The 2021 legislative session has witnessed a number of bills that aim at negatively impacting the existing oversight structures for local police departments. An example is Senate Bill 311, which gives police officers almost complete discretion in using force, including deadly force. It also allows them to ignore department policy on how much force to use. Further, the bill prevents departments, cities and counties from restricting an officer's discretion on the use of force.
We believe this bill is bad for the people of Indiana because it goes against our system of checks and balances. Checks and balances are essential to a free society. This bill is out of balance because it removes most checks on an officer's discretion to use force. Even the officer's own police department would not be able to enforce protocol on the use of force in many cases.
Fortunately the troublesome language was removed from the bill at its last hearing on February 16. Hazem Bata, IMAN Associates Policy Advisor, attended the hearing to testify in opposition to the bill. However, since the harmful language was removed our position was neutral.

On February 18, 2021, Rep. Greg Porter and Rep. Vernon Smith, two members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, were booed by fellow legislators while speaking against bill HB1367, which would allow residents to leave the racially diverse South Bend school system and become part of a mostly white neighboring district. The bill narrowly passed with 52-43 votes.
Adorned by his African garb to celebrate the Black History month on that day, Rep. Smith shared afterwards that “The legislature is known for its institutional racism.” The IBLC came out strong and issued a statement condemning the disrespectful behavior from Republican members. In a press conference, Rep. Robin Shackleford, the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) chair, asked House Speaker Todd Huston for all legislators to receive Implicit Bias Training. In fact, the IBLC has started a petition “urging accountability for the mistreatment of Black legislators.” Also, Caucus members are organizing a “Call to Action” days at the Indiana Statehouse, where supporters can show up in solidarity with them. Call to Action days started last week and will continue throughout the next week.

IMAN Associates has issued a statement denouncing the lack of decorum and civility in the statehouse, and urging legislators to rediscover respect for the diverse perspectives of all members of the Indiana General Assembly. We urge our members to support the members of the IBLC and sign the petition.

While our nation has been reeling for the last year from the pandemic, Asian Americans have been the victims of hateful incidents across the U.S., including the Indiana Asian American community members. They have been the target of xenophobic attacks, ranging from “verbal bullying and micro aggressions to outright assaults and lethal violence.”
The Indiana chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) is launching a campaign to speak out against the spike of violent attacks and urge Governor Holcomb to take official action to condemn the bigotry. Please sign this petition in solidarity with the Asian American community and share it with others.

A global health and economic crisis has numerous repercussions on an already challenged housing scene in Indiana. To that point, IMAN Associates, in collaboration with IMCA and Masjid Al-Mumineen, is hosting “Evictions and Housing Disparities: A Crisis in the Works” on March 13, 2021 at 2PM.
We will hear from Amy Nelson, the executive director of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, about the unfolding situation of housing insecurity and disparities in Indiana, and the resources currently available to help Hoosiers navigate the housing challenges.
The event is free but registration is required. Register here.

The 2021 legislative session is wrapping up its 6th week, with a number of committees rushing to schedule the hearings of their assigned bills before the session’s midpoint. Deadline for bills to receive its 3rd reading is the 2/22 in the House chamber and the 2/23 in the Senate chamber. Bills that don’t receive their 3rd reading are considered dead for this session.
The majority of the bills that IMAN Associates were monitoring didn’t get a hearing and most likely they are dead for this session. HB1185: Anti-bullying bill (Porter) didn’t receive its 2nd hearing in the House Committee on Education. Rep. Greg Porter, a champion for anti-bullying legislation, “filed an amendment to add language to HB1005 (Behning) requiring charter and voucher schools to adopt anti-bullying practices. The amendment was voted down in committee.” We plan to work closely with Rep. Porter and provide needed support to bring this bill back in 2022.

​However, we identified two bills that can negatively impact Indiana Muslims, communities of color and Hoosiers at large if passed.
SB311: Use of Force (Baldwin) gives police officers full discretion in using deadly force. The bill prevents city and county officials, even the officer's own police department, from enforcing protocol or standards on the use of deadly force.
SB353: Various Election Law Matters (Houchin) requires a proof of citizenship when registering to vote. We oppose this bill since it leads to voter suppression, and disenfranchisement of communities of color, immigrants and refugees. The cost associated with obtaining a birth certificate or a proof of citizenship will place a barrier for low income voters to exercise their civic duty. It also impedes our grassroots organizing, especially when we hold voter registration drives in mosques and community centers.

We need your help! Contact committee chairs and let them know you oppose those bills.

SB311: Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law Chair: Sen. Michael Young

Copy and paste the following text and send it to Sen. Young’s legislative Assistant at Madalynn.Conner@iga.in.gov. Give him a call at 317-232-9517 and urge him to vote NO on SB311.

Dear Senator Michael Young,

In the wake of the police brutality that our nation witnessed recently, I am appalled to see a bill like SB311 proposed in the Indiana General Assembly. The bill gives police officers full discretion in using deadly force. It allows police officers to use deadly force whenever the officer felt it justified and no individual or agency could tell the officer otherwise. Communities of color, who are consistently the victims of racial profiling, will suffer the most if this bill passes.
Also, the bill strips away the process of checks and balances, which is central to our democracy. Every official or branch of government is kept in check by another. However, SB311 removes any checks from an officer's use of deadly force and therefore puts our legal system out of balance. Local officials and police departments should be able to create protocol on the use of deadly force. To prevent them from doing so is a danger to the public.

I urge you to vote NO on SB311.

Sincerely,
<Your Name>
<Your Address>

SB353: Senate Committee on Elections Chair: Sen. Jon Ford

​Copy and paste the following text and email it to Sen. Jon Ford at Senator.Ford@iga.in.gov. Give him a call at 317-232-9400 and let him know you oppose SB353.

Dear Senator Jon Ford,
I’m deeply concerned about SB353 and the unnecessary barriers it creates. The cost associated with obtaining a birth certificate or a proof of citizenship will hinder many low-income voters from exercising their civic duty. It can lead to the disenfranchisement of communities of color and the elderly. When Indiana consistently ranks in the bottom ten in voting, I expect the Indiana General Assembly to enact laws that increase voter turnout and not further suppress it.
I join other Hoosiers in their opposition to SB 353. I urge you to vote NO on this bill.
Sincerely,
<Your name>
<Your address>

In an unexpected move, the Hendricks County Commissioners rejected the recommendations of the Hendricks County Area Plan Commission to rezone Clermont Village in the 2/9/2021 public hearing. The Commissioners voted 3-0 to deny the application, citing environmental concerns.
The Commissioners’ decision was shocking to Elizabeth Link, the owner’s developer, especially after spending the last few months working hard to address the commissioners’ outstanding concerns.
Matt Callahan, Muslim Advocates senior staff attorney who has been providing guidance and support to Alhussnain Seminary leadership, condemned the decision and warned Hendricks County of an “expensive and unnecessary religious discrimination lawsuit.”
Local media, including Indystar and WRTV, covered this story.

​Masjid E Noor, located on 5355 Lafayette Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46254, is looking for a new home for its seminary, Alhussnain, in Clermont Village, Brownsburg, IN. The proposed project will offer a safe, walkable community where all people can live, work, worship and study freely. Given that a very anti-Muslim petition has sprung up to oppose the project, IMAN Associates has joined forces with Muslim Advocates to ensure that Muslim Hoosiers receive a fair and impartial evaluation of their application.

​The weekend prior to the public hearing, IMAN Associates sent a blast text to Hendricks County residents to garner their support. We also reached out to Brownsburg residents on social media and rallied them behind the cause. Our efforts have resulted in over 700 letters in support to be sent to the Hendricks County Board of Zoning Appeals. Furthermore, we lined up faith leaders and members to testify at the hearing. Both letters and testimonies echoes welcoming sentiments from Brownsburg residents who believed that Clermont Village will enrich Brownsburg’s religious diversity and build its tax base.

The Hendricks County Area Plan Commission voted to recommend the rezoning application be approved with a 4-3 vote sending the proposal to the county commissioners. Local media outlets, including IndyStar, WFYI, WishTV, WTHR13, and WRTV, covered the story. We want to thank everyone who sent a letter, testified in the hearing, shared our social media posts, and stood in solidarity with Muslim Hoosiers.

Convening a general assembly during a pandemic can be challenging! The 2021 legislative session started on January 4 with legislators attending sessions in-person. However, members of the public testifying on a bill must do so in person at the Capital building. They can testify on the floor or from a separate room via video.
As the second week of the session has come to an end, roughly 580 bills have been proposed in the House, and 420 bills have been proposed in the Senate. Here is a quick run down of the bills we are monitoring this legislative session:
A. HB1131 - BIAS MOTIVATED CRIMES (BOY, P)
B. HB1185 - BULLYING (PORTER, G)
C. HB1209 - BIAS MOTIVATED CRIMES (PORTER, G)
D. SB192 - LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING (TAYLOR, G)
E. HB1440 - RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES (DELANEY, E)

​Hazem Bata, IMAN Associates Public Policy Advisor, is attending weekly meetings with the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and Indiana Coalition for Human Services. Those weekly meetings help advocacy organizations connect and coordinate their lobbying efforts to take action on different proposed bills.

​Our heartfelt thanks go to each and every board member, volunteer, donor, event attendee, social media follower and community member who contributed to the success and helped the organization drive meaningful impact. Truly, it takes a village to bring change and we are grateful to all of you for playing an instrumental role in this journey.

The organization’s search for its first in-house lobbyist has finally come to an end! We are excited to announce that Mr. Hazem Bata has joined our team and will represent IMAN Associates and the Muslim community at the Statehouse. We are delighted to introduce Mr. Bata to you with this short bio:

Hazem Bata is the CEO of Trureal USA, a start-up company that raises funds for nonprofit organizations.
He is the former Secretary General and CEO of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the former executive director of the Counsel on American-Islamic Relations (Orlando). Hazem also started his own law firm and practiced in real estate and transactional work. He later became general counsel for Haven Trust Bank Florida and worked with Bank of America.
Concerned with the spread of the "Unmosqued" phenomenon and general lack of interest in Islam among newer generations, Hazem left his legal career and joined ISNA. He hopes to refocus the organization on strengthening mosques, making them more relevant to more Muslims, and ensuring they are an impetus for advancing the American Muslim community.
Hazem received a B.S. in mechanical engineering (with honors) and J.D. from West Virginia University. He also received an LL.M. in intellectual property from Washington University in St. Louis.
Hazem lives in Indianapolis with his super-lovely wife, Rayhana, and two adorable sons, Imran and Ibrahim.
Mr. Hazem Bata can be reached at hbata@imanadvocates.org

Last week, the Indiana Election Commission voted down expanding absentee voting to all Hoosiers. Voting by mail remains an option ONLY for those voters who meet one of the following 12 qualifications:

• Expect to be absent from the county on election day. 
• Are confined to residence due to illness or injury.
• Are caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury.
• Have disabilities.
• Are at least 65 years of age.
• Have official election duties outside of their voting precinct.
• Are scheduled to work during the entire 12 hours that polls are open.
• Are unable to vote at polls in person due to a religious holiday.
• Have recently moved.
• Are a member of the military or a public safety officer.
• Are a "serious sex offender."
• Are prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to polls.

With the latest controversy over expected delays in absentee ballot delivery, we urge our eligible voters to request their absentee ballots now. They need to complete this application form, and send it to their County Election Offices by mail (addresses on the 2nd page), fax, or email. The application to request a vote-by-mail ballot must be received not later than 11:59PM, on October 22, 2020. 

Eligible voters also have the option to complete the form online at Indiana Voters website. They need to log in to their “my voter portal page” by entering the requested information exactly as it appears on their voter registration record. When on the main landing page, the voter selects the “ABS-Mail” option and enters the information as prompted. After clicking “submit,” a confirmation screen appears that allows the voter to download and retain a copy for their records. There is no need to sign and return the online submission since the system applies the voter’s registration signature to the application on the back-end.

Important date: Before you request your absentee ballot, make sure you are registered to vote. Voter Registration deadline is October 5, 2020. You can register or check your registration status at indianavoters.in.gov. 

On August 6, we kicked off our candidate forum series with an event dedicated to Tippecanoe and Hendricks County voters. It featured Rep. Sheila Ann Klinker (the Democratic incumbent representing State House District 27), Joe Mackey (the Democratic candidate vying to represent Indiana's 4th Congressional District), and Stan Albaugh (the Democratic candidate vying to represent State Senate District 24).
​
On August 13, we hosted U.S. Congressman Andre´ Carson (the Democratic incumbent representing Indiana's 7th Congressional District), Rep. Cherrish Pryor (the Democratic incumbent representing State House District 94), Senator John Ruckelshaus (the Republican incumbent representing State Senate District 30) and Dr. Fady Qaddoura (the Democratic candidate vying to represent State Senate District 30). Moderated by Judge David Shaheed, the forum gave Marion County voters the chance to ask the participants questions about an array of policy issues, including racial justice, education, and health care. 

Did you miss those events? You can watch them on our website or Facebook page.

We are excited to bring our voters three virtual candidate forums that shine a light on different congressional and state races in Tippecanoe, Hendricks, Marion and Hamilton Counties. These virtual events are free, but registration is required to receive Zoom meeting info. Join us on the following dates:

Tippecanoe & Hendricks County Candidate Forum
August 6, 2020 at 7PM

Invited Candidates: 
U.S. Congressman Jim Baird (R) and Joe Mackey (D), 4th Congressional District
Senator John Crane (R) and Stan Albaugh (D), State Senate District 24
Rep. Sheila Ann Klinker (D) and James Hass (R), State House District 27

Hamilton County Candidate Forum
August 27, 2020 at 7PM

​Invited Candidates:
Ronald Saunders (D) and Scott Baldwin (R), State Senate District 20
Rep. Donna Schaibley (R) and Naomi Bechtold (D), State House District 24
Rep. Todd Huston (R) and Aimee Cole (D), State House District 37
Rep. Jerry Torr (R) and Ashley Klein (D), State House District 39

​On May 24, 2020, Masjid E Noor, a local mosque serving Northwest Indianapolis Hoosiers since 2013, was attacked by a drive-by shooting. Given that the mosque was following state guidelines to limit the spread of coronavirus, only a few members were gathered in prayer to mark Eid-Ul-Fitr, when bullets penetrated the windows and nearly struck some of the congregants in an act of attempted murder against those inside. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Masjid E Noor leadership reported the attack to the IMPD, and provided them with a surveillance video that captured what appears to be a red sports car from which the shots were fired. 

On Thursday, May 27, 2020, IMAN Associates and Masjid E Noor held a press conference and called on IMPD to investigate a possible hate crime motive for the shooting, to increase patrols directly in front of Masjid E Noor and other local mosques, and called on elected officials to publicly condemn this abhorrent act of violence. You can learn more about the press conference in the IndyStar, the Indy Channel, and Channel 13. Minutes prior to the press conference, CAIR brought national attention to the incident by issuing a press release. 

Muslim Hoosiers have received an outpouring of love and support from other faith communities. Pastor Jerry Zehr with Carmel Christian Church spoke at the press conference in a strong showing of support to the Muslim community. Other faith-based organizations issued statements condemning bigotry and hatred and standing in solidarity with the Muslim community, including the Center of Interfaith Cooperation, the JCRC of Indianapolis, and the Carmel Interfaith Alliance. Also, a number of legislators called for action following the shooting incident, including U.S. Congressman Andre´ Carson, State Rep. Greg Porter, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor and State Senator Greg Taylor. 

IMAN Associates and Masjid E Noor will continue working with the FBI and the IMPD, who are are currently co-investigating the attack. 

​On the heels of the shooting incident at Masjid E Noor, IMAN Associates held "Unsilenced. Giving a Voice to Disenfranchised People of Faith and Color," a virtual Town hall meeting with elected officials on June 3, 2020.

U.S. Congressman Andre´ Carson, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor, State Senator Greg Taylor and Indianapolis Deputy Mayor David Hampton participated in the candid discussion on hate crimes against religious minorities and racial injustice, and took questions from the audience.  Pastor Jerry Zehr with Carmel Christian Church, Rabbi Brett Krichiver with Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and Imam Shamaas Nyazee with Masjid-E-Noor closed the event with an interfaith prayer. 

Moderated by Rima Shahid, the Executive Director of Women 4 Change Indiana, it was a well-received event, with over 200 attendees joining via Zoom and Facebook live streaming. 

Missed the event? You can watch it on our Facebook page. 

​Senate District 30 is hungry for change and turned out to support Fady Qaddoura's campaign by nearly a 2 to 1 margin against his republican opponent. He is sincerely grateful to everyone who voted for him and supported his campaign. 

Interested to learn about his political priorities?
Join this upcoming event and show your support to the first Muslim American to run for the Indiana State Senate.