Bracing in the freezing cold, ralliers gathered at the steps of Monument Circle in the heart of downtown Indianapolis to discuss topics such as American occupation in foreign lands, immigration, workers' rights and more.
Meeting the morning of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Inauguration of President Trump, ralliers shared in conversations that all shared the same theme: Change is in the hands of the people.
"We should have support from our government, and we shouldn't have to fight our government to get the things that we need." Stephen Land, Community Outreach Coordinator of the Indianapolis Liberation Center, said. "So we're out here to defend our rights and celebrate them."
The event hosted multiple speakers from a variety of organizations in Indianapolis, such as IDOC Watch and the Central Indiana Democratic Society of America. Carolina Castoreno spoke on behalf of the group Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy — a newly formed grassroots group in the city. Castoreno drew attention to Trump's plans to start ICE raids early in his presidency, as well as pieces of proposed Indiana legislation that would cause harm to immigrant Hoosiers.
"We have a complacent party in this country, and so until the Democrats start to listen to the actual leftists in this country, we are not going to see any change." Castoreno said. "Don't believe the hype that Indiana is as conservative as it is .... We're way more progressive than people give us credit for it, so we need to start listening to us."
Castoreno also added that while her organization is small and in the early stages, it wants to help the Indianapolis community be more aware of these issues.
"I will make sure that if you are a community stakeholder who wants to be involved in this action, to bring all of the coalitions, all of the grassroots organizers together, then that's what we're going to do. This is the only way we're going to be able to survive the next four years," Castoreno said.
Topics of the United States involvement in the war in Gaza continued to be mentioned throughout the rally, but Riley Park spoke on the United States' involvement in South Korea.
"I think it's very important to really dig deep into history, especially when it comes to Korea," Park, who associates with the group Nodutdol said. "... We're getting told this one narrative that the US came in and saved South Korea from the north and that's not true."
Nodutdol is a group that is for "Korea's national liberation and for a world free of imperialism," Park said.
In his speech given at the Rally, Park highlighted the importance for people to understand America's involvement in the declaration of Marshal Law that took place recently in South Korea and the negative impact that it has for American citizens.
"Under U.S. imperialism, the U.S. uses South Korea like a military garrison to advance its own interests in East Asia," Park said in his speech. "South Korea does not control its own military, it falls under joint command with the United States."
Park emphasizes the importance of understanding international politics because they have direct effects on lives domestically, a sentiment restated by other speakers at the rally.
"I think domestic issues and international issues are not separate things. I think when it comes to the US military and where we're occupied, that has effects here at home," Park said. "You have defense companies like Raytheon who not only funnel money and weapons and technology to the Israeli occupation, but they also fund the police forces here in the U.S."
Throughout the event the groups continued to repeat a reminder of fighting for what they believe means there is a need for optimism and hope.
"Keep fighting, stay organized, and come up with a plan for what you want ... to make the world a better place," Land said. "We can make anything happen. We are the workers and students, we are the ones that make this country weren't run, so we should be running this country."
For comment, contact Olivia Ground via email at olivia.ground@bsu.edu.
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