When Governor Mike Braun issued a proclamation in March reaffirming freedom of speech and encouraging Indiana schools to facilitate student organizations like Turning Point USA, the announcement carried different weight depending on who received it.
The March 11 proclamation, announced alongside Secretary of State Diego Morales, recognizes freedom of speech as a “foundational human right” and emphasizes that open dialogue strengthens communities. Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization founded by Charlie Kirk, focuses on promoting free markets and limited government on high school and college campuses.
However, for some Indianapolis residents, the partnership raises questions about whose speech is being elevated — and at what cost.
“I don’t think it is a fair partnership,” said Allan Garnett, an Indianapolis ironworker and parent.
Garnett pointed to historical context often overlooked in such discussions, noting that the “original Republicans” — the party of Lincoln — “did a lot more for minorities” than contemporary political discourse might suggest.
When asked if he is concerned that the decision will affect his children, Garnett stated he “doesn’t think it will affect them” at the time of this report.
Pam Alexander, an educator and barber based in Indianapolis, described the collaboration as “completely one-sided.” She sees potential for a slippery slope. Alexander noted that the initial reaction to the news was mixed, with some in favor and some opposed, but added that only time will tell how the partnership ultimately unfolds and affects future voters.
“Look where we are at,” Alexander said, referring to the ultra-conservative landscape of Indiana.
Duane Bean, an Indianapolis resident with a son who will be eligible to vote in the 2028 election, offered a layered critique.
“We all know what they are trying to do,” Bean said, referring to the collaboration as a vehicle to potentially sway a new generation of voters toward one political direction over another.
However, Bean was careful to avoid partisan framing.
“Even if it were the other way around, it still wouldn’t be a fair association,” Bean added, imagining the hypothetical scenario of an ultra-Democratic voter registration organization partnering with Braun, Morales and Indiana schools.
Bean acknowledged the genuine need for increased civic participation.
“Do we need more people to register to vote? Yes. Do we need more people to actually get out and vote? Absolutely.”
However, Bean pushed back against recent online comparisons he’s hearing, equating voting with flying.
“Flying is a privilege. Voting is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution. The two are not the same,” Bean told the Indianapolis Recorder.
Bean framed the current political climate in terms that transcended left-right divisions.
“Right or left, they are two sides of the same bird,” Bean said. “That bird is freedom. And we must all protect and respect that.”
The governor’s proclamation, which calls on educational institutions to facilitate student organizations “that promote liberty and open dialogue,” stops short of mandating any specific action. However, for parents like Bean and Garnett, and educators like Alexander, the conversation around whose voices get amplified — and who benefits — is only beginning.
For Bean, the conversation ultimately comes down to the next generation. He had a direct message for his son, Jamal, and young voters coming of age in this environment:
“You all are smart and have the information literally at your fingertips. Do your own research. Be well-informed. Don’t let the older generation force you to make a decision that you will have to pay for in 30 or 40 years. Know who you are and the issues you want to change.”
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
