a paper crown, the 77-year-old Hoosier had no less energy than her younger fellow protestors.

Recent ICE raids were one of the main reasons she found herself standing in front of the Indiana Statehouse for the No Kings protest on Saturday.

Growing up with a father who was a Marine pilot, she remembered her days in California walking across fields and watching helicopters fly above. She also spent time living in Washington, D.C. These experiences have given her a deep love for her country and a devotion to a better future, she said—namely for her two granddaughters who are studying medicine.

“I hope they will be able to choose where they can practice or not and have a family or not,” she said. “I really worry about the country my grandchildren will live in.”

She acknowledged that there were many Hoosiers who didn’t show up because of fear—fear of losing their job or their studies or being deported.

“To be afraid, in America, to speak?” She said. “That’s not OK.”

—Olivia O’Neal

‘We want our faith to be about love’

Jacob Leighty’s leg was in a cast and propped on a knee scooter while he worked to traverse the sidewalk surrounding the Indiana Statehouse.

“He’s not as impaired as our democracy,” said Molly Leighty, Jacob’s wife.

The Greenfield couple both carried signs decorated with Bible verses. Molly’s sign sported the handprints of the couple’s two daughters.

“We want our faith to be about love, not hate,” said Jacob.

—Clayton Shull

‘Take from the rich, not from the poor’

Robert Pederson sat in a lawn chair, shielded from the day’s rain by a blue umbrella. A sign hid his face, giving him a quiet and shy demeanor compared to the protestors loudly walking past.

His sign, however, was loud: “Take from the rich, not from the poor. Don’t be a hell-bound corporate whore!”

“I actually have a little guilt about not being more active,” he said. “But this is so important.”

The No Kings protest is just one of hundreds he has attended in the past for various reasons, from advocating for workers’ rights to the environment. At 74 and hailing from the quiet town of Zionsville, Pederson said he feels that the country is falling victim to “selfish people” and “narcissism” through elected officials—and the people electing them.

—Olivia O’Neal

‘I’m here protesting the same things I did 50 years ago’

As Marilyn Berry-Stramm waited for her friends on the west-side steps of the Statehouse, she might have looked like someone who was just visiting the city. She wasn’t holding a sign, and her blue t-shirt didn’t say anything political. But this assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“I’m here protesting the same things I did 50 years ago,” said Berry-Stamm, a retired registered nurse who specialized in gynecology. “I want babies to be wanted, but I’m tired of men making all the decisions.”

—Anna Cecil

‘Working for a better future’

As rain sprinkled down from a silvery sky, Jack Lallathi was another rainbow amidst the crowd of protestors, one of the many individuals coming from the Indy Pride parade.

“It’s great. I feel a lot of energy,” he said.

A major motivation for him to come?

“Working for a better future for our country,” he said.

—Olivia O’Neal

‘America, Still Beautiful’

John and Julie Mundell, both in their late 60s, held a sign between them reading, “Liberty and Justice for all, she is watching.” Lady Liberty loomed in the corner.

Coming from Indianapolis, John Mundell is president and senior environmental consultant for Mundell and Associates, which provides environmental consulting to different organizations and agencies. It’s given him a passion for environmental issues.

His wife, Julie Mundell, carried copies of her own version of “America, the Beautiful,” titled “America, Still Beautiful.” It’s written with emphasis on the country’s natural spaces and the importance of democracy and freedom.

“We want to make sure we protect our democracy,” John said. The immigrant situation—the ICE raids and deportations—are “out of control,” he said.

Even in a state with a Republican supermajority, he said, there is opposition to many of President Trump’s policies and actions.

“We have to get our voice out,” he said.

—Olivia O’Neal

‘Can’t bitch if you’re not willing to do something’

Under the shade of a tree, a dog—participating in the protest via sign—panted in the Hoosier heat and humidity. His leash was held by his owner, who stood next to a woman with bright pink hair and a multi-hued striped shirt.

“You can’t bitch if you’re not willing to do something, and boy do I wanna bitch,” said the colorful woman, Melissa Bowlby. She had come to the No Kings protest with Kristin Morrow, Darin Bowlby and Toby the dog, who was repping a “freedom” sign.

—Anna Cecil

‘The right thing to do’

Rob Beatty and his wife, Diane, travelled from Wauchula, Florida, for Saturday night’s Indiana Fever game against the New York Liberty.

But Saturday afternoon, the couple chanted along with the crowd at the No Kings protest on the south lawn of the Indiana Statehouse, sporting matching Indiana Fever t-shirts.

Rain poured down on the crowd, but the Beattys were able to find cover under a low tree. Despite the rain and humidity, they beamed while they talked about coming out to the protest

“We felt like it was the right thing to do,” said Rob.

—Clayton Shull 

‘Everyone deserves respect’

Bicycles with pride flags in their baskets were parked under a tree. The cyclists— Chad Gilford, Angie Patterson, Cassie Gilford, Alissa Zink, Kevin Daly and Sandra Daly—came from biking in the Indy Pride parade to protesting at No Kings Day at the Indiana Statehouse.

At the No Kings event, they repped their pride-themed Pickled Paddlers merch— a female-owned pickleball gear company in Indianapolis.

“Everybody deserves freedom and respect,” Patterson told TheStatehouseFile.com.

—Anna Cecil

‘Nobody is above the law’

For Amy George, the Trump administration has been frustrating to say the least.

“I’ve been obsessing every day over the internet,” she said. “I’ve put my frustrations to use and came up with a game called the Road to Impeachment.”

It’s a card game that serves to discredit and expose President Trump as well as garner support for his opponents. She had 34 of them to sell but had ordered 500.

At 59, she drove hours from her hometown of Huntington after attending Fort Wayne protests, hoping to “mix it up” and “come into Indy this time.”

She wasn’t disappointed.

“There’s not much else to do except make phone calls, write letters and show up for these,” she said.

As the No Kings protest came to an end at 3 p.m., one of the crowd’s musicians brought up the end of the marching line, shielded by rain gear.

“I am passionate about our government as it is established and as it is not now functioning,” George said. “It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a Democrat or Republican for president. Nobody is above the law. Nobody gets to blatantly grift off the office of the president. Nobody gets to throw our economy into turmoil with on-again, off-again tariffs.

“He oversteps his boundaries all the time, and it’s not OK.”

She said that many of Trump’s actions have negatively affected the people she cares about.

She saw the No Kings protest in Indianapolis, however, as a positive.

“I think this was amazing,” she said. “I was blown away by the number of people who were still out here in the rain. I think it shows how angry people are because, for every one person here, I guarantee there are 10 more who wanted to be here but had reasons they couldn’t.”

Her hope is that protests like these will show lawmakers the concerns of everyone—including Hoosiers.

 —Olivia O’Neal