Members from the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus held a press conference today at the Statehouse to reveal their Justice Reform Agenda.

The Justice Reform Agenda covers five pillars that the IBLC will work towards advancing legislation during the 2021 session. The five pillars are: save lives, hold accountable, empower communities, change the culture and improve transparency and will offer up legislative solutions such as increasing protester protections, establishing more frequent audits on public safety funds, funding body, and dash cameras, reducing law enforcement in schools, and studying racism as a public health crisis. This agenda will be addressed during the 2021 session through advocacy, amending existing bills and creating new legislation.

This agenda was put together after IBLC members held a series of statewide virtual town halls, met with stakeholders and law enforcement personnel, and held conferences with legislative leaders.

“It is now or never,” Shackleford said. “In the midst of a pandemic and with our current political climate, it is the perfect time to rally the troops and demand legislation that will promote a safer, more equitable Indiana for not only the Black community but for all.

“I need everyone – from our first time voters to our veteran freedom fighters, to keep this fire alive until January, when we can get back into the Statehouse and start making legislative change.”

You can hear Shackleford and the rest of the caucus in the Leon-Tailored Audio above.

It runs for about 33 minutes.