The Protest
On Sunday, July 19th, hundreds of people showed up in the pouring rain at the Indiana State House. People were huddled under umbrellas, large trees, and one small canopy. The amount of rain was too much for the canopy, and the water was pooling on the four sides. Occasionally, a drenched protestor would pour the pools of water onto the already soaked cement.
Those who did not have an umbrella or could not fit under the canopy simply laughed together in the downpour talking and waiting for the storm to blow over. Most were soaked from the tops of their heads down even into their socks and shoes, but regardless of the storm the protestors were there for a purpose. And they determined to fulfill that purpose no matter what obstacles there were.
The Purpose
The purpose? – to make it clear to the Indiana Legislature, to Indianapolis Mayor Hogsett and to Indiana Governor Holcomb that everyone does and should continue to have the right to choose whether or not to wear a mask.
Five counties in the state have recently issued mask mandates due to Covid-19, and countless businesses have required masks to enter.
The protest was scheduled to start at 4pm and end at 6pm, but the rain delayed the start of the event. Just when the protestors were beginning to wonder how long the storm would prevent them from carrying out their purpose, the clouds opened up. The sun began to peak through. Almost in unison, many came out of their vehicles and doubled the numbers of those who stood on the sidewalks. And the people who gathered surrounding that canopy came together with excitement and anticipation.
The Message
The speakers were; (event organizer) Ashley Gann, Terry Wood, Andy Lyons, Andrew Horning, Tim Dyer, and Elizabeth Oppel. Each of them spoke at a podium wrapped in the American flag, and delivered powerful messages that all carried a similar theme – that the government has no Constitutional powers to take away our inalienable rights, to force us to wear masks, to shut down our churches, to determine what/who is essential and what/who is not, or to prevent us from seeing our dying loved ones in the hospital or to attend their funeral.
The People
Ashley Gann addressed the medical fallibility of the masks recommended to us by our government, by the CDC, W.H.O., and Doctor Anthony Fauci. She also addressed the social-bullying taking place as mask-wearers attempt to shame those with medical, psychological, or religious reasons for not wearing masks.
She read a story from a friend of hers who went to a doctor’s appointment and was shamed in the waiting room by the other patients for not wearing a mask. That friend indicated that she is legally and medically-exempt from the mandates due to severe trauma and panic attacks which are sometimes caused by covering her face. She said, “If you 
have not walked a mile in someone else’s shoes, you have no business trying to tell others how they should be living… So be kind and take the time to understand others as you too seek comfort and understanding.”
(Like many of the other protests America has seen, be it Antifa, BLM, and even property-destroying, statue-vandalizing riots, Ashley Gann started the protest through a Facebook event page and gained more than a thousand people who were interested in attending the protest, but on the day before the event, Facebook took it down.)
Terry Wood stated that they were calling the protest the Never Again Campaign. He said, “Never Again will we let the government determine which jobs are essential or non-essential…. Never Again will we allow the government to lock down OUR community… Never again will we allow government to mandate the times we remain in our homes… Never again will we adhere to unconstitutional mandates… and We will stand in solidarity to reclaim the individual freedoms we have been stripped of… Will you join us… and demonstrate your intolerance for tyrannical governance?!?”
Andy Lyons spoke out against the divisive cultural and governmental issues that are destroying our nation. He recognized that women are doing great and passionate at leading the charge on things of importance, but that the men of this state need to go beyond their comfort zone to step up boldly and start leading and mentoring other men to take responsibility for taking this country back.
Andrew Horning implored the crowd to read and know their United States Constitution and Indiana State Constitution, and to learn to stop paying homage to the “ungoverned government,” a present day “Caesar”. He said, “Think about how governments thrive. What is it that governments love? They love our division and discord… These guys thrive on our divisions… That’s what we’re fighting.”
Kenny was another speaker who never gave his last name but said one of the most sobering things very simply and very boldly that, “What we are seeing right now is a fight for America.”
Tim Dyer said that hope is not something that we sit back and wait for… it’s something that we have to put forth the effort… and then we do what we need to do to get it.” He spoke about the children that are getting ready to go back to school. The “children are learning; ‘I have to be afraid.’ ‘I have to wear a mask.’ ‘I can’t touch my friends.’ “I have to wash my hands 27 times a day.’ The children are being indoctrinated to accept much worse things later. And if we 
don’t pull our groups together to be one dynamic force, we lose. So if we’re in this fight to win… we’ve got to get together. We’ve got to lay down our own petty differences, and we’ve got to get together on what we agree on – freedom, liberty, the Constitution, our posterity… We all need to get together on those things.”
Elizabeth Oppel spoke first about good and evil leaders and the people who have repeatedly sold out to a system beyond their control. She continued with, “Make no mistake, the battle we are facing today is not only about temporary restrictions or government overreach, but rather, it is about what is going to reign and who we will accept as our leaders.” “We stand at a most critical time in all history… I happen to believe that great things are in store for us America… In this time of hopelessness, I have great hope that we are on the verge of the greatest victory of all time. This is not a time to hide in fear… This is not a time to hide ashamed… This is not a time to hide our faces… This is not a time to fight each other, nor is it a time for us to divide… It’s not a time for us to hoard our resources and it’s not a time to live a selfish life… Now is the time to charge into the (spiritual) war, to show our colors proudly, and to stand hand-in-hand against all the wicked powers that be. And we must not stop until the 
enemy is conquered and all of our territory is gotten back. Whatever the cost, it will be worth it!”
Terry Wood spoke again after Oppel and went on to say, “This building behind me is not the Indiana State House… it’s the Indiana People’s House… my tax dollars and your tax dollars pay for that.” Wood told the crowd that the people would have an opportunity to write down their names and their grievances shortly after the speeches. Wood finished with, “Today, we have spoken, and this is not our last message.”
The Grievances
Shortly thereafter, the speakers prompted the crowd to write their grievances on two rolls of 3-foot-wide, 25-foot long brown paper. For approximately 30 minutes, people stood in line to write down their grievances against the government of Indiana for suspending the people’s Constitutional rights due to a sickness upon which many medical professionals and experts disagree.
Citing the Constitution, one of the speakers stated, “We all have a right to redress our grievances, and this is how you do it.”
The March
The protesters then marched around the building along the sidewalks shouting, “Never Again!,” “USA USA USA!,” “Freedom, Liberty!,” “We will not comply!,” and “When they say comply, what do we do? Defy!,” as their voices bounced and echoed off the downtown Indianapolis buildings for blocks.
The Finish
In like-fashion with Martin Luther’s 95 Theses which he nailed to the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517, the group taped their 135 square feet of grievances across four sets of the Indiana State House double door entrances on two sides of the building. They stated that they are now preparing for their next protest… and awaiting Mayor Hogsett’s and Governor Holcomb’s response.
I would have protested if I had known. I have no problem with anyone who wants to wear one if they are immune deficient, sick, elderly, etc. BUT, if they are wearing their masks,… why do healthy people have to wear one ? Their masks protect them, right? Are we saying there has to be 2 masks on in order for the sick person’s mask to work ? That makes no sense. The healthy person is also destroying their immune system for any germs that come our way in the future.
Support anti mask protesters all the way. People should hagevfc the right to choice and not be told to knuckle undervto government mandates. Alsovsupport other pro Anerica cauees