Elkhart County Commissioners approved a 5 p.m. May Day protest on Goshen’s courthouse lawn. Photo by Derek Jensen, Wikimedia Commons.

News Release

GOSHEN — After some discussion Monday, April 28, the Elkhart County Commissioners approved a protest on Goshen Courthouse lawn. The request, submitted by David Knight for the May Day Strong demonstration, is part of a national day of protest against education, housing, healthcare, labor rights and immigration policies related to the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Elkhart County Commissioner Suzie Weirick asked protest representative Kate Marsh if the event, originally proposed for 11 a.m. to 1. p.m., could be held after hours instead.

“Our court operations would be jeopardized,” said Weirick. “There’s multiple cases and activities at that time, and we do not want mistrials, we do not want anything to occur. While we value your freedom of speech and your constitutional right, we have to protect the processes and procedures that are already going on.”

Marsh replied that the lunch hour time was chosen for visibility, so later hours would also work as Goshen’s evening commuters could drive past and attend. Organizers ultimately settled on a 5 p.m. start time to avoid disturbing trials Thursday, May 1.

The organizers will also provide security at the event.

Concerns regarding defacement were brought up by Commissioner Brad Rogers, who pointed out sidewalk chalk was used on the nearby veteran memorial at March’s protest. Marsh promised to publicize that no defacement would be permitted.