The majority of the black caucus to jump braun’s state of state speech

On By Littum

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A majority of Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Planning to skip Government Manager Mike Braun’s first state of the state’s speech on Wednesday night at Statehouse, in the midst of concern about Braun’s handling of state DEI initiatives.

Caucus, consisting of 16 black state lawmakers, holds instead An “Unity Rally” On the fourth floor of the State House from 7 p.m. 18.00 tonight, according to a news announcement. Braun’s speech is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. 19 inside the house chamber.

The action of the black legislative Caucus is coming as black lawmakers have criticized some of Braun’s original features during his first weeks in office. Executive Orders Braun has signed included included closure of the former Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer. In addition, Braun instructed state agencies to no longer spend money on DEI positions, activities or training if they “give preference” based on race or ethnicity.

Braun’s original state budget proposal also did not include a one -time investment in Indiana’s predominantly black university, which was a priority for former head of government Eric Holcomb’s.

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East Chicago Democratic Rep. Earl Harris Jr., president of the black legislative Caucus, in a statement that the said rally said that legislators have “received a message” about the direction Braun wants to take the state government and Caucus wants to “bring Hoosiers together to fight for a better state for everyone.

“If we show a unified front, there is very little we can’t do to make Indiana a state welcoming to everything, celebrating diversity and giving every citizen a chance to build a great life for themselves and theirs families, ”Harris said in the statement.

The black legislative Caucus consists of legislators in both parliament and the Senate. A statement from the Indiana’s Senate Democrats said some senators were planning to participate in the rally, while others would be on the governor’s speech to ensure that “the Braun administration cannot ignore the people we represent.”

“This is not about absence – it’s about presence,” the statement reads. “All in the whole, in the State House or wherever decisions are made, we are here. We are looking at. We demand better. And we will make sure our voices are heard everywhere.”

Griffin Reid, a spokesman for Braun, said everyone is invited to see Braun’s speech.

“For those who choose not to see,” he said, “it’s their power.”

More: Braun’s first state in the state’s speech is tonight. This is how you see.

David Greene, president of the pastor of Indianapolis, said he was concerned about the governor’s executive orders. He planned to talk on the iblc rally.

“He put us back 30 or 40 years in history,” Greene said. “Dei is something that has been fought for decades by several minority groups who are just trying to have a seat at the table. To act as if systemic racism and discrimination are not found is certainly misleading.”

Greene said he welcomes the legislators who were going to the rally.

“You have to answer this,” Greene said. “This match is only in progress.”

Indystar -Journalists Kayla Dwyer and Hayleigh Colombo contributed to this story.

Contact Indystar State Government and Politics Reporter Brittany Carloni at [email protected] or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X@CarloniBrittany.