COLFAX — A high-profile “mass deportation” rally organized by the advocacy group Save Heritage Indiana devolved into a chaotic, secretive logistics operational mess over the weekend, according to Indiana State Representative Jim Lucas (R-Seymour).
The event, originally advertised to take place in Fishers, suddenly shifted venue locations shortly before it was set to begin, leaving attendees and scheduled speakers in the dark.
Representative Lucas, who represents House District 69 covering southern Bartholomew along with portions of Jackson, Scott, and Washington counties, voiced strong criticism regarding how the organizers handled the private, ticketed rally.
A ‘Secretive Mess’ in a Cornfield
In a Monday interview with local radio station WIBC, Lucas recounted his frustrating experience attempting to participate in the event.
“People were waiting out in that deluge for vans to take us to the event,” Lucas said. “We got in the van, and it literally drove through cornfields out to a nice country home. There was a tent in the woods and one porta potty that you had to walk through 50 feet of mud to get to. That was not a group I wanted to be associated with.”
Lucas revealed that he and his wife received last-minute email instructions directing them to travel to the small Clinton County town of Colfax, located over an hour northwest of Fishers. During the trek through the muddy terrain to reach the site, Lucas’s wife twisted her ankle.
Lucas, who had been scheduled as one of the featured in-person speakers alongside promotional materials advertising recorded messages from high-profile state leaders like Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita, ultimately chose not to deliver his speech.
“I guess I should have researched them more because it became too secretive for my liking,” Lucas admitted. “We weren’t getting any information up until basically the last hour.”
Threats of Violence and Counter-Protests
Organizers for Save Heritage Indiana, led by Executive Director Daniel Poynter, cited lingering security concerns and alleged threats of violence as the primary reasons behind the extreme secrecy, ticket vetting, and multiple sudden venue changes leading up to the gathering.
In a series of statements posted to social media, the organization asserted that the event was a major success, drawing a sold-out crowd of 130 participants despite adverse weather and security concerns. The group stated that intense pushback, including death threats and harassment directed at local venue owners, prompted them to obfuscate the location to avoid disruption.
“Domestic terrorists tried to sabotage our first-in-the-nation rally for mass deportations at every turn,” Save Heritage Indiana stated online. “We knew what kind of left-wing domestic terrorists we were dealing with, so we made security our top priority… We tricked the infiltrators into sending the mob on a wild goose chase to a library in the wrong town, all while our guests were safe and sound.”
The group framed the logistical adjustments as an effective strategy to keep attendees safe while allowing the program to move forward. They added that participants “weren’t going to stay home because of a little bad weather and a leaky tent,” comparing the effort to enduring harsh historical conditions out of love for the country.
Program Highlights and Counter-Protests
The featured keynote speaker was former U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who addressed the crowd regarding the critical importance of mass deportation policies. The event also featured video remarks from conservative figures, including Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita, as well as messages of encouragement from international supporters like British politician Rupert Lowe.
While 130 attendees gathered at the private site in Clinton County, a major public demonstration took place in Fishers on the same day. Approximately 1,000 residents and community members organized by Fishers Resists and partner groups held the “Hoosier Hospitality March” at Holland Park, marching in support of immigrant communities and protesting the underlying message of the rally.
Despite the contrasting accounts between organizers and attendees regarding the event’s execution, Save Heritage Indiana stated it plans to use the framework of Saturday’s gathering as a template for future events in other states across the nation.
