By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Members of the Northern Indiana chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America hosted its first-ever rally in Warsaw Sunday, joining a chorus of those upset with how the Trump administration is conducting immigration raids.
About four dozen people gathered with temperatures in the 20s along North Detroit Street near Center Street, where local Democrats have organized numerous protests over the past year aimed at President Trump.
Leaders began the rally with a few short speeches and a candlelight vigil remembering nine people they contend have died as a result of immigration crackdowns across the country, including Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot to death by federal agents in recent weeks in Minnesota.
The Warsaw rally coincided with a similar one in South Bend.
The Warsaw rally comes after organizers said they saw a spike in interest in the group after the mayoral victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York City last year.
The Northern Indiana DSA has been active for several years, but we’re just now growing in Kocisucko County,” said a person who went by the name Poe and was dressed in all black and wearing a face mask.
“There was definitely an influx of membership to the DSA after that happened,” Poe said. “But I think the main motivator locally is all the things that are going on in our community that are causing a threat to our community, such as the ICE murders and things like that,” Poe said.
“We feel it’s now time, more than ever, to organize our community against the things that are happening,” Poe said.
Another man spoke out about how Trump is using the military for domestic purposes.
“He thinks he can treat us like his own personal army. He’s seeing if we will (allow) that. We are here to show him that he can’t,” he said.
Another offered his perspective: “With ICE abuses, and the constant assault on our constitutional and moral rights, we must keep in mind that freedom is merely a privilege extended unless it’s enjoyed by one and all.”
The protest drew a cross-section of people — young and older — almost entirely focused on ICE tactics, based on a review of signs.
Melinda Sharp was there with her husband, Dan. Her sign read, Love One Another,” and his read, “End the Ice Age.”
They live in New Paris and have attended five rallies in recent months.
She said she’s not a Democratic Socialist but rather is upset with Trump’s behavior on a range of issues.
“I was a registered Republican all my life until Mr. Trump showed up,” she said. “He’s done nothing to earn my trust and support.”
Among those attending was Brian Smith, chairman of the Democratic Party’s 2nd Congressional District in Indiana. He said he was there to honor the lives of Good and Pretti.
Northern Indiana DSA is demanding:
- No compliance from local government, local law enforcement, schools, churches or businesses in assisting ICE or DHS in their “mass deportation terror campaign.”
- The end of the use of flock cameras on local streets to surveil motorists.
- The end of support for candidates in the upcoming midterms unless they publicly commit to defunding, abolishing ICE, and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Below are News Now Warsaw photos by Dan Spalding.
