Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Jewish community joins march in D.C. in support of Israel

Published

9 months ago

November 14, 2023

Indianapolis Jewish community joins march in D.C. in support of Israel

WASHINGTON (WISH) — Thousands of visitors are preparing to march in Washington D.C. in support of Israel on Tuesday, including people from Indiana.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis posted a video of its sendoff on social media on Monday. Students with the Hasten Hebrew Academy waved Israeli flags and held signs for those heading to the Capitol.

The post on Facebook said, “The Indianapolis Jewish community is heading to Washington D.C. for the pro-Israel march! Thank you Hasten Hebrew Academy for the wonderful sendoff!”

The federation said charter buses departed from the Jewish Community Center on Monday morning. The buses will leave after the rally and return to Indianapolis early Wednesday morning.

The federation said online, “Be a part of something powerful. Be a part of change. Be a part of the movement. Be a part of history.”

In Washington D.C., crews spent Monday and Tuesday morning setting up American and Israeli flags along the route and near the stage. Homeland Security is designating Tuesday’s demonstration as a level one security event – the highest of five categories. U.S. officials say tens of thousands of people will march on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, some U.S. lawmakers are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. On Tuesday morning, the death toll hit more than 11,100 people killed in Gaza. At least 102 United Nations staff members have been killed in Gaza since the war began, a U.N. aid agency operating in the enclave reported to CNN Monday.

Doctors at Gaza’s largest hospital are refusing a mandatory evacuation order from the Israeli Defense Forces. They warn that 700 patients will die if left behind.

The director of the Al-Shifa Hospital said the conditions in the facility are “catastrophic” as essential units collapse. According to reports from CNN, premature babies are being wrapped in foil and placed next to hot water in a desperate bid to keep them alive.

Israel insists it is justified in taking military action around the hospital, saying Hamas is using it as cover.

The Gaza Strip is facing an imminent, complete halt of communications and internet services by Thursday, the Palestinian telecommunications minister said Sunday.

CNN reported last week that hundreds of personnel at the U.S. Agency for International Development signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire, and there are reports of a “dissent memo” inside the State Department.

Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib said at a news conference in D.C. Monday, “We will not stop until we save lives. We will continue to demand a ceasefire, demand immediate delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, demand the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained, demand every American to come home, and demand that Palestinian people live free from occupation.”

The House passed a GOP-led resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib last week over comments critical of Israel and in support of Palestinians amid Israel’s war against Hamas. The move was a rare and significant rebuke of the Michigan Democrat, who is the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress.

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Indianapolis, IN

New Technology Can Change the Way You Hear Live Events

Published

2 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

New Technology Can Change the Way You Hear Live Events

An innovative technology company that enhances sound at live sporting events is looking to grow its operations in Indiana.

Valtteri Salomaki, co-founder and CEO of EDGE Sound Research, says his company is building end-to-end audio infrastructure that allows users to control how they hear live events. The new technology, he says, lets users enjoy real-world experiences through heightened sound.

Salomaki says the technology can be used at concerts, live sporting events, and at home. EDGE Sound Research works with sound from capture to reproduction. Salomaki calls it “a new way to create sound.”

The new technology also allows the user to turn materials, like walls, couches, or seat cushions, into sound by manipulating vibrations. Once the hardware is attached to a material, the user can hear sound coming from it. Salomaki says this will allow event-goers to “feel what the performer feels.”

Salomaki brought his idea to the Rally Innovation Conference pitch competition last year and walked away with a cash prize that allowed him to expand his research and development and create a new partnership with the Indiana Pacers.

Initially, he was just looking to network and share how his product could impact the Indiana economy, but Salomaki says the Rally Innovation Conference was crucial to the growth of his business. Since then, he has been able to create new partnerships and is now focused on building out the commercial arm of his business in Indiana.

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Indianapolis, IN

BLQ+ Pride Fest: A celebration of Indy's Black LGBTQ+ community

Published

9 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

BLQ+ Pride Fest: A celebration of Indy's Black LGBTQ+ community

INDIANAPOLIS — A celebration of Black LGBTQ+ pride was on full display on Monument Circle Saturday.

The BLQ+ Pride fest brought out hundreds of people as an opportunity to celebrate people of color who identify as LGBTQ+.

The celebration had vendors, queer health support organizations and entertainment.

WRTV

According to the Human Rights campaign, over 80 percent of black LGBTQ+ youth say they have experienced homophobia or transphobia in the black community.

Organizers hope the event serves as a reminder to queer people of color that they have a community in the city of Indianapolis.

“Black pride is important because black LGBTQ people need safe spaces to feel loved and celebrated in the State of Indiana,” President of Indiana Pride of Color Belinda Drake said.

The Human Rights campaign also says that racism is an issue in the LGBTQ+ community.

Nearly 75 percent of black queer youth say they have experienced racism in the queer community.

Indiana Pride of Color is working to improve the quality of life for Indiana LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities.

Learn more about the Indiana Pride of Color organization, here.

WATCH | Organizations work to ‘break the stigma’ amid Mental Health Awareness Month

Breaking the stigma of mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month

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Indianapolis, IN

BLQ+ Pride Summer Fest returns

Published

16 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a five-year hiatus, the BLQ+ Pride Summer Fest event was held on Monument Circle on Saturday.

The event featured several shopping, entertainment, and eating opportunities.

“They are doing testing, we have food vendors, we have alcohol for the adults, we have folks who are selling merchandise,” said Belinda Drake, president of Indiana Pride of Color. “We have the ice cone shop for the kiddos, too.”

The day is created to honor and celebrate Black, Queer joy in the city and state overall.

One of the vendors who came out to sell items and celebrate alongside the community is Nakeya Harris, the owner of Meraki Mobile Boutique. Her shop carries women’s clothing items, with a specific focus on statement items with bright colors. She also carries jewelry and additional staples.

“I enjoy people expressing themselves and being free, so I wanted to be a part of that,” Harris said.

Local LifeJourney Church was also in attendance at the event. They aim to extend a safe space for worship to anyone interested.

“Today we are trying to reach out to communities of color and just say we have a welcoming space where people can come and be themselves

Though it is the first event of its kind since 2019, the Summer Fest is set to return to Monument Circle next year, and for many years to come.

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