Pro-Palestinian protest outside governor’s residence leads to 14 arrests

Fourteen people were arrested during a protest over the Israel-Hamas war Thursday morning outside Gov. Eric Holcomb’s residence in Indianapolis.

A few dozen people joined the protest that set up in the middle of Meridian Street and blocked traffic during the morning commute.

Chants of "Indiana you will see, Palestine will be free" were shouted from the group that held signs and banners just north of 46th Street. Protestors want an end to Israel’s military efforts in Gaza.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers warned protestors they would be arrested if they did not stop obstructing traffic.

Sarah Neda, a student at Indiana University and Purdue University who attended the rally said the inconvenience some drivers may have faced was not comparable to Palestinians.

“If people have such an issue with us occupying the street for an hour they should have an issue with Israel occupied Palestine for the past 75 years,” Neda said.

Protests have erupted in cities and college campuses since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Attackers killed 1,200 people and took another roughly 250 hostage, Israel said.

Israel's subsequent invasion of Gaza has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, according NPR reporting from local health officials.

IMPD took the protestors into custody and Meridian Street was reopened around 9:30. IMPD posted a list of people who were arrested on their social media. 

Protestors said they take issue with Holcomb's support of Israel.

During his state of the state address in January, Holcomb said he was proud of Indiana’s long-standing relationship with Israel. He traveled to the country in 2021 at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We are here for a ceasefire to try to put public pressure on our elected officials who are supposed to work for us to call for a ceasefire to call for an end to this funding to this,” Neda said.

Student groups including IUPUI’s Middle Eastern Student Association and the Answer Coalition were in attendance.

Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses across the country have escalated in recent days. A pro-Palestinian encampment on the Indiana University-Bloomington campus began Thursday.

Contact WFYI city government and policy editor Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.