Rep. Cherrish Pryor (right), chairman of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, talks at the group's town hall meeting in Indianapolis. (Photo by Drew Daudelin)
The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus kicked off a statewide series of town hall meetings Saturday in Indianapolis.
Members of the Caucus helped recap the session for the few dozen people who attended the town hall. The lawmakers, all Democrats, talked about a variety of issues, including education, transportation, and the budget.
One theme was consistent throughout – the need to fight against voter suppression and Republican supermajorities.
Rep. John Bartlett (D-Indianapolis) says education is crucial to winning those fights. And he says town hall meetings serve to inform the public about complex bills passed at the Statehouse.
“That’s my message that I’m trying to get out to our folk. Listen. Be a part of this process, because whether you like politics or not, it affects your life,” Bartlett says.
Bartlett and other caucus members also say they want to address what they believe are unfairly drawn legislative districts through redistricting reform.
Future town halls will be held in Terre Haute, Evansville, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and Gary.