Indiana’s radical Republicans, aided and abetted by Gov. Mike Pence, just exposed this state and its capital city to potential economic peril just to kowtow to the most intolerant in their base.
The backlash to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) has been decisive and withering. A firestorm of criticism from Indiana’s business leaders, the Indiana and Indianapolis Chambers of Commerce; national business leaders like Apple, Salesforce, Subaru; most colleges and universities; and the NBA, USA Track and Field, NFL, Colts, Indianapolis headquartered NCAA. Even Rev. Jesse Jackson, Indiana’s revered Reggie Miller and sometimes Republican Charles Barkley.
The calls to boycott events or pull jobs from Indiana and its crown jewel, Indianapolis, pose a dire threat to this city and state’s economic welfare.
Indianapolis, the city and metro area, is THE economic engine of this state.
If Indianapolis starts losing convention and tourism business; if companies start hemorrhaging jobs; if entertainers boycott events here, including Black Expo, our economic losses will be real. Everyone will suffer, including our African-American community. That’s not conjecture. That’s the cold hard fact, governor!
I’ve read both Indiana’s RFRA and the Federal RFRA laws. Our governor is incorrect. The two laws are not the same! They’re quite different!
Federal RFRA protects an individual’s right to practice their religion without undue influence by government; or even employers.
Indiana’s RFRA differs in these respects. It defines a “person” to include businesses, corporations, associations, non-profits and other entities. It gives to these types of “persons” the defense of their actions by saying they were practicing their religion and thus government should protect their behavior— even if that behavior is discriminatory.
Under Indiana’s RFRA, a fraternity could use RFRA to claim that anti-Black fraternity chant was their religious belief and shouldn’t be regulated by government.
Mayor Greg Ballard channeled Indy’s anger and worry Monday (in the best speech of his mayoralty) when he demanded an end to this state-made mess.
Ballard evoked decades of work by folks like Sam Jones, Dr. Frank Lloyd, Rev. Charles Williams, Al Hobbs and Bill Mays, and many others by saying in effect that Indy and Indiana’s positive international reputation has been shot to hell by the intolerant actions of Pence and his posse.
In the most determined, forceful speech he’s ever given, Ballard stood up for all 934,000 residents of Indianapolis and forcefully declared Indianapolis would not allow “40 years of efforts” at being an inclusive city to be ruined by the efforts of the Indiana Legislature and governor to unleash discrimination in his city.
Ballard also issued an Executive Order requiring “entities that receive city (county) funds must abide by the city’s human rights ordinances.” The mayor called on the legislature to change state law to include sexual orientation and gender preference as protected classes under the state’s civil rights statute. Ballard stood up and declared that “discrimination is wrong!”
Indy and Indiana have had to overcome a history of bigotry. We can’t forget Indianapolis was where the KKK ran our schools, police department and state government nearly a century ago and birthed the John Birch Society.
Indianapolis has spent five decades striving to present a positive image to America and the world, including many sporting events starting with the 1982 National Sports Festival.
When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 47 years ago this week, Indianapolis worked together to keep the cool and we were one of the few cities that didn’t riot and burn.
Does bigotry exist here? Yes, remember Broad Ripple last year? Or discrimination cases filed here by Indiana’s Civil Rights Commission? Recent investigations by the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana document discrimination is alive in this city and state.
I agree with Pence on one thing. Some people of faith do feel they’re under attack by secular society. But nearly every major religion and faith believes in tolerance, forgiveness and redemption. I believe our governor does deep in his heart.
For the radical Republicans and Pence’s posse to justify open discrimination against any human beings using the cloak of Christianity goes against Christ’s own teachings and practices.
Saturday, Indianapolis gathers to recall some immortal words spoken in the then heart of our African-American community. At 17th and Broadway, hours after Dr. King’s murder, Sen. Robert Kennedy said, “What we need…is not division…is not hatred; but love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another.”
Listening governor, posse, radical republicans? Hope this isn’t our final Final Four because of you.
Despite our flaws, Indianapolis genuinely wants to welcome all – regardless of skin color or orientation. That’s why RFRA must be changed to respect all faiths and all God’s children!
See ‘ya next week!
You can email Amos Brown at acbrown@aol.com.
