Several hundred people rallied against ICE on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on Jan. 31 as part of a wave of protests across the nation this weekend.

Many of the protesters expressed anger over the recent fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minneapolis, where the Trump administration has deployed a surge of immigration agents as part of a federal crackdown.

Protesters carried anti-ICE signs and chanted “ICE out” as they marched, drawing supportive honks from motorists. The rally was one of several planned across the city, including a smaller gathering near the Governor’s mansion.

Jennifer Yumib, 64, of Indianapolis, said she braved temperatures in the teens because of how strongly she feels.

“I’m appalled by what’s been happening in our country,” she said. “Seeing people torn from their homes without cause. People shot in the streets for trying to help others. This is not what we should be as a country.”

Brooke Verhey, 28, of Indianapolis, attended the rally with her dog, Raine, who wore a “F— Ice” sign. She said she believes ICE’s actions are unconstitutional.

“They are detaining peaceful protesters and trying to take their phones,” she said. “People have a right to record.”

Phil Slates, 75, of Indianapolis, carried a sign saying, “ICE melts under resistance.” He called the immigration enforcement agency’s treatment of people “inhuman.”

“I don’t believe anybody disagrees that we should have legitimate immigration policy,” he said. “The issue is how people are being ripped out of their homes — people who don’t have a criminal record. This is nothing but intimidation.”

The rally was one of many across the nation and followed a vigil the night before at New Liberty Mission Baptist Church for those killed by ICE, which drew an overflow crowd.

Contact IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at 317-444-6081 or tony.cook@indystar.com. Follow him on X@IndyStarTony and Bluesky @tonycook317.bsky.social.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) –The Children’s Museum is set to open a brand new Paw Patrol exhibit on Sunday and it’ll remain open until May 25th.

The exhibit is all about connecting kids to their favorite puppy powered heroes.  

The exhibit was at the museum back in 2019 and after traveling around the country, it is back inside the museum. 

Kids will be able to meet their favorite pups! Kid-size sculptures of Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Everest, Rocky, Zuma, and Tracker are found throughout the exhibit. It also features multiple areas including the Lookout Tower, Adventure Bay, Porter’s Cafe and also Jake’s Mountain. 

“The exhibit is all about learning about teamwork, problem solving, and overcoming obstacles and while they’re doing the fun interactive they’re working on their social, emotional and cognitive gross motor skills,” said Sarah Myers, Director of Traveling Exhibits, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis  

Myers said her favorite part of the exhibit is when the kids get to meet their favorite Paw Patrol hero. 

“It’s great to see the little kids get to meet their characters for the first time in 3D,” said Myers.

For more information on this exhibit, visit here.  

• A post from a spouse of a co-owner of BRICS went viral in Indy groups this week, leading many to call to boycott the shop.
• The Broad Ripple business quickly distanced itself from the pro-ICE views but stopped short of posting their own stance.
• Now, the owners are working through the aftermath.

A Broad Ripple ice cream shop found itself under fire on social media this week after one its owners posted in support of Immigration Customs and Enforcement, prompting many to pledge to stop supporting the business.

The social media ordeal in which the store BRICS found itself raises the question of whether small businesses should publicly take sides on political and civil issues and how much a business owner’s politics should dictate whether one supports the business or not.

In a lengthy interview Jan. 30 with the IndyStar, the BRICS owners said the post on the personal Facebook page of the spouse of a minority owner did not represent the sentiment of BRICS ownership. However, they say, they will not release a statement against ICE, either, preferring to remain political neutral to operate as a safe third space for people on all sides of the debate.

“We feel very differently from what was posted,” said David Vonnegut-Gabovitch, the majority owner of BRICS. “But our concern was that if our statement says we feel totally the opposite, then everybody on the other side starts going the other way.”

Is ICE in Indianapolis? What to know about rumors

That was not enough for Jen Colson Estes, a Meridian-Kessler resident, who first called out the shop on social media for a Facebook post she saw made by Jenny DuBow, spouse of BRICS co-owner David DuBow. As ICE enforcement in the country has ramped up, Colson Estes posted on her personal Facebook page that she would not visit the ice cream shop because of the post.