Despite the damage and hurt caused by Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRA), those of us in Indiana working to promote social and economic justice for everyone have been extremely heartened by the reaction and support of so many people and organizations across our city, state, and country.  We are very thankful, because otherwise we would be left with legalized discrimination.  Although the motivation for RFRA was related to LGBT rights, the law affects every Hoosier.   It appears that using social wedge issues like this is no longer an effective political strategy.

It is clear that this bill does not provide equal protection under the law for all Hoosiers in Indiana. Indiana Moral Mondays calls on it’s coalition partners and supporters to join us to send a message that we demand EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL HOOSIERS without Regard to Race, Religious Beliefs, Class, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Immigration Status or Physical Disability.

RFRA is part of the same process that is destroying public schools, ending common wage, reducing food stamps, keeping coal-powered plants, and does nothing to support racial justice. For Indiana Moral Mondays<https://www.facebook.com/IMMWG>, opposition to RFRA is part of our movement to oppose social and economic injustice and to promote an improvement in the quality of life for all Hoosiers.

Unfortunately, RFRA highlights what has become the usual approach to legislation in Indiana.  The party in power uses that power to advance their ideology, instead of working on solutions all Hoosiers believe in and desire.  We demand that our legislators and Governor include all of us in discussions of the future direction of our state.  Our elected officials have the responsibility of listening to their constituents.

This week has seriously damaged the trust and respect for the Indiana government in the view of many, many Hoosiers. To begin to heal, Indiana Moral Mondays demands that RFRA be repealed, and that Indiana law is updated to include protections for all Hoosiers now.