We are nearing our final viewing of our 3-part documentary series, Voter Suppression, Gerrymandering,
and the Need for Redistricting Reform, which is tonight at 7:30-9pm. I urge you to go now and Register Free. This evening's short film is, LINE IN THE STREET with Q & A afterwards (created by film makers Robert and Rachel Millman, *panelists listed below). It deals with gerrymander reform, and details a League of Women Voters landmark win for voting rights in the 2018 Pennsylvania Supreme Court case. This first of its kind lawsuit held that partisan gerrymandering violated Pennsylvania's State Constitution, irrespective of federal law, or federal courts.
What does this have to do with reproductive rights in Indiana? Right now Senate Bill 399 awaits its first hearing in the General Assembly. This bill proposes that if the Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe v. Wade, or approves a Constitutional amendment to outlaw all abortions, Indiana will convene a special hearing to ban all abortions across the state of Indiana. Indiana is a red state, but it doesn't have to be with redistricting reforms that prevent packing and cracking districts to in order to maintain votes for those on the side of big business, the rich, and the aloof. These are NOT the majority, these are the few who happen to hold power due to unfair, partisan gerrymandering. The impact is huge, and far reaching. This year we can set things straight with fair maps, returning the power to the people, where it belongs.
As Alicia Gurrieri wrote in, "A majority of people support safe, legal access to abortion. So why is it under threat?", "...Our laws and the people who hold seats in office do not always reflect the will of the people." Shouldn't they, though? Don't they work for us?
Please register and attend tonight. This is a very exciting time for Indiana. We have dynamic leadership for this paramount project that can change the course of many lives, in many ways, simply by drawing fair maps. Join us. I know you'll be glad you did.
See you this evening.
Bri
*PANELISTS:
Jesse Kharbanda (Executive Director,Hoosier Environmental Council)
Jennifer McCormick (Former IN State Superintendent of Public Instruction)