Catholic pastor told to clarify ‘maggots, parasites’ remarks
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.”
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St. Joseph County judiciary pledges to address racial inequities
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
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’
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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’
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
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
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.”
Lawsuit challenges IMPD actions against protesters
Indy 10 Black Lives Matter and the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana have sued the city of Indianapolis, seeking to end the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s use of chemical weapons and projectiles against protesters.
Minkler: Hoosiers experiencing harassment due to COVID-19 should report
Hoosiers who have experienced harassment or discrimination because of the COVID-19 pandemic are urged to report those incidents to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Coordinator, U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced.
Lilly pledges $25M, 25,000 volunteer hours against injustice
Eli Lilly and Co. and the Lilly Foundation announced a pledge of $25 million and 25,000 employee volunteer service hours over five years Saturday to ease the burden of racial injustice and its effects on local and national communities of color.
Advocates seek injunction to expand vote by mail in November election
An Indiana grassroots organization and 12 state residents are asking a federal court to order Hoosier election officials extend no-excuse absentee balloting for the 2020 general election in November because, they say, voters will still be at risk of contracting COVID-19.