Central Indiana residents gather for ‘Workers over Billionaires’ protests

INDIANAPOLIS – On Labor Day, the day many people see as the last day of summer, residents across Indiana used the day to call attention to issues they believe are impacting the United States.

On Monday, groups gathered for “Workers over Billionaires” events across the United States and Indiana. According to the Workers’ Labor Day website, the entity that hosted these events, officials said they are aimed at being “a celebration of working people.” 

“It’s a celebration of the power we have when we come together in a union – the power to take back our country for working people, not billionaires,” the website said. “Workers deserve the freedom, fairness and security that comes with a union.” 

Several areas throughout Central Indiana hosted “Workers over Billionaires” events, including:

• Bloomington
• Kokomo
• Greencastle
• Anderson

Muncie

Several Muncie residents stood along the Fallen Heroes Bridge for a “Workers over Billionaires” protest, calling attention to issues they believe are impacting the United States. 

Organizers with Muncie Resists, a local political group, gathered on Monday to “demand justice, equity and dignity for all workers” during the protest, according to its Facebook page.

During Monday’s gathering, cars honked at the group as several participants held signs, including ones that said: 

• “Good trouble lives on”
• “Working class made the USA”
• “No Trump, KKK, Fascist USA.”

Cynthia Britton, a member of the Muncie Resist organization, said the group was exercising their First Amendment rights in a peaceful manner on Monday, stating that people wanted to have their voices heard. 

“Labor Day is very important… It’s on their backs that the country was built. It doesn’t matter what you look like,” she said. “…We’re making our voices heard. We’re making our opinion heard.” 

Indianapolis

Indianapolis residents also participated in Monday’s “Workers over Billionaires,” walking around the Indiana State Capitol, and chanting phrases like “people over profit” and “this is what democracy looks like.”

Similar to the Muncie gathering, the Indianapolis group gathered to protest “the siphoning of government resources… from the workers to the billionaires,” according to the event’s page.

Attendees held signs during the event, including ones that said:

• “The power of the people is greater than people in power.”
• “No kings in America”
• “Stop the steal of our democracy. Retirement savings. Environmental protection. Scientific research.”

John Lear, a retired union member who attended Monday’s gathering, said that he believes union workers are the people who “make this country go every day.” Lear said he was surprised there were not more unions protesting on Labor Day.

“If you are fighting corporate and government power, you need numbers,” he said. “That’s the only real protection that you have. They have the money. They have the coercive power. The only thing you can do is stand up and get enough people to stand up and say it’s wrong.”