https://progressiveindiana.net
In tonight’s Concerned Clergy town hall meeting, Indiana State Representative Gregory Porter joins Rev. Tony Alexander to discuss critical bills from the recently concluded legislative session that disproportionately impact Black communities in Indianapolis and across Indiana. The conversation covers the systematic dismantling of democratic processes through House Bill 1033 (judicial appointments that eliminate Black representation on the bench), the Indianapolis Public Schools takeover bill creating state oversight of the predominantly Black school board, Senate Bill 285 criminalizing homelessness, and AES Indiana’s sale to BlackRock private equity amid skyrocketing utility bills. Representative Porter describes this as a “clawing back” of 50-60 years of civil rights progress, with the governor and his allies systematically removing local control and Black leadership through appointments rather than elections. The discussion reveals how these interconnected policies—from judicial appointments to school board oversight to criminalizing poverty—represent a coordinated effort to strip power from Marion County’s majority-minority community while enriching corporate interests at the expense of everyday residents struggling with unaffordable utility bills and housing costs.
WHAT’S INSIDE
00:01:24 - Opening and Prayer
• Rev. Tony Alexander welcomes listeners and introduces Rep. Gregory Porter
• Prayer for those dealing with war, bombings, and homelessness
• Setting agenda: AES buyout, bills at governor’s desk
00:03:38 - Legislative Session Overview
• One of hardest, busiest short sessions—over 500 bills filed, only 120+ passed
• Started with redistricting bill in December (shot down by Senate)
• Bills that didn’t pass often got stuck into other bills at the end
00:05:42 - Major Problematic Bills
• HB 1033: systematic attack on judicial system
• School board oversight: questioning competency of seven Black women running IPS
• Alzheimer’s bill passed (small victory)
00:06:27 - House Bill 1033: Judicial Appointments Disaster
• Senator Carrasco added amendment removing seats for Marion County Bar Association (Black), Indianapolis Bar, prosecutors, public defenders
• Now governor and Supreme Court appointees choose judges
• Very probable no more Black judges selected for Marion County
00:09:28 - FOP and Judicial Prejudice
• Fraternal Order of Police unhappy with Black judges
• System allows committee to refuse recommending judges for retention
• Rep. Porter calls it “judicial Jim Crow, plantation judiciary”
00:12:29 - Clawing Back Progress
• 50-60 years of progress being systematically reversed
• Everything now appointed by governor or mayor rather than elected
• Past protections requiring African American candidates now gone
00:13:39 - Indianapolis Public Schools Takeover Bill
• Mayor and others (RISE, Stand for Children) wanting mayoral control
• State-appointed overseer for IPS created
• Seven elected Black women school board members now have white male overseer
00:16:08 - IPS Oversight Details
• Described as “plantation overseer” over largest school district in Indiana
• School board no longer controls its own operations
• High school superintendent appointed to oversee experienced Black women educators
00:20:03 - Charter Schools and Asset Stripping
• Concern about charter expansion and IPS asset transfers
• IPS has significant debt obligations and valuable assets
• Fear of privatization scheme transferring public buildings to charter operators
00:24:07 - AES Indiana Sale to BlackRock
• AES bought by private equity consortium including BlackRock
• Bills increased 80-125% for many customers
• Timing suspicious: rate increases announced Monday, then buyout approved
00:27:12 - Bills on Governor’s Desk
• Bills must be signed within 10 days or become law without signature
• Can also veto bills
• Many problematic bills pending governor’s action
00:29:27 - Early Voting Restriction Bill (Died)
• Would have cut early voting from 28 days to 16 days
• Bill died in final days after pushback
• Small victory worth celebrating
00:30:41 - Senate Bill 285: Criminalizing Homelessness
• Vilifies homeless people, gives law enforcement citation authority they don’t want
• Doesn’t reduce homelessness—just hides it
• Driven by legislators from outside Indianapolis
00:31:10 - Lugar Plaza Redesignation
• Plaza outside City-County Building now designated as park
• Dusk-to-dawn restrictions, no alcohol allowed
• Targets unhoused neighbors seeking security
00:33:23 - Downtown Safety Reality
• Downtown statistically safest area in Marion County
• Conventions, NFL Combine, Final Fours all come downtown
• Homelessness is visibility issue, not safety threat
00:36:15 - Local Control Being Stripped
• State legislators from outside Indianapolis making city decisions
• Attacking local autonomy and home rule
• Pattern of state overriding local control
00:40:13 - AES Sale and Utility Rate Crisis
• Buyout timing connected to rate increases—makes portfolio look good at $15/share
• IURC task force studying but no follow-through from administration
• Brand new homes seeing bills jump from $200 to $500
00:45:01 - Data Centers and Tax Breaks
• Data centers haven’t come online yet, can’t blame for current rates
• State giving 50-year tax breaks (cheap land, formerly cheap electricity)
• Need community benefit packages from data centers
00:47:13 - AES Sale Process Not Complete
• $33 billion acquisition needs federal approval
• One investment company from outside the country
• Private equity firms squeeze assets for profit, may resell later
00:48:28 - HB 1343: Militarizing Indiana National Guard
• Buried in Veterans Bill, allows Guard to be militarized like in D.C.
• Can help ICE operations (ICE moved to 96th & Meridian in Hamilton County)
• Governor aligned “lock, stock, and barrel” with current president
00:50:11 - Senate Bill 76: Immigration Enforcement in Schools
• Law enforcement can enter schools and universities
• Can hold someone 48 hours if they “feel” person is undocumented
• Targeting children and students, causing trauma
00:51:25 - Cell Phone Ban in Schools
• Kids can’t have cell phones during school hours
• Educator saying “cell phones down, GPA up”
• May help learning environment and declining test scores
00:52:22 - Senate Bill 27: Chicago Bears Stadium Deal
• Passed in last hours, governor already signed—Bears to Hammond by 2033
• $5-6 billion investment with stadium, convention center in Gary
• State on hook for bonds, gentrification concerns, Illinois fighting back
00:55:09 - Caller Guy: “The Big Squeeze”
• Everything being squeezed on the people from multiple directions
• Recommends book “Technocracy Rising” by Patrick Wood
• Big money people squeezing utilities, agriculture worldwide to get more money
00:56:20 - Closing and Call to Action
• Work not over even though session ended—organize, advocate year-round
• Black Caucus travels state educating people on what transpired
• Get registered to vote, get educated, get to the polls—365-day process
