THE INDIANA BLACK Legislative Caucus holds a news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. From left: Reps. Vanessa Summers, Robin Shackleford, Earl Harris Jr., La Keisha Jackson, Ragen Hatcher, John Bartlett and Cherrish Pryor. There are 16 members. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s recent executive order eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in state government has sparked significant backlash from legislators and advocacy groups. The order, signed on January 15, 2025, replaces DEI with “Merit, Excellence, and Innovation” (MEI) and dissolves the Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity Officer, established by former Governor Eric Holcomb in 2020.
State Representative Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) expressed profound dismay at the governor’s decision, stating, “In one executive order, Gov. Braun has turned back the clock on centuries of progress and equity. One signature on a piece of paper has negated the marches, boycotts, and speeches of far greater men and women: Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, John Lewis, W.E.B. Du Bois, and more.” Smith further highlighted the underrepresentation of minorities and women in Indiana’s legislature, noting that only 16 out of 150 elected representatives are Black and merely 31 women serve across both chambers, with none holding Republican leadership positions.
Here is State Rep. Vernon G. Smith’s entire statement:
“In one executive order, Gov. Braun has turned back the clock on centuries of progress and equity. One signature on a piece of paper has negated the marches, boycotts and speeches of far greater men and women: Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, John Lewis, W.E.B Du Bois and more. I remember the Rainbow Coalition of the 1980s when Rev. Jesse Jackson declared, ‘Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow– red, yellow, brown, black and white.’ What is the harm in striving to reflect the rainbow of Indiana? Minorities in Indiana do indeed exist.
“You cannot tell me our government does not need DEI initiatives when only 16 of 150 elected representatives are Black. Only 31 women serve in the two chambers, and not a single woman is part of Republican leadership. I can wholeheartedly say that my colleague’s positions are not due to DEI, but because of their hard work and commitment to service.
“I believe in merit, excellence and innovation since we should all strive to be the best we can be. However, without DEI applied those in minority groups will not be given the chance to demonstrate that they are worthy of merit, excellence or innovation through their service.
“The governor does not serve just a special few, but he is called by our constitution and a higher power to serve all people.”
The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), comprising 16 Black legislators, also condemned Governor Braun’s actions. Chairman Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) criticized the executive order, stating, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not about giving any group a handout. It’s about giving everyone access by expanding opportunities for even more talented and qualified individuals, regardless of their identity.” He questioned the beneficiaries of the order, asking, “Who does this benefit, other than folks who baselessly feel attacked by the mere mention of diversity in our workforce?”
The IBLC further denounced proposed budget cuts targeting minority-focused programs. Governor Braun’s two-year budget plan includes the elimination of funding for the Indiana Commission for Women and the Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission. Additionally, it proposes a 15% reduction—approximately $750,000—in funding for the Indiana Civil Rights Commission over the biennium.
Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, interpreted these budgetary decisions as indicative of the administration’s priorities. She remarked, “So when you’re cutting programs that affect minorities and women, Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans, when you’re not supporting disparity studies, that is the priority of that administration. What the administration is saying is, ‘You’re not important to us. You’re not welcome. We don’t want there to be diversity. We don’t believe in equality, and we will not welcome inclusiveness’.”
The IBLC’s official statement labeled the executive order as “extremely troubling,” emphasizing that DEI practices are designed to provide equitable opportunities rather than handouts. The caucus asserted that Governor Braun’s shift to MEI perpetuates a “false narrative that DEI leads to unqualified individuals getting promoted based only on their race or nationality,” a notion they find “deeply offensive” and harmful to minority workers throughout the state.
This move by Governor Braun aligns with a broader national trend of reevaluating DEI initiatives. Notably, on his first day back in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order repealing his predecessor’s “immoral discrimination” programs, including terminating all related employees, contracts, action plans, and performance requirements. Rep. Harris described such actions as “disheartening for both Indiana and for the country.”
Critics argue that eliminating DEI initiatives undermines efforts to address systemic inequalities and sends a message that Indiana is not committed to fairness and inclusivity. Advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, have voiced concerns that the state’s move away from DEI could decrease interest in state employment among diverse populations and hinder the state’s progress toward building a more equitable society.
As the debate continues, the IBLC and other advocacy groups are calling for a reevaluation of the executive order and proposed budget cuts. They urge the administration to consider the long-term implications of these actions on Indiana’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to recognize the value that diverse perspectives bring to the state’s workforce and governance.
