NAACP targets Republican councilwoman with 7 kids at 6 a.m. outside her home.

NAACP Holds Press Conference Outside Republican Councilwoman’s Home

Protesters Criticize Councilwoman’s Stance on Public Health Bureaucracy

The South Bend, Indiana branch of the NAACP held a press conference outside the home of Republican City Councilwoman Amy Drake on Thursday morning. The group was protesting Drake’s criticism of Indiana’s public health bureaucracy. Drake, who has written opinion articles for The Federalist, called the demonstration a form of “domestic terrorism” intended to influence her votes by harassing and threatening her family.

Peaceful Demonstration Switched to Press Conference

South Bend NAACP Chairwoman Trina Robinson told The Federalist that after internal pushback, she decided to switch the “peaceful demonstration” to a press conference, still outside the Drakes’ home at 6:30 a.m. Drake cited the FBI’s definition of domestic terrorism: “Appearing to be intended to influence the policy of government by intimidation or coercion.” She and her husband spent three days before the event calling police, fielding calls from constituents and friends, and making plans to ensure their children’s safety.

Protesters Express Displeasure at Councilwoman’s Public Record

Robinson told The Federalist the goal of visiting Drake’s home was indeed to put pressure on her and express displeasure at Drake’s public record, since their public comments at city council meetings did not move Drake to vote as the group wants. The demonstrators held signs stating: “Amy Drake voted no $$$ for -behavioral crisis center -Motels4Now -Portage Manor,” “Lead Testing Protects Children,” and “We Support Opioid Crisis Relief Funding.”

Confrontational Political Actions Against Conservatives and Republicans

The demonstration fits a pattern of confrontational political actions against conservatives and Republicans, including mob action in the state capitols of Tennessee, Texas, Montana, Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Missouri. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito told The Wall Street Journal this week that the five constitutional justices remain under constant threat of assassination.

Protesters Consider Showing Up at Public Official’s Home a Form of “Free Speech”

Robinson says she considers showing up at a public official’s home a form of “free speech” and said local police told her the group could show up at Drake’s home so long as they stayed on the sidewalk. Drake says she asked for police presence to ensure everyone’s safety and was told they might send an unmarked car. On Thursday morning, Drake said she couldn’t see any police outside as the press conference commenced.

South Bend Residents’ Tragic Conditions

Robinson then directed her focus to the desperation she and others feel at many South Bend residents’ tragic conditions. Like many other American cities, South Bend has highly visible homeless, generational poverty, and drug problems. Robinson equated Drake’s opposition to expanding ineffective government bureaucracy with leaving desperate citizens without the resources to make better lives.

Drake Responds to Protesters

Drake told The Federalist she and her husband decided against any kind of counter-demonstration to avoid “escalating.” They also adamantly opposed violence of any kind. But they considered the local activists’ decision to personalize politics by showing up at their home at the time their children go to school to be an act of hostility. After a month cooling off period, Drake said she would be willing to have a civil discussion with Robinson.