On a sun-drenched Monday afternoon in Bloomington, Indiana, the usually tranquil lawn of the historic Monroe County courthouse pulsed with energy as around 300 people gathered for the "Workers Over Billionaires" protest. Organized by the local chapter of the 50501 Movement, the event was more than just a rally—it was a vibrant tapestry of activism, community care, and passionate calls for justice, all set against the backdrop of mounting national debates over labor rights, healthcare, and education funding.
Attendees arrived just as the clock struck noon, the temperature hovering comfortably at 75°F, lending an air of optimism to the proceedings. The protest wasn’t limited to fiery speeches; it included a march through downtown, a diaper and formula drive benefiting the Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House, a voter registration station, and even a booth where people could channel their energy into crafting protest signs. It was a blend of grassroots organizing and civic engagement—a scene that felt both urgent and hopeful.
According to the Bloomington Square Bulletin, the rally drew a diverse crowd: community members, faith leaders, university faculty, and political candidates all took turns at the microphone. Their grievances, while wide-ranging, circled around a common theme: the growing sense that the interests of working people were being sidelined by those of billionaires and powerful institutions. Speakers didn’t mince words about the Trump administration’s policies or recent moves by Indiana University, expressing concern over everything from Medicaid cuts to the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, to new laws making it easier to fire university faculty for political reasons.
Rob Stone, director of Medicare for All Indiana, delivered a sobering assessment of the healthcare landscape, zeroing in on federal policy changes. "$1 trillion—that is the amount of money that Trump and his Congress have cut from Medicaid over the next 10 years," Stone declared, his voice carrying over the crowd. He drew a direct line from these cuts to real-world consequences, pointing to hospital closures and job losses across Indiana. Stone didn’t stop there: he highlighted that Indiana ranks as the third worst state in the nation for maternal mortality, a statistic that drew audible gasps from some in the audience.
Healthcare wasn’t the only battleground discussed. Maria Bacur, speaking on behalf of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Bloomington chapter, underscored the impact of legislative changes on public higher education. "Our chapter stands together with our fellow teachers in public schools in Monroe County, as workers in public education, who dedicate our professional lives to making Indiana a place where education is valued as a public good," Bacur said. Her words echoed a broader anxiety about the erosion of support for public institutions and the professionals who keep them running.
One of the day’s most pointed moments came from Joe Varga, a labor studies professor at Indiana University. Wearing a T-shirt that read, "We are all Ben Robinson," Varga called attention to the recent sanctioning of Ben Robinson, a professor of Germanic studies, under Indiana’s new SEA 202 intellectual diversity law. The local AAUP chapter had already found that Robinson’s sanction violated both college policy and the law itself, fueling outrage among faculty and students alike.
Varga’s message was clear: "American workers need a union. Indiana workers need a union. And Indiana University sure as hell needs a union." He reminded the crowd of the bloody origins of Labor Day, recounting the Pullman Strike of 1894 and the sacrifices made by workers who fought—and sometimes died—for rights like the eight-hour day and the five-day workweek. "That fight continues today, and it is under assault," Varga said, his words punctuated by the raised fists of supporters.
He didn’t shy away from more militant language, either. "The only thing that these capitalist bastard fascists understand is right here—right here," Varga said, holding up his fist. "That’s solidarity. And sometimes you put a velvet glove on it, and sometimes you got to take the glove off and you got to hit back." He urged the crowd to use legal avenues where possible but cautioned, "Let’s remember the law is always on the side of the powerful, and sometimes you gotta take the frickin’ gloves off." Quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., Varga added, "The arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice." Yet, he insisted, "It doesn’t bend on its own! We’ve got to be the gravity. We’ve gotta be the space that bends that time towards justice. And we do that collectively, and we do that in solidarity with each other."
While the protest in Bloomington unfolded, national policy developments provided a stark counterpoint. On the same day, House Appropriations Committee Republicans in Washington, D.C., released their draft fiscal year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies funding bill. According to the official summary, the bill proposes $197.5 billion in funding—a cut of $23.9 billion, or 11 percent, below 2025 levels. These reductions have set off alarm bells among advocates for public education, healthcare, and social services.
The proposed legislation slashes funding for low-income students, eliminates support for teacher training and community schools, and cuts research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). It would also eliminate funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and drastically reduce resources for programs supporting maternal and child health, access to contraception, and reproductive health services. The bill attaches numerous partisan riders related to abortion and reproductive health, further fueling controversy.
Other casualties of the proposed budget include need-based financial aid, adult job training, and adult education—programs that many working and middle-class Americans rely on to improve their lives. Funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) would also be cut, with major reductions to state and local health departments and programs for tobacco prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, substance use prevention and treatment, and mental health services.
Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) minced no words in her criticism of the bill. "The middle class, the working class, and vulnerable Americans are facing a cost-of-living crisis. They need affordable health care, access to reproductive health, and good public schools, but with the 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies funding bill, Republicans are abandoning them," DeLauro said. She accused House Republicans of "continuing their full-scale attempt to eliminate public education" and "slashing worker wage, health, and safety protections." DeLauro also argued that "following President Trump’s lead, House Republicans want to make health care less affordable and slash research into lifesaving cures." She highlighted the bill’s impact on women, noting, "House Republicans are once again proposing eliminating funding for Title X Family planning and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and blocking funding for access to abortion and reproductive health services."
With the subcommittee markup scheduled for September 2, 2025, the debate over the bill’s future is just beginning. But for those gathered in Bloomington, the message was already clear: the fight for workers’ rights, public health, and education is far from over. The protest’s blend of activism and community support—combined with the passionate speeches of its leaders—offered a glimpse of the solidarity and determination fueling resistance to policies perceived as harmful to working people. As the sun set over the courthouse lawn, the sense lingered that, while the arc of the universe may indeed be long, it bends only when people come together to pull it toward justice.
