‘Hands Off’ protest at Indiana Statehouse attracts hundreds of anti-Trump demonstrators

Hundreds gathered on the lawn of the Indiana Statehouse Saturday to protest President Donald Trump and his close political ally, Elon Musk. Speakers at the event included State Democratic state Reps. Ed Delaney and Andre Carson, and several artists performed songs and poems to the crowd.

Passing cars blared their horns. Some passengers leaned out to film or throw peace signs.

Indianapolis’ rally was one of more than a thousand “Hands Off!” demonstrations held across the country Saturday, co-sponsored by activist groups including 50501, Third Act and Indivisible.

“Nonviolent does not mean not angry,” 50501 organizer Scott Johnson told the gathered crowd. “… And we’re Americans. We get angry!” The audience cheered.

Marion County was one of only four Indiana counties where Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris garnered more votes than Trump. Trump has won Indiana’s presidential vote for the last three consecutive elections, and 2024 saw his most decisive win yet.

Saturday’s statehouse crowd waved homemade signs decrying cuts to Social Security and the Veterans Administration, criticizing Trump’s rhetoric, and voicing support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Some covered their signs in cling wrap in anticipation of the day’s rainy weather. One woman wrote a different protest message on each section of her umbrella.

‘I don’t want to leave this kind of a world to my children’

Gwyn Skrobul, 62, worries that cuts to Social Security and Medicare will harm her 95-year-old mother.

The retired history teacher said she’s worried that the past could be repeating itself.

“The whole targeting minorities and polarizing the community – it’s looking very Nazi-esque to me, which is frightening. I don’t want to leave this kind of a world to my children, grandchildren,” Skrobul said.

Her husband, Guy Skrobul, 62, spent his career as a special education teacher.

“The minute that he mocked a reporter with a physical handicap – that was it. The hateful rhetoric. The injustice. Relishing in cruelty toward other people is wrong.”

Boone County railroad retiree stands to lose housing

Ed Ufkes, 65, traveled to the protest from Boone County with his two dogs, Beaglejuice and Conan.

“I worked my whole life. I’m on disability, and now I’m gonna lose my place where I live because Trump’s making cuts,” he said.

Ufkes spent his career with Amtrak after leaving the Army, and he’s particularly concerned by Trump’s repeated attempts to cut the train carrier’s funding. In March, Elon Musk said Amtrak should be privatized, USA Today reported.

‘We didn’t serve our country for this’

Cuts to social programs and the struggling economy were key concerns for Juanita and Jeffrey Withrow, both Air Force veterans and retired federal employees.

“Parks are important. Social Security is important. Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, anything – the VA. We’re veterans,” Juanita Withrow said. “We didn’t serve our country for this.”

Jeffrey Withrow said he’ll lose his retirement savings if the stock market’s tailspin continues.

“I’d have to go back to work – if there’s a job. If there’s a job available,” he said.

He said he’s been unable to get in touch with a representative from the offices of GOP Sens. Todd Young or Jim Banks to express his concerns.

“If it’s politically expedient for them (Congress) to change, they will. And so, the bigger these crowds get, I think the more likely they are to change,” Jeffrey Withrow said.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hundreds gather in front of Indiana Statehouse to protest Trump, Musk