Demonstrators gather at Congressman Jefferson Shreve’s office in Greenwood to protest redistricting efforts, ICE’s use of Camp Atterbury

GREENWOOD, Ind. — Protestors gathered outside U.S Representative Jefferson Shreve’s office in Greenwood on Sunday.

During their rally — which was organized by Indivisible Indiana, the Indiana AFL-CIO and the Undocumented Youth Alliance — demonstrators protested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of Camp Atterbury. Protestors urged Shreve and his fellow lawmakers to use federal tax dollars to address Hoosiers’ housing needs rather than pay for ICE’s programs.

In a press release, protest organizers wrote that they “demand Congressman Jefferson Shreve speak up and say ‘NO!’ to the opening of ‘Concentration Camp Atterbury.'”

Demonstrators at Sunday’s protest also brought signs that had phrases like “invest in our communities, not ICE” and “no concentration camps” on them.

Shreve represents Indiana’s sixth district, which encompasses a southern portion of Indianapolis as well as Greenwood, Columbus and Richmond. Camp Atterbury, which is located near Edinburgh, is situated within Shreve’s district.

Shreve was elected last year after incumbent Greg Pence announced his retirement from Congress. Shreve also ran for Mayor of Indianapolis in 2023.

Reporting from June indicates ICE has expressed intent to use Camp Atterbury to house detained migrants.

“Hard-working Hoosiers are going without necessities, including food and medical care, just to keep a roof over their families’ heads,” protest organizers wrote in a press release. “Many full-time workers have found themselves homeless or on the verge of homelessness due to the increased cost of housing.

“At the same time, our federal government is tripling funding for ICE and setting aside $45 billion to expand detention of our immigrant friends, family members and neighbors, including ‘Concentration Camp Atterbury’ right smack dab in the middle of Rep. Jefferson Shreve’s district. We want our friends, family members and neighbors to be here with us. They are not criminals. They contribute to our communities. We do not want masked agents. We do not want smashed windows. We do not want concentration camps full of abuse and empty of due process.”

During the protest, which began around 5:30 p.m., state senator Fady Qaddoura spoke about Congressional redistricting, which Shreve and his Indiana colleagues in Congress publicly supported via a series of social media posts that were published on Aug. 18.

“This is not about left versus right,” Qaddoura said during a speech he gave at the event. “This is about right versus wrong. Let me say it again, this is not about left versus right. It’s about right versus wrong, and we will stand against what is wrong.”

Much has been made of redistricting in Indiana in recent months. Last week, a new redistricting map was circulated among the state’s Republican leaders. Though not officially drawn by state lawmakers, the map still put a spotlight on redistricting efforts in the state.

Last month, a group of about 50 Indiana Republicans traveled to the White House and met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. During their meeting with Vance, Republicans discussed the possibility of redistricting.

Prior to Republicans’ trip to Washington D.C., Vance came to Indiana to speak with Governor Mike Braun. The two Republican leaders discussed redistricting during their meeting.

Indiana Democrats held a press conference of their own before Republicans traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with Vance. Democrats spoke out about redistricting efforts in the Hoosier State in the press conference.

Indiana’s Democrats also traveled to Chicago to support Texas Democrats who had gone to the city to condemn redistricting efforts in the Lone Star State.

Currently, seven of Indiana’s nine seats in Congress are occupied by Republicans. Andre Carson and Frank Mrvan, who represent portions of Indianapolis and northwest Indiana, are the only Indiana Democrats in U.S. Congress.

“Here in Indiana, they are trying to steal two Congressional seats through a mid-decade redistricting process,” Qaddoura said during the speech he made at the event. “Last time I checked, they were the ones who were crying that elections were rigged or stolen. That’s who is stealing our elections.

“What kind of democracy can we live under when they steal Congressional seats so that Congressional representatives will represent the Trump agenda? What kind of democracy is it if they’re going to predetermine the outcomes of elections for decades to come? That’s not democracy.”

If Indiana is to implement new Congressional maps, Braun would have to call a special session of the Indiana General Assembly. It is also currently unknown if Camp Atterbury is already being used to house detained migrants or if there is a timeline laying out exactly when it will start to.