As grassroots liberals rise, Democrats sideline 2 black activists in Indianapolis

Derris Ross heard President Donald Trump was coming to town. He responded by leading a rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. An April 2016 photograph shows Ross, who goes by Dee, protesting against Trump's visit by shouting into a red bullhorn, his left index finger pointing to the sky.

Belinda Drake is a former intern for U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, an Indianapolis Democrat. She served on the executive board of the Indiana Stonewall Democrats, an organization that advocates for gay rights, and she holds the Democratic leadership position of precinct committeewoman.

Both of them felt secure in their Democratic bona fides — until this month when they were told they are not members of the party. Not officially, anyway, because of a technicality in how affiliation is determined in Indiana. And, soon, maybe not even in spirit.

Ross and Drake are preparing to run as independents after the Marion County Democratic Party rejected their candidacies for City-County Council seats earlier this month. The decision has sparked an intraparty fight that is spilling into public.

Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/24/indianapolis-democrats-keep-dee-ross-belinda-drake-out-council-elections/2863167002/