Protesters out front of Munster’s Center for Visual and Performing Arts Saturday evening saw “shock jock” Shaun Thompson’s people coming a mile away.
The young man with the long, wavy locks and video camera and older woman with the fashionable straw hat told the dozen or so protesters they weren’t with radio host Thompson, who was the keynote speaker for a $100 a pop fundraiser for Republican U.S. District 1 Congressional candidate Randy Niemeyer. They did, however, ask them if Thompson — who has claimed that former First Lady Michelle Obama is a man, that Russia invading Ukraine is a just cause, Dr. Anthony Fauci is a serial killer, and that non-Republicans support terrorism on his Facebook page — had a right to be there.
Of course he did, said protest organizer Ryan Dean. But the Munster Republican Central Committee’s keynote choice wasn’t the entire point of them being out there.
“He has his opportunity to say what he wants, and this is our response to his hate,” Dean said.
But Dean wondered why Niemeyer, who’s running to represent all of Northwest Indiana against incumbent Democrat Frank J. Mrvan, would choose to attend an event where extremist views were espoused.
“The LGBTQ community and Black Americans are under constant attack, and we’re seeing an event for (Niemeyer) perpetuating these lies,” Dean said. “I’ve met Randy, and he comes off as being for the Region, but I don’t think he’s out in the Region enough, because there are a lot of people who are accepting and want someone who’s welcoming and not espousing hate.”
“(The Munster Republican Central Committee) expected us to not pay attention after the election in November, but here we are to hold people accountable,” Dean’s wife, Jennifer Pizzuto-Dean, added.
An email on Friday asking Niemeyer for comment returned to the Post-Tribune as “blocked,” while a text asking the same was read but went unanswered all weekend.
Protester Shelley Gurevitz, of Hammond, said she was out there supporting equal rights for everyone. The occupational therapy student said she worries about health care the most.
“I’m an advocate for trans rights, and gender-affirming care is under attack,” she said. “We support equal rights for everyone.”
Kiara Wade, a transgendered woman from LaPorte, is a former Marine who served under the policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. She wanted to ask the attendees what rights they’ve had legislated away.
“Maybe the women in there (recognize that they have,” Wade said. “Those people in there live in this world of Black and white while watching ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’ It’s so unnecessary.
“Trans people may represent only 1% of the population, but that’s still more than the population of Colorado.”
Wade’s best friend, Jessica Cabiness, of Munster, scoffed at the “manufactured outrage” surrounding the LGBTQ community.
“These people paid $100 to listen to the Wish.com version of Alex Jones,” she said. “I would leave my children in a room full of LGBTQ members before I would ever let them go to a church camp.”
Kele Ivey, of Griffith, had perhaps the most important reason of all to protest.
“I never want to have to tell my kid they can’t be who they are,” she said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
