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Leaders of Saturday’s protest, the local group Strong Neighbor, say they see these statements from the Trump administration as a direct attack on the rights they have under the Second Amendment.
Caroline Beck / WFYIA group of armed protestors peacefully marched and protested in downtown Indianapolis Saturday to protest what they call an attack on Second Amendment rights from the Trump administration.
A primary focus is the Trump administration's recent characterization of Alex Pretti, who was killed by federal officers in Minneapolis last month during a protest related to ICE operations in the city.
After Pretti’s death, various leaders of the Trump administration — including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, FBI Director Kash Patel and President Donald Trump — called Pretti a “domestic terrorist” or said he should not have been carrying a gun at a protest.
Those comments caused prominent gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) to push back against the Trump administration, calling for a full investigation into Pretti’s death.
Leaders of Saturday’s protest, the local group Strong Neighbor, say they see these statements from the Trump administration as a direct attack on the rights they have under the Second Amendment.
“That's why we came armed today,” said Ethan Gick, one of the group’s founding members. “To show them that they are wrong, to show them that Americans stand together, to show them these are our rights, and we will defend them.”
A group of around 40 protestors, some carrying handguns and others larger rifles, protested around University Park and marched down Massachusetts Avenue.
Many onlookers either honked or cheered in support of the protestors as they marched.
Max Haddad, another founding member of Strong Neighbor, told WFYI they felt this kind of protest was needed because of the lack of action from lawmakers from either party to hold the Trump administration accountable.
“It was appropriate at one point to blow bubbles and give nice speeches and play soft acoustic music. It's not appropriate anymore,” Haddad said. “If you care about dignity for other people and just their very lives. And can they live? This is the next step.”
Strong Neighbor is not just focused on Second Amendment issues. The grassroots organization focuses on building community through various actions, like food drives or education around self-defense and firearms.
Haddad said he has seen an increase in people wanting to learn more about how to properly use firearms in light of the increase in federal law enforcement’s efforts to detain and deport undocumented individuals.
“Nobody wants anybody to come to their door at three in the morning to kidnap them, whether it's to a jail or not,” Haddad said. “And so I think it's just a real visceral fear that people have right now.”
News of the group’s protest prompted the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to issue a notice to the media, stating that the mere presence of firearms is not illegal at protests.
Indiana is also a permit-less carry state, meaning if you are 18 years or older and do not fall into any of the categories for individuals who are not permitted to carry firearms, you can carry a firearm openly or concealed.
There are also some restrictions as to where you can bring guns, such as on school grounds or in government buildings.
However, under Indiana law, a person may be subject to arrest during a protest if they are:
- Blocking traffic
- ​Refusing orders to disperse
- Damaging property
- Threatening or physically confronting others
- Criminally trespassing
Contact Government Reporter Caroline Beck at cbeck@wfyi.org
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