The Indianapolis “No Kings” protest in opposition to President Donald Trump drew more than 4,000 people from across the state to the Indiana Statehouse on June 14. 

Organized by the volunteer-led 50501 movement, the peaceful protest focused on Trump’s policies surrounding immigration, the LGBTQ+ community, and deep cuts to federal spending by the Department of Government Efficiency. Many protesters criticized Trump’s disregard for democratic processes, citing times when he’s insulted judges and attempted to circumvent their orders.

The rally in Indianapolis was one of more than 1,500 across the country and took place ahead of Trump’s $40 million military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250^th birthday. 

Protesters withstood a deluge of rain and humidity to hear speakers who ranged from veterans to state lawmakers. An organizer told IndyStar that they had counted 4,158 protesters with a clicker when protesters first started marching shortly after noon, but said many stayed behind on the lawn and were not counted. Organizers estimated there were an additional 2,000-3,000 attendees throughout the course of the event. 

Live coverage recap: Thousands attend rain-soaked Indianapolis ‘No Kings’ Anti-Trump protest

One protester detained in dispute with counter-protester 

Indianapolis police detained a protester just 20 minutes into the event when the protester ripped a pro-Trump flag from a counter-protester. The counter-protester chased the man, falling and scuffing his elbow and knee.  

IndyStar reporters did not see any other significant disputes during the three-hour event. Organizers encouraged protesters to remain peaceful, pointing to a bucket of whistles for protesters to use to alert others if they landed in a confrontation. 

More: Indy shows how protests ‘can (and should be) done’ during NBA Finals, police union president says

No paid agitators, state organizer says 

Scott Johnson, state organizer for the 50501 movement, wore a shirt with the words “unpaid protester,” a nod to the familiar claim that protesters are paid to attend political events.

Johnson, 57, said he funded the event with his own money and that none of the attendees were paid. 

The Fishers resident attended his first protest in February, when he saw a 50501 organizer handing out snacks. He offered the organizer money for the snacks and quickly became connected with the movement, becoming the state organizer when the previous leader left. 

Johnson said it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to him. 

“It felt like I had found a home,” he said.  

Protesters come from an array of backgrounds 

A Vietnam war veteran. A first-generation American. A former Trump voter.  

IndyStar spoke with people who had a variety of reasons for attending the June 14 protest.  

One was safety and security volunteer Joe Stuteville, a 68-year-old Vietnam veteran and former military police officer from Indianapolis. He said he fears democracy is in danger.  

“This has been sneaking up on us for years and people have been sleeping,” he said. “Time to wake up.” 

Stuteville said he views the size of the military parade in Washington, D.C., as unnecessary. 

“Speaking as a veteran, we don’t need military parades,” he said. Instead, many veterans carry a sense of pride and honor within, he said. 

Another protester, Janet Orozco, held an anti-MAGA sign written in Spanish. 

“As a first-(generation American), I want to represent those before me,” she told IndyStar through tears. “It’s personal for me.” 

Though protesters were united against Trump’s actions, their political ideologies differed.  

Leland Lindahl, an independent, said he voted for Trump in 2020. 

“As soon as January 6 hit, I immediately regretted it,” Lindahl said. 

The 47-year-old from Noblesville grew up in a conservative, Christian community and voted for Republicans throughout his life. His first time voting for a Democrat was in 2024. 

While he doesn’t agree with everything some of the protesters believe, Lindahl said he came to the Statehouse because he didn’t want to sit on his couch and complain — he wanted to take action. 

Crowd remains despite downpour 

What was a smattering of rain throughout the event became a persistent downpour shortly before 2 p.m. The crowd remained, albeit reduced, with people seeking refuge under trees, umbrellas and ponchos.  

Annie Bowling, 46, was one of hundreds of protesters who withstood the weather.  

“This is a testament to people in Indiana, one of the reddest states,” she said, holding a rain-soaked sign that had stained her hands red. “That shows you that we will not be deterred by some weather because we know what’s at stake.” 

Bowling drove to Indianapolis from Bloomington to attend both the protest and Indy Pride, which took place the same day, to, as she said, stand up for the LGBTQ community and other people at risk due to Trump’s policies.  

“They’re coming for everyone and everyone’s freedoms and everyone’s rights,” Bowling said. “The sooner people realize that and stand up for that, the better chance we have stopping this in early stages.” 

INDIANAPOLIS – Growing up in Terre Haute, Vanessa Richardson’s introduction to sports was through her father.

George Richardson, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while still in his 20s, would take Vanessa to basketball games at Indiana State, Colts’ training camp in Terre Haute and high school games.

“My dad was my best friend,” Vanessa said. “I tell people all the time that a social activity in Indiana is going to a high school basketball game. That’s what we did.”

Life came full circle this week for the 30-year-old Richardson, who was the in-arena host for Pacers’ games from 2015-17 during her junior and senior years at the University of Indianapolis. Now working as a television sideline reporter for Houston Rockets’ games, Richardson is back in Indianapolis for the NBA Finals, hosting a digital pregame show for ESPN, ‘Hoop Dreams’, and working as the radio sideline reporter.

“It’s surreal to think eight years ago I was the girl on the jumbotron for the Pacers and now I’m hosting a pregame show for the NBA Finals,” she said. “I became a sports reporter because of my late father. He would take me to games in my hometown all the time. It’s so cool to be back here.”

George was a regular at Pacers games during Vanessa’s time working for the team. Though he was in a wheelchair, he never let that stop him from getting to games and supporting his daughter. When he passed away in April of 2022 at 62, it was crushing for Vanessa.

“The thing we would do is watch sports together,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about him a lot. When I was the in-arena host for the Pacers, he was here all the time.”

Richardson, a Terre Haute North graduate, said she thought Indianapolis “was a massive city” when she arrived at UIndy in the fall of 2013. But she immediately dove into her passion for sports at WICR 88.7 FM, the public radio station owned by UIndy. It was real world experience for Richardson, who worked as a disc jockey and sports reporter.

“Going to the University of Indianapolis was the key to my success,” said Richardson, who was also a freelance sports correspondent for the “Bob and Tom Show” in college. “As a 19-year-old freshman, I was in the Colts’ and Pacers’ locker room interviewing players. Being hired as the arena host was a great stroke of luck.”

After Richardson graduated from UIndy, she was hired as a reporter and anchor for WLWT-TV, an NBC affiliate in Cincinnati. At WLWT, she covered high school football, worked as a morning traffic anchor and covered the Bengals and Reds, among other general assignment events.

Basically, her duties were whatever needed to be done. Richardson said former Indiana University star and Pacers’ TV analyst Quinn Buckner deserves an assist for getting her out of her comfort zone.

“I didn’t know if I would leave (Indianapolis) or not and Quinn Buckner pulled me aside and said, ‘If you want to be a true journalist, go where nobody knows you and grow as a reporter,’” Richardson said. “In Cincinnati, I was doing morning traffic and news and came back and did sports. That was an awesome first job. But I wanted to do sports full time.”

An opportunity opened in Houston at KPRC-TV, the NBC affiliate, in August of 2019. It was a gold mine for Richardson, who reported on weekdays and anchored on weekends. She hosted a weekly 30-minute sports show and covered the Houston Texans, the World Series, NFL Combine and college football.

“Then I took a leap of faith and started a sports talk radio show in Houston from 10 to 12 every morning,” Richardson said. “Talking two hours a day helped me grow. It was fun to get back to my radio roots. I grew so much. Then when the Rockets’ job opened, I was already in Houston and covered the team, so it felt like a perfect fit.”

In October of 2022, she was hired as the sideline reporter for the Rockets for Space City Home Network (the Houston regional sports network, formerly AT&T SportsNet Southwest).

“I would say Houston has become my second home,” Richardson said. “When you work in this industry, you’re lucky if you have a couple places that feel that way.”

Indianapolis is certainly home for Richardson, who has felt the pangs of nostalgia during the NBA Finals. When she worked for the Pacers, Myles Turner was a rookie.

“I would see him at Prime 47 after games,” Richardson said. “I was with my parents and he was with his parents. Neither one of us was 21 yet.”

Richardson was originally just supposed to host her new digital show, called ‘Hoop Dreams’, which is an ESPN pregame show. The radio sideline reporter was added to her plate when television sideline reporter Lisa Salters missed Game 2, 3 and 4 to be with her ailing mother. Radio sideline reporter Jorge Sedano was moved to fill Salters’ shoes and Richardson got the call.

“My assignment was hosting ‘Hoop Dreams’ for the Western Finals and Finals,” she said. “I’m excited about the show. We’re not trying to emulate NBA Countdown. It’s more of a free-flowing show with fashion, trends and topics around the league. We had Rick Fox stop by. We’re trying to be a good hang.”

Richardson is well prepared for such a role. On Wednesday before Game 3, she looked around and took in the moment when she saw Oscar Robertson sitting next to Reggie Miller and Edgerrin James down the row.

“It’s been a warm welcome home,” she said. “It’s meant so much to see so many people I used to work with and see regularly at games.”

Of course, there was one person she wishes could be here: Her father. She would not have been here without him. He taught her how to treat people well and work hard. Those lessons have served his daughter well.

“Everybody sees what you’re doing now,” Richardson said. “They don’t see you shooting high school football games and waking up at 2 a.m. to do morning traffic. You have to have faith because this is a grind of an industry.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.

INDIANAPOLIS — More than a dozen young men and women, who committed to a yearlong program focused on reducing gun violence in Indianapolis, graduated. This initiative is a result of Mayor Hogsett’s gun violence reduction strategy.

This was an exciting moment of change for many young adults.

“I kind of went through the program through my brother,” Tajonye Cissell, a graduate Fellow from the program.

A decision, Cissell said, that didn’t come easily.

“Like that sounds crazy, like that’s not nothing I would do,” she said.

But it ended up being one of the best decisions she said she’s made.

“It gave me like a safety zone, I would say like it made me feel comfortable,” Cissell said. “Like, OK, because being black is pushed down our throat, that the only way out is drugs, basketball games, music. You’ve got to have talent to get rich, right? But they show us that, hey, it’s another exit,” Cissell said.

Cissell completed the program with the help of her life coach, Shonda Hyatt, with the Indy Peace Fellowship.

“She feels comfortable enough to tell me what she did in her past and how she used to be and how I’ve influenced her to be better,” Hyatt said.

Hyatt has been with Indy Peace Fellowship for the past three years.

This is the fifth graduation since Mayor Hogsett rolled out the city’s gun violence reduction strategy.

Hyatt said watching Cissell soar is a reminder of the greater impact of this program.

“I just want her to know that she can do anything that she puts her mind to. Mindset is everything. If you believe it, you can achieve it,” Hyatt.

“I’m going to keep it pushing, and I want to conquer the world, you know what I’m saying? And Ms. Shonda gave me that, that push to get, like you can do anything you want to do, just put your mind to it, and all this, a respect her and love her for that,” Cissell said.