Courthouse rally speakers denounce Trump policies, urge voter action

On Saturday (Aug. 2), the Monroe County courthouse lawn was the site of another protest sponsored by the 50501 Movement, expressing opposition to many of the specific policies that have been enacted by President Donald Trump.

Specific policies and actions that drew criticism included suspension of refugee arrivals, revocation of legal protections for asylum seekers, cuts to food stamps and healthcare for immigrants, resumption of federal executions, attacks on news sources, environmental deregulation, rollbacks of climate protections, increased ICE raids, and decreased access to abortions.

Julie Borum, described on the speaker list as a “grandmother activist” addressed the president in her remarks: “Donald, we the people, stand together to peacefully, passionately and powerfully resist this regime …” She continued, “We can do this by supporting reputable news sources. For me, that’s NPR. We need real journalism, not brainless puppets that simply tolerate lies.”

Sarah Owen, who is the community engagement coordinator for Exodus Refugee Immigration, spoke about the impact of federal policies on immigrants and refugees: “This President’s immigration policies are absolute moral catastrophes, and they try to justify their actions with lies, slander and prejudice against immigrants.” Owen highlighted efforts in the Bloomington area to protect vulnerable neighbors and called on the crowd to “use your vote against this injustice when the time comes, because the midterm elections will be here very soon …”

Jamie Broker, a Marine Corps veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq asked the crowd, “What are we doing, letting a bunch of clowns and grifters defy our Constitution?” Broker continued, “Trump is not a leader. He’s a pathetic con man …” Broker called for action: “We have to rise. We have to unite. We have to start talking about a goal for what we want our future to look like … because if we don’t, then every injustice that any of our ancestors have ever fought to overcome will mean nothing.”

Also giving remarks was Bill Breeden, a retired Unitarian Universalist church minister and longtime local activist, who on Saturday was marking his 76th birthday. Breeden invoked the legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero and called for collective action: “We can turn this around—if our hearts are in it, if our souls are in it, if our feet are in it, if our heads are in it, if we get in it with our whole selves, we can turn this around. We can stop Donald Trump.”

Tim Peck is an emergency room physician and Democratic Party primary candidate for the Indiana District 9th District congressional seat, who on Saturday talked about the nonpartisan nature of health care. Peck said, “I’ve never set a Republican broken bone. I’ve never set an independent broken bone. I’ve only treated mothers and fathers and daughters and sons and neighbors… Health care is a human right, and you have the right to help.” Peck urged the crowd to “vote like your life depends on it, because it literally does.”

Bookending the rally on Saturday, was Angela Gabriel, with Call 2 Sing, who led the crowd in some songs of protest.

At the advertised noon start of the rally, attendance was noticeably lighter than for previous gatherings hosted by the local chapter of the 50501 Movement. By the time the speeches were underway, The B Square counted around hundred people.