Discrimination - The Indiana Lawyer

Betz: Real, specific demands to confront systemic racism in Indiana

July 8, 2020 | Kevin Betz

The Black Lives Matter movement jolted us from our self-satisfied stasis. But to change things, we must do things. If silence is violence, then speaking without specifics is only nominally better. To bring the justice protesters so desire, it is time to recognize the deeply embedded systemic racism in Indiana and develop a list of specific demands to yield measurable results. The risk of not doing so is too great: the country simply cannot become further torn over racial injustice.

Protesters back Carmel pastor who called activists maggots

July 7, 2020 | Associated Press

Supporters of an Indiana minister who was suspended for calling organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement “maggots and parasites” walked out of a service and shouted at a bishop who ended his remarks with the words, “Black lives matter.”

Supreme Court declines to hear Equal Pay Act case

July 2, 2020 | Associated Press

The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision that employers can’t use past salary history to justify a pay disparity between male and female employees.

Carmel Catholic pastor suspended over Black Lives Matter remarks

July 1, 2020 | Associated Press

A bishop suspended a suburban Indianapolis Catholic pastor from public ministry Wednesday for remarks in which he compared the Black Lives Matter movement and its organizers to “maggots and parasites.”

Catholic pastor told to clarify ‘maggots, parasites’ remarks

July 1, 2020 | Associated Press

A bishop asked a Carmel Catholic pastor Tuesday to clarify remarks in which he compared the Black Lives Matter movement and its organizers to “maggots and parasites.”

St. Joseph County judiciary pledges to address racial inequities

June 30, 2020 | IL Staff

In response to the statement from Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, the St. Joseph Circuit, Superior and Probate courts have made a commitment to do better and improve justice for persons of color.

Women sue 4 Indianapolis officers, claiming excessive force amid protests

June 30, 2020 | Associated Press

Two women have filed an excessive force lawsuit against four Indianapolis police officers after video was released of officers using batons and pepper balls to subdue the women at a protest last month over the death of George Floyd.

Fort Wayne protesters sue police for ‘violent and inappropriate actions’

June 26, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Protesters claiming Fort Wayne law enforcement fired teargas canisters, flashbang grenades and rubber bullets into peaceful demonstrations filed a lawsuit Friday in federal court seeking to stop the use of chemical agents and projectiles.

Purdue expels student for racist statements on social media

June 25, 2020 | Associated Press

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels has expelled an undergraduate student for “racist and despicable” statements he made on social media. Purdue said in a news release Tuesday that Daniels determined that repeated statements posted by Maxwell Lawrence “appear plainly intended to incite others and therefore create a risk of public safety issues in the current environment.”

AG Hill, Republican attorneys general back police amid congressional debate

June 25, 2020 | Associated Press

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill joined 11 Republican state attorneys general who weighed in this week on the congressional debate over policing amid the national push to stop racial bias in law enforcement.

Bravo: ‘Failure to speak up would let down’ the legal community

June 24, 2020 | Karen E. Bravo

When I recently saw the video of George Floyd’s extrajudicial killing by law enforcement, a familiar sense of anguish, fury, hopelessness, and malaise swept over me. So did a sense of helplessness. We had seen this video before, over the long and many years. We had read this story. And yet, I had never before witnessed such a starkly calm extinguishment of a human life — a Black human life.

IndyBar Establishes Standing Commission on Racial Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

June 24, 2020 | From IndyBar

Following the events of recent weeks and the growing awareness of racial inequality around the globe, we, leaders of the Indianapolis Bar Association, have recognized our responsibility to bring about change to achieve equality, diversity and inclusion in the Indianapolis legal community and beyond.

Letter to the editor: Attorneys’ oath demands action

June 24, 2020

In light of excessive police violence, I call on my fellow barristers, who took the same oath as I, to begin living that oath. “I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless, the oppressed or those who cannot afford adequate legal assistance; so help me God.”

Councilman who called Black Lives Matter protesters ‘uneducated’ resigns

June 23, 2020 | Associated Press

A northeastern Indiana county councilman has resigned days after he sparked outage by saying during a council meeting that Black Lives Matter protesters were “uneducated” and lamented that they “breed.”

Poll: Nearly all in US back criminal justice reform

June 23, 2020 | Associated Press

Americans overwhelmingly want clear standards on when police officers may use force and consequences for officers who do so excessively, according to a new poll that finds nearly all Americans favor at least some level of change to the nation’s criminal justice system.

Indy Lawyers for Black Lives’ ‘call to action’ brings solidarity

June 19, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

Eyes and ears of those gathered on the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law lawn Friday were trained on members of the Indianapolis legal community calling for action to push for racial equality.

IU to review names of buildings, structures at all campuses

June 19, 2020 | Associated Press

Indiana University plans to review the names of all buildings and structures across its nine-campus system following the school’s decision to rename an intramural center that once honored a segregationist after its first black basketball player.

Councilman apologizes for calling protesters ‘uneducated’

June 19, 2020 | Associated Press

A northeastern Indiana county councilman has apologized for calling Black Lives Matter protesters “uneducated” and lamenting that they “breed.”

Indianapolis lawyers hosting ‘Call to Action’ for racial equality

June 18, 2020 | IL Staff

As demonstrations and calls for criminal justice reform continue nationwide, a group of Indianapolis lawyers have organized a “Call to Action” to highlight the role lawyers can play in the push for racial equality. The new organization Indy Lawyers for Black Lives will host a Juneteenth event Friday at IU McKinney School of Law.

Roncalli, archdiocese lose bid to limit discovery in fired counselor’s discrimination suit

June 18, 2020 | Olivia Covington

The Indianapolis Archdiocese and an affiliated high school have once again lost a bid to limit discovery in a fired employee’s same-sex discrimination lawsuit to the question of whether the plaintiff’s claims fall under the First Amendment’s “ministerial exception.”

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