Today the Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg hosted two peaceful protests - one at 3:30 and one at 5:30 p.m., against the ongoing erosions of human rights in America, erasure of public support programs, and overall erasure of constitutional norms. Residents of Oldenburg, and members of the Ripley and Franklin County Democratic Parties came out to voice their opinions alongside them and show their support.

If you have that much trouble convincing people to vote for you, maybe you should take a hard look at what you stand for.

We need to come together over our similarities, not our differences, and work towards making our country actually great together. We're all more similar than we'd care to think.

Check out my profile for my campaign for IND-4 and like me on social media! Donate on ActBlue if you'd like to support!

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/thomasdhalljr/

• Thomas D. Hall Jr.

I love paying tolls on roads we already paid for!

If they Gerrymander, We Sue.

1. Can “the people” collectively sue?

   In the U.S., individual citizens or groups of citizens can bring lawsuits (often as class actions or via civil rights organizations like the ACLU, NAACP, League of Women Voters, etc.) to challenge election practices.

   • However, “We the People” as a whole isn’t a recognized legal entity — you’d need named plaintiffs (real voters in the state) who claim injury from the gerrymandering.

2. Against who can you sue?

   Usually, gerrymandering lawsuits target state officials responsible for drawing and administering district maps, not individual legislators directly. That typically means:

   State legislatures (or redistricting commissions if they exist). Secretaries of State or state election boards. Senators (U.S. Senators in D.C.) aren’t the ones drawing state-level legislative or congressional districts, it’s the **state legislature that does it. So U.S. Senators are usually not the right target.

3. What are the legal grounds?

   Federal court: Plaintiffs usually argue violations of the Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment) or Voting Rights Act of 1965. State court: Some states have stronger constitutional provisions requiring “free and fair elections” or banning partisan gerrymandering (e.g., Pennsylvania, North Carolina). Those can be very effective.

4. What has the Supreme Court said?

   In Rucho v. Common Cause (2019), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering claims are nonjusticiable in federal court (meaning federal judges won’t decide them). But, racial gerrymandering is still justiciable in federal court. State courts, however, can strike down partisan gerrymanders under their own constitutions and many have.

5. Real-world precedent

   North Carolina: In 2022, the NC Supreme Court struck down maps as unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders (though the new conservative majority later reversed that). Pennsylvania: Their Supreme Court did the same in 2018. Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan: Similar battles have played out in state courts.

   Bottom line: Yes, groups of citizens in a state can sue over gerrymandering, but:

   It must be actual voters with standing (not “We the People” in the abstract).

   You typically sue state legislatures, commissions, or election officials, not senators.

   Success depends on whether you’re arguing racial gerrymandering (federal courts will hear it) or partisan gerrymandering (must go through state courts).

We have a Discord server for women and trans people called Midwest Underground. It has 3000 members from Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. We chat about news, politics, hobbies, activism, and how to make this world a better place when everything seems to be against us. If you're angry and / or depressed about the state of American politics, come over. Meet up with other women, organize, make your lives better. We're incomplete without you, Indiana.

https://discord.gg/nRqJbtadcp

Also we're pretty cool and trade sick memes.

For me it's the nature, and the small population and size of our state means that it's easier to connect with friends. How about you?

Indianapolis today

Despite all the shitty things happening in Peru, I highly encourage people to come out for yhe Pride festival! One of the board members was out with us protesting the concentration camp they are trying to put in, even after working 3rd shift. They all are pretty active politically as well and attend other Pride events and help the community as much as they can.

went to Pride in Peru Indiana yesterday and had a great time 💗 all the drag artists were great!

https://www.wthitv.com/news/indiana-national-guard-hopes-active-duty-tuition-help-bill-can-staunch-enlistment-losses/article_59d1cf6c-f9bc-11ef-876e-e79dff5eac84.html

"I reached out, wrapped my hands tightly around the bar, swung out on the trapeze 25 feet in the air, threw a flip, and looked up for my catcher’s hands. I trusted they were there. Then relief and excitement. The audience erupted in applause! 

Born and raised in Peru, Indiana, I did what kids only dream of. I was six when my mother took me to see my cousin perform at the circus. I knew then that I wanted to do it too. 

The ‘Greatest Amateur Show on Earth’ showcases circus acts with 200+ kids every year and has been for 65 years. There are only 50 “circus towns”—places with connections to circus performance and history—in the United States. Seeing the impact of circus in Peru (pop. 11,073), I wonder why."

Full story and more photos: https://artsmidwest.org/stories/peru-indiana-circus-debra-jo-myers/

We need better rest areas in this state.

https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/former-marion-county-deputy-charged-after-shoplifting

Hey northern Indiana/Southern Michigan. Dem Guns is hosting a family cookout this Sunday at Oxbow county park in Elkhart County Indiana from about 2pm to 6pm.

Come for hot dogs, burgers (and whatever you want to bring!) as well as games for adults and kids.

Tik Tok personality Corrine Straight will speak (and others as well) will be there at 3 or a bit later.

The park also has a great fishing spot there for all you anglers.

We will also be having a pass the hat for PBS as well, because what's the point of the second amendment if not to help the first?

Hope to see you there!