Indiana Democratic Party 2-20-21 Weekly Radio Address

Chairman John Zody and the INDEMS Weekly Radio Address:

The Republicans once again showed a clear disrespect toward Indiana’s Black community, but this time, they arrogantly displayed forms of racism that we only once read about in the classroom.

TRANSCRIPT:

This is Chairman John Zody, bringing you the weekly message for the Indiana Democratic Party.

Hoosiers, the Indiana Republican Party is out of control.

State Republicans this week shocked many when several elected leaders shouted down and booed members of Indiana’s Black Legislative Caucus during public debate on a bill that would open Black Hoosiers up for discrimination in South Bend.

Instead of listening to Indiana’s Black leaders, state representatives like Jim Lucas heckled them and then stormed out of the House chamber. They tried to silence Black Hoosiers. They tried to boo Black Hoosiers. And then they walked out on Black Hoosiers.

The Republicans once again showed a clear disrespect toward Indiana’s Black community, but this time, they arrogantly displayed forms of racism that we only once read about in the classroom.

What the Indiana Republican Party did was wrong, and what’s worse — I fear their actions were nothing but intentional. I say that because for too long, Hoosier Republicans have shown voters they feel they’re invincible and shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions.

Add in the last four years where the nation had a U.S. president who carried around the same form of arrogance, and the Republican Party has become a party full of bullies who believe they are above the rules — even American democracy itself.

The Indiana Republican Party’s racist actions on Thursday must be held accountable, and House Speaker Todd Huston must set a standard of decency immediately. If he fails to do so, then the Republican Party is far more corrupt than we imagined.

Hoosiers, I say this every week, but we are in a new era of politics. Not only are Democrats tasked with holding an unruly Indiana Republican Party accountable, but we are in this fight to help better the future of Indiana and its families.

This task will be a challenge, but we are ready for the fight. And this fight begins the week ahead where the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass the COVID-19 relief bill which would increase the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour.

The Indiana Democratic Party couldn’t be more thrilled to take on this effort, because raising the minimum wage means 892,000 Hoosiers now have a pathway to better opportunity. More than 554,000 Hoosier women and 74,000 Black Hoosiers work in minimum-wage jobs, and many times they are the sole breadwinners of their family.

Increasing the minimum wage is common sense, and it’ll deliver a better future for more than 30-percent of Indiana’s workforce.

Hoosier Republicans have already started peddling misinformation and myths about the minimum wage. It’s a scare tactic based on political agendas, not facts. That is why this fight matters even more — because the Indiana Democratic Party is the Party about facts and solutions, not fear and mythology.

This is why the Indiana Democratic Party is asking everyone to join us in this new movement for a better tomorrow. Issues like raising the minimum wage are important, and it’s become clear the Democrats’ fight moving forward is about literally protecting the democracy and values we hold as Americans. It’s about providing a golden ticket for our working class.

I hope you can join the Democrats in this new effort, and I urge those who are listening to consider stepping up and running for office yourself. Whether it’s through municipal, state, or federal elections, let’s all do our part and elect leaders who will protect our American values, and not the values of fringe politics.

Stay safe, Hoosiers. Take care of yourselves. And mask up.

Thank you for listening.