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Black lawmakers call for change following confrontations in statehouse last week

Posted at 1:42 PM, Feb 23, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-23 13:44:59-05

INDIANAPOLIS — At the statehouse, Black lawmakers say they will continue to ask for changes after the debate over a bill turned personal last week.

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus criticized a bill that would allow a neighborhood in St. Joseph County to leave one school district for another. Black lawmakers say such bills could be used to essentially re-segregate schools.

This led to boos and shouts from some Republican lawmakers. Followed by arguments both inside and outside the house chambers. One house member says he was even approached inside a restroom by the assistant floor leader for House Republicans.

You can watch and hear what he has to say in the video above.

Republican House Speaker Todd Huston says he will more strictly enforce rules of decorum in the house moving forward. But members of the Black Caucus say Huston has not committed to their demands for implicit bias training for all lawmakers.