More than 200 people rallied Saturday afternoon outside the Governor's Residence on Meridian Street to protest what they describe as government overreach in the efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The protest criticized Gov. Eric Holcomb and his series of executive orders, which have restricted which businesses can operate and have directed residents to stay at home except for essential trips.

"Are we in Russia?" the writing on one passing RV asked as it honked in support of the crowd.

Protesters compared Holcomb to a tyrant, arguing that the orders violate the U.S. Constitution and the Indiana Constitution.

"He's not a king," Greencastle resident Elizabeth Fiscus said amid the cheers and honks from the crowd. "We have separation of powers for a reason."

Andy Horning of Freedom acknowledged that the virus is a very serious thing, but he pointed to concerns with a government increasingly encroaching on individual rights.

"No one person in America should have this much power. No one person should want that much power — that's a lot of accountability," he said.

He argued for such decisions to be left to representatives, who would more closely reflect the will of their constituents. The concerns in Freedom, he noted, are not the same as they are in Indianapolis.

"I've got kids who I want to live a good life," he said. "I don't want to bequeath them a Venezuela. I don't want to bequeath them a North Korea."

The governor's constitutional authority

Gov. Eric Holcomb on Friday said he would extend his stay-at-home order through May 1.

Indiana's emergency disaster law gives the governor a number of additional powers during a declared public health emergency, including the ability to control the movement of people within the disaster area.

Holcomb expressed sympathy for residents at a news briefing earlier this week but argued that the state has acted constitutionally throughout its entire process.

"If we disagree about that, then I'd be more than welcome to sit down with anyone that wants to go over the constitution or see where our authority is derived from," he said.

Holcomb said his administration is doing everything it can to get through the crisis and get people back to work safely.

The governor views his orders as critical toward containing the spread of the coronavirus. Yet those efforts have come at an economic cost. Tens of thousands of Hoosiers have filed unemployment claims. State tax revenues have plunged.

Holcomb on Thursday announced a formal agreement with six other Midwestern states to coordinate how and when businesses would reopen.

Constitution versus coronavirus

At the protest Saturday, hundreds of people stood among signs, "Don't Tread on Me" flags and Trump banners as they voiced outrage.

"My freedom does not end where your fears begin," read one sign.

"Repent Holcomb," read one wooden cross.

On the other side of the street, Richard Claus could barely contain his anger at the congregation.

He said he found the rally appalling.

"I'm no Rush Limbaugh, so I'm absolutely sure I cannot change a single mind over there," he said. "But I just wish we could rise to a world some day where people could think better for themselves and make more educated decisions — maybe based on science or factual information."

Growing trend of protests

The protest mirrors several others held across the country in the past week in states with both Democratic and Republican governors. Protesters in North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Minnesota have called on their states to reopen.

But the American public as a whole seems to hold different perspectives.

The majority of adults worry that state governments will lift restrictions too quickly rather than not quickly enough, according to a Pew Research poll of 4,917 residents conducted last week.

The majority, 73%, also believed that the worst problems from the coronavirus outbreak are yet to come.

Call IndyStar reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at 317-444-6175 or email her at apakharvey@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmeliaPakHarvey.