Indy 10 Black Lives Matter is an activist group founded in 2014 as an unofficial chapter of Black Lives Matter based in Indianapolis, Indiana. ¹

In October 2019, members of the group allegedly assaulted a journalist and threatened a senior citizen at a Black Agenda community forum. ¹ In May 2022, a spokeswoman for the group allegedly assaulted a demonstrator with a pro-life counter-protest of a pro-abortion-access rally that the Indy 10 Black Lives Matter participated in. ² Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack against the State of Israel, group’s official X (formerly Twitter) account reposted a statement from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, which praised, “[t]he heroic Palestinian people” and their “right to resist their racist, white supremacist, land-stealing [Z]ionist occupiers!”  ³

Controversies

In October 2019, Indy 10 Black Lives Matter members disrupted a Black Agenda community forum accusing it of being co-opted by the “patriarchy.” When the event moved into a different part of the hosting church, group members confronted a forum attendee and allegedly assaulted them. The group also threatened another senior citizen forum attendee at the same events. ¹

In May 2022, the group attended a pro-abortion-access rally hosted by the Party for Socialism and Liberation group. A counter-protest of pro-life activists, including some from Students for Life, demonstrated against the rally. At this time, an Indy 10 Black Lives Matter allegedly assaulted a of Students for Life  member.  ²

Advocacy

Criminal Justice

In 2020, members of Indy 10 Black Lives Matter spoke at a K-8 Butler University Laboratory School where they claimed “crime is made up” and that capitalist practices “harm black and brown people.” The group also demanded an end to the cash bail system.  ⁴

Support For Defunding Police

In August 2020, Indy 10 Black Lives Matter hosted a Facebook Live discussion in which the group called for defunding the police. The group claimed that police did not keep Black people safe, claiming the city’s police department was a “frat with guns,” while calling them, “the military for white supremacy.  ⁵

In July 2021, the group advocated against a city measure approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council which added $3.3 million for public safety to the city budget with roughly half being allocated towards the Indianapolis Police Department. ⁶

Support For Palestinian Terrorism

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack against the State of Israel, group’s official X (formerly Twitter) account reposted a statement from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, which praised, “[t]he heroic Palestinian people” and their “right to resist their racist, white supremacist, land-stealing [Z]ionist occupiers!”  ³  In December 2023, the group posted on its official Facebook page “From the river to the sea.” ⁷

Leadership

Indy 10 Black Lives Matter’s co-leader is Kyra Harvey. As of October 2023, she also works as a “tenant navigator” for the city of Indianapolis. ³

1. “Indy10 Black Lives Matter Assaults Journalist & Senior Citizen at Black Agenda Assembly.” Black Indy Live, October 20, 2019. https://www.blackindylive.com/indy10-black-lives-matter-assaults-journalist-senior-citizen-at-black-agenda-assembly/.
2. Wharton, Caroline. “Video: Abortion Supporters, BLM Spokesperson Assault pro-Life Activists in Indianapolis Protest.” Students for Life of America, May 10, 2022. https://studentsforlife.org/2022/05/10/video-abortion-supporters-blm-spokesperson-assault-pro-life-activists-in-indianapolis-protest/.
3. Kinnett, Tony. “BLM Backs Hamas: ‘A Terrorist Organization Supports a Terrorist Organization.’” The Daily Signal, October 10, 2023. https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/10/10/i-stand-with-palestine-blm-in-chicago-indianapolis-blasted-for-celebrating-hamas-violence.
4. Anderson, Natasha. “‘Crime Is Made up’: Woke Teachers Force Middle School Pupils to Listen to BLM Activists Claim Black People Who Commit Crime Are Being ‘enslaved’ by Being Sent to Jail and Society Is Being Ruined by ‘White Supremacy and Capitalism.’” Daily Mail Online, December 24, 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10341741/Woke-teachers-force-middle-schoolers-listen-BLM-activists-claim-society-ruined.html.
5. Klein, Dan. “INDY10 BLM Call to Defund Police Lacks Support of Black Lawmakers, IMPD Chief.” WISH, August 18, 2020. https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/indy10-blm-call-to-defund-police-lacks-support-of-black-lawmakers-impd-chief/.
6. Winfrey, Katiera. “Indy10 Black Lives Matter Pushes Back on $3.3M Violence-Prevention Plan.” WISH, July 13, 2021. https://www.wishtv.com/news/multicultural-news/indy10-black-lives-matter-pushes-back-on-3-3m-violence-prevention-plan/.
7.  “Indy10 Black Lives Matter.” Facebook, December 25, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/Indy10People/posts/pfbid0xv6qHwieboeuBrnZrc5QZAHjEcss54SnrV4rdrG1uYMBWAgNaThaqLftvBKTgYLDl.