Pryor: ‘This map silences minority voices’

Today, Dec. 2, Indiana House Republicans passed House Bill 1032 out of the House Committee on Elections and Apportionments by a vote of 8 to 5. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), House Minority Floor Leader and a member of the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment, issued the following statement: 

“House Republicans openly stated today that these maps took nothing into consideration besides boosting the political performance of their party. There was absolutely no consideration of the Voting Rights Act, the State Constitution, or the United States Constitution. This blatant power grab violates every principle of fairness in our democracy, and my colleagues across the aisle aren’t even trying to hide it. 

“Hoosiers do not want this. In the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment, we heard almost five hours of testimony from the public, and the sentiment was overwhelmingly in opposition. While I was glad to hear from the many people who came to testify today, the reality is that the vast majority of Hoosiers will be given no opportunity to weigh in. When the stakes are this high, people deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard, but this whole process has been shrouded in secrecy. 

“Let’s be very clear: these maps are racially gerrymandered. Dividing up the two most diverse communities in the state is a deliberate attempt to silence minority voices. Marion County is split into four different districts. Two of those span to Southern Indiana. It doesn’t just hurt Indianapolis to be divided in this way, but almost half of Indiana’s 92 counties will now be represented by people who also have to consider Indianapolis when advocating for their district. The necessary solutions to the unique challenges faced by communities across the state cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach.”