Black leaders from across Indiana on Monday weighed in legislation near the finish line that would affect everything from education to the environment during the NAACP’s annual legislative day at the Statehouse.
A controversial school curriculum bill, House Bill 1134The rally was hotly debated over the topic of. On the same day as it was due to receive a crucial vote on Senate floor, speakers swore their opposition. Several – including Drew Duncan from the South Bend chapter of the NAACP – said it would effectively erase Black history from the classroom.
“They’re trying to remove American history from the books,” Duncan said. “We are a part of this country. We helped build it and we need to be proud of that.”
Many lawmakers also discussed their efforts to defeat the GOP-backed legislation. John Bartlett, a Republican from Indiana, stated that lawmakers are sending a dark message to Hoosiers by introducing education bills and a bill to eliminate handgun permits.
“We want to rob you of education but equip you with a gun,” Bartlett said. “Just think about that.”
Leaders strongly oppose several environmental bills which would adversely affect Black, Brown, or low-income communities.
The state’s approach to energy and environmental topics may be more important than ever.
The Biden administration pledged to send 40% of federal funding to communities most affected by climate change — including Black, Brown, and low-income communities. But it’s the state’s responsibility to distribute most of those dollars.
“How are we going to make sure that our constituents, our members, our communities get their fair share?” said Denise Abdul-Rahman, the Indiana NAACP state environmental climate justice chair.
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Gov. Eric Holcomb In a letter, 15 governors joined themWe urge the Biden administration not to prioritise equity or climate change and instead to let states manage federal infrastructure funding.
Abdul-Rahman supported, among other things, an amendment House Bill 1221To install more electric vehicle charging stations within diverse communities House Bill1196 — a bill to allow Hoosiers with homeowner’s associations access to solar power.
Abdul-Rahman stated the NAACP opposed a bill allowing companies to store carbon emissions underground, and a bill encouraging small nuclear reactors to become more common in the state.
Contact reporter Justin at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @Hicks_JustinM. Contact reporter Rebecca at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter at @beckythiele.
Indiana Environmental reporting is supported and supported by the Environmental Resilience Institute. It is an Indiana University Grand Challenge project that develops Indiana-specific projections as well as informed responses to problems related to environmental change.
