Featured Speakers at "Hands Off!" Rally on April 5

Saturday’s Hands Off! Rally is a collaboration between multiple organizations, here in Indiana and across the nation.

Locally, Indivisible Central Indiana has focused on promotion and recruitment, and on security.  50501 has taken the lead on developing the speaker program.  Here’s a sampling of who we’ll be hearing from:

Blythe Potter is an Army Military Police Veteran, proud Johnson County resident, small business owner of Bargersville Wellness, political content creator, and an active member and supporter of many community organizations. Blythe is a mother to her four-year-old, Violet, stepmom to two (now adult) women, and wife of geologist, feminist, democratic candidate, and fellow activist, Michael, of 12 years. Blythe has a BAS in Massage Therapy and MBA, both from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. She is an esthetician, massage therapist, and yoga teacher by trade but has always been an activist at heart. Blythe has run for two municipal offices in 2023 and 2024, is the Indiana Chapter Lead for B!tches Get Stuff Done, and is involved in the No Small Acts National initiative to organize on the county, in all counties, to fight against extremism and harmful legislation on the state and national level.

Frank Islas is newly elected to the Wayne Township Advisory Board Member for District 2. He is a USMC veteran honorably discharged after serving four years. Frank's professional career spans over 35 years in aviation.

Currently employed at Rolls Royce, as a dedicated member of UAW Local 933, he serves as the Maywood unit Veterans Committee Chairman and currently holds the position of Financial Officer.

Frank’s leadership within the union is driven by his passion for organized labor, veterans affairs, and community betterment.

DeOnyae-Dior Valentina is a dedicated trans activist, advocate, and organizer committed to uplifting marginalized communities, particularly Black trans people. With extensive experience in policy, social justice, and digital advocacy, she has worked across youth justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and HIV prevention. From serving on national advisory boards to leading grassroots movements, DeOnyae-Dior is a force for change, challenging oppressive systems and amplifying the voices of those often silenced. Whether through advocacy, public speaking, or community organizing, she remains steadfast in her mission: to fight for equity, visibility, and liberation.

Most recently, DeOnyae-Dior has been at the forefront of the fight against the criminalization and policing of trans existence. After being harassed and trespassed from McDonald’s simply for using the women’s restroom—despite having legal identification affirming her gender—she is turning this violation into action. She is organizing direct protests to challenge bathroom policing and state-sanctioned transphobia, demanding dignity, safety, and respect for all trans people. Her work is rooted in resistance, community power, and the unwavering belief that trans people deserve to exist without fear.

State Representative Ed DeLaney is a retired lawyer. He has both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Shortly after college, DeLaney married Ann McGovern. He began his service as a junior officer in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from Harvard Law School with honors in 1973 and began work in Indianapolis at the firm now named Barnes and Thornburg, where he practiced law for 30 years.DeLaney has served as an advocate for businesses and individuals in matters ranging from business disputes to estate litigation, election law and First Amendment litigation. DeLaney represented the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in an arbitration hearing under the Dayton Peace Accords. He speaks Russian fluently.

Medley Byers is a lifelong central Indiana resident, except for the 3 years she spent in Kentucky serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA. She spends her work days managing architecture projects in a wide variety of types and sizes, and a significant part of her time away from that doing socialism as co-chair for the Central Indiana chapter of the DSA. Though Medley has only been a member of DSA for a short time, she has been a leftist for many years and has always had a strong sense of justice and standing up for the oppressed or those who could not speak for themselves. She also enjoys science fiction, time with her pets, and making.

Brian Jonasen is a retired 30 year veteran of the US Air Force. He enrolled in the air force in 1984, completed a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Academy, in 1988 and a MS in Management Science from the University of Dayton in 1994. He later returned to study and attain a MA in Military Operational Art and Science at the Air Command and Staff College in 2002, and then a MA in Strategic Studies at the Air War College, 2010

He's been married for 33 years, he's a master gardener that loves to kill invasive plants, and his current favorite quote is from Quincy Jones: "Every day you have a choice to make, between love and fear. As much as you can, choose love."

He is now the leader of the Veterans of 50501 and is leading a march for veterans on 4/4.

Both at work and in her personal life, April Hennessey advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She currently serves in two elected positions in Bloomington, IN, as a School Board Trustee (and current board chair) for Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) and precinct chair of Perry 22. As one of only four elected Asian American individuals in Indiana, she hopes to broaden awareness about the importance of representation at every level of the political landscape.

April's DEI experience includes community organizing, speaking engagements, facilitating professional development, starting and running ERGs in workplaces, and designing and deploying DEI courses in large, global organizations, among other things. She is also a founding member of Hoosier Asian American Power or HAAP, which organizes to ignite Indiana's Asian Americans to build grassroots power for visionary change through policymaking and advocacy.

Linda Greeno is a native New Yorker who fell in love with Indiana and became a Hoosier in 2010, after graduating from Gallaudet University in Washington DC with BA and MA social work degrees. She currently works part-time as a freelance Case Manager, advocating for resources to connect other agencies, educating and serving the deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, Deafblind, and their families. She has served on several community boards, including the Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council, Indiana Association of the Deaf (IAD), Delta Epsilon Sorority, Deaf Equality Advocate for Freedom (DEAF), and Board President of Southern Tier Independence Center in Binghamton, NY. She frequently volunteers in various capacities to support the community. Additionally, she is deaf.

We will have 4 ASL interpreters present to make sure that all can enjoy and participate in the event! Know someone deaf? Tag them and let them know that they can attend!

Tia Mirage Hall aka Aundrea Lacy is a seasoned entertainer with 24 years of experience, captivating audiences with her talent and passion. By day, she serves as the Employment Hospitality Training Manager at the Damien Center, dedicating herself to empowering others. With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Tia has worked across various agencies to make a positive impact.

Tia is also a proud board member of Indy Pride, where she holds the position of VP of I.D.E.A., advocating for inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. As a Black trans woman, she passionately fights for her community, ensuring that those who are marginalized and unable to advocate for themselves have a voice.

Throughout her career, Tia has earned prestigious titles such as Miss Gay Indiana, Queen of the Closet, and Circle City Regional. But beyond the crowns, she loves entertaining because the stage allows her to express her emotions, connect with others, and be true to herself.

Lydia Hardcastle is an illustrator and animator. She is currently studying at ball state university for a degree in animation production. She has worked on animated short films as a story lead, and won 48hr film challenges. She has only recently gotten involved in 50501. However, as a trans woman, she deeply cares for the LGBTQ+ community and wishes to get more involved in activism. Particularly she wishes to channel her artistic talent into work that can move people and maybe even change minds.

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Featured musical group is The Hammer and the Hatchet, aka the talented Jayme Hood and John Bowyer. Jayme was awesome at the women’s rally, so this will be great

Hope we see the biggest turnout yet. And please like and share this post widely. If you haven’t joined We’re Folking Mad yet, hope you’ll check out our FB group and raise your voice as we swing that mighty hammer

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Tag a friend that you want to come with you to the rally/protest, and lets start getting the word out!!!