Hoosiers who attended the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus’s virtual town hall Thursday expressed concerns about racial justice and COVID-19.
The caucus spent much of the two-hour town hall reviewing legislation from the 2020 session and previewing its agenda for 2021 – including its justice reform plan. Some of the questions from the public included issues like reforming the cash bail system, raising teacher pay, and defunding the police.
Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) says she thinks “defund” is the wrong word to use.
“Maybe a major surgery and a facelift is a much better use of the term as it relates to the police department and the funding of it,” Pryor says.
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Pryor and others suggested banning police use of military-grade equipment and shifting funds to social service providers.
Asked about the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan, several members – particularly those from northwest Indiana – said they thought the state is moving too fast.
Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
