Latest / Concerned Clergy Podcast / Concerned Clergy Podcast October 7, 2026

Transcript

Concerned Clergy Podcast October 7, 2026 · Concerned Clergy Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_0: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the hosts and guests
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_0: and do not necessarily reflect the views of Urban One Incorporated,
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_0: Radio One, or any of its subsidiary companies.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_0: The Concerned Clergy invites you to their weekly town hall meeting on Praise, AM 1310, 95.1 FM.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_0: [music]
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_1: Well, praise the Lord, early voting has already started here in central Indiana.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_1: So you can actually cash your ballot downtown in Indianapolis at the city county building.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_1: So that actually opened up on yesterday.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_1: So voting is on its way on tonight's program.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_1: We're going to be sharing some information regarding what are some of the questions
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_1: on the
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_1: ballot.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_1: We're also going to be looking at some of the referendums as well.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_1: But as we do that, we invite you to be part of the conversation.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_1: You can do that by calling in to the radio station.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_1: That phone number is 317-480-1310.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_1: You can also comment on our Facebook page also.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_1: That's the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_1: Feel free to do that as well.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_1: I want to welcome in our president, Pastor Green.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_1: How are you doing this evening?
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_2: I'm doing well, Reverend Alexander.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_2: Good to be with you and our entire audience as we have gotten to the election season.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_2: It is here.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_1: We're in it.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_1: You know, there was an old song when I was growing up.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_1: It said, not just needy.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_1: And here we are.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_1: We're knee deep into the election season.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_1: So it's time for us to be able to get our groove on.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_1: Well, how do you do that?
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_1: You can do that by voting.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_1: Mr. President, can you go ahead and open us up in prayer, please?
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_2: Thank you all for continuing to watch over us and keep us, Lord God.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_2: Heavenly Father, we thank you for our city.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_2: Lord God, we pray blessings upon our city.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_2: We pray,
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_2: Lord God,
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_2: that you guide every leader locally,
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_2: our state leaders, our national leaders as well.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_2: We need you in this season like never before.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_2: We pray, Lord God, that people will engage the voting process as well.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_2: In Jesus' name, amen.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_2: Amen.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_1: Amen.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_1: Well, we really are in a serious season now, serious business.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_1: We invite you to catch the replay if you can't catch our program tonight in its entirety.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_1: It will be on Facebook.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_1: It will also be on YouTube, and you can catch the replay.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_1: And that is the Concerned Clergy Substack on the Progressive Indiana Network.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_1: So we invite you to catch that.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_1: That'll be on tomorrow.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_1: You can do that as well.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_1: But you can be part of the program.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_1: You can call in to the radio station.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_1: The phone number is 317.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_1: 480-1310.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_1: Once again, 317-480-1310.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_1: And you can also comment on the Facebook page as we're live.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_1: Feel free to put your comments or questions,
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_1: whatever your thoughts are, you can do that as well.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_1: The Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis Facebook page.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_1: Mr. President, I do want to at least start.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_1: Here it is.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_1: It's voting season.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_1: We have now, you know, just two days in which, you know, folks have been able to early vote.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_1: Here in Indianapolis, you can do that at the city county building downtown.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_1: So you can go in there and vote.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_1: You can also request a mail-in ballot.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_1: But a few important things people need to understand
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_1: What could be the repercussions,
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_1: if I do decide,
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_1: you know, to early vote, mail in a ballot, or even say I'm going to wait.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_1: And also,
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_1: what are some of the questions that are on some of the different ballots,
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_1: you know, regarding judges?
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_1: Regarding the Bell question,
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_1: regarding IPS,
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_1: or even if you're,
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_1: you know, in other school districts, you know, other school referendums.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_1: So there's really a lot here in 2026 in what we would call a,
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_1: you know, a mid-season, if you will, election.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_1: But there's a lot of important things that are on the table.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_2: There's a number of important things.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_2: That's why my prayer is people engage in the voting process because this is
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_2: a critical election in terms of our own democracy.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_2: And so you not only want to need to vote, but know who you're voting for, what they stand for.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_2: I think that's just so crucial in this season when we look and see the number
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_2: of things going on,
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_2: whether that's the war,
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_2: whether that's the gas prices,
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_2: whether that's school referendums that will impact budgets even outside IPS.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_2: We know that Wayne Township has a referendum and some of
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_2: the other townships have referendums as well.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_2: Washington Township being one.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_2: So all these people,
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_2: these things matter because then you'll wake up and say, why did my costs go up?
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_2: And that's a term by our voting process, right?
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_2: It's going to be how many votes did this get?
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_2: So if you're for it, understand that and know what that costs.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_2: If you're not, then this is your chance to let your voice be known about that.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_2: So those things are critical.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_2: In addition to the bail referendum that's going to be on everybody's ballot,
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_2: regardless, across the whole state of Indiana.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_2: I think we're going to spend some time talking about that tonight.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_2: These things are critical.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_2: This is where you get to weigh in.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_2: Don't be complaining on the back end.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_2: This is now where you got to step up and weigh in and vote and have a plan for voting.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_1: Well, we got to be honest.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_1: We know people will complain because for a lot of folks, they may not even vote.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_1: We know that, you know, here in Indiana, our voting numbers are dismal.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_1: They'll find out later when they get a letter,
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_1: and something says, you being kicked off, you know, of this program or whatever.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_1: You got to reapply for that program or here's what's changed.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_1: And a lot of folks,
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_1: we got to be honest,
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_1: they're not even clued in,
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_1: you know, to what the, I'll say the potential changes that can come.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_1: Once again,
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_1: and we're in a midterm election,
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_1: a lot of folks,
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_1: don't have a whole lot of high regard on a midterm election,
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_1: but it's important that folks really understand,
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_1: hey, here's some things that can affect my property taxes.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_1: It can affect, you know, where my children are going to school.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_1: It can affect once again,
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_1: what happens if my son,
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_1: my grandson or somebody else happens to be caught up in the legal process.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_1: There's a lot of things that folks really need to have an understanding and not just
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_1: if I'm going to vote, but the importance of my vote.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_2: You got that right.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_2: Even down to,
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_2: revisiting,
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_2: redistricting and a number of things that you think you may have made progress on.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_2: All of this is in play, as we said here, October the 7th, 2026.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_2: All those things are going to make a huge difference.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_2: And it can happen, you know, given where we've already come.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_2: You know, a lot of these things are on a fast track.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_2: And this is our opportunity to push back.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_2: At least share our concerns about it.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_1: Even with that.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_1: So, for instance, you know, and let's go ahead and we'll start with that.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_1: There's going to be public question number one.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_1: And Pastor Green just, you know, he told you that that's going to be on everyone's ballot.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_1: Good evening, Sister Glory.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_1: That's going to be on everyone's ballot, no matter where you're at, no matter where you live.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_1: And what you need to understand is the language in that particular question.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_1: And it's going to ask you,
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_1: should the Constitution of the state of Indiana be amended to provide that
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_1: a person charged with an offense other than murder or treason is not entitled
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_1: to bail?
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_1: Well, why is that important?
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_1: Because here we are, Mr.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_1: President,
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  SPEAKER_1: and you provided,
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_1: and I'll pull it up for our listeners,
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_1: excuse me, for those that are watching us on Facebook.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_1: The ACLU of Indiana has put together a summary,
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_1: if you will, and some guidance in regards to this particular question.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_1: And what it means is, right now, right now you can...
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_1: Bail can be withheld if you have committed a murder or treason.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_1: What they're trying to change it to is now a judge can just decide who to withhold bail from.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_1: And I think if we can just cut it real sweet and simple, that's really where we're at.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_1: So the question is, do we want to allow that?
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_1: Yes or no?
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_1: Do we want to change the Constitution as it is, Mr. President?
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_2: And something else that's critical,
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_2: especially for Marion County people to understand, is we don't elect our judges.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_2: That got taken away several years ago now, Reverend Alexander.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_2: And so we would have,
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_2: if we give the judges in Marion County this authority,
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_2: there is nothing we could do To bring about any form of balance.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_2: So if a judge went rogue and was just,
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_2: declining bail for any specific group of people or whatever,
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_2: all the way across the board, there's nothing we could do about that.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_2: And I'm not sure we would want to do that as a community.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_2: I mean, I don't see that being wise to put all of that in one person's hand
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_2: that they can literally Say,
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_2: okay, we ain't even going to grant you a bail opportunity.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_2: Because keep in mind, you know, this person has been found guilty.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_1: This is allegations.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_2: You know, there may be enough there that they got, quote unquote, arrested.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_2: But does that mean they shouldn't have a bail opportunity?
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_2: I mean, do we want to give authority to one person,
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_2: him or her, who is no longer an elected official?
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_2: To be able to do that.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_2: I mean, I don't think that's wise at all.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_2: So I am deeply concerned with this.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_2: And I know what,
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_2: a lot of people say, well,
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_2: we just think that every person that got arrested is automatically guilty
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_2: and they're all super bad people.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_2: But the data doesn't match that.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_2: There's a number of people who
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_2: Somebody could get arrested tonight for something frivolous.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_2: And the next thing you know, do you want to treat them?
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_2: Okay, now we don't want to give them no bail.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_2: And I don't even know if we can even have the means even support it.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_2: Because you're talking about jail crowding.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_2: Judges do this.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_2: Are there vacancies in the jail?
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_2: What's all this look like?
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_2: Because to me, it's going to lead to,
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_1: okay, let's build a bigger jail.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_2: All right.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_2: You know, there's a slippery slope to all those items.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_2: When it's already, you know, the Constitution has been this way for several years now.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_2: If it's a murder or something, somebody vicious, they already have that opportunity.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_2: So we're talking about somebody who, you know, maybe didn't pay child support.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_2: Maybe it's, you know, something trivial.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_2: You're like, is that the person that we want to say we're going to no bail?
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_2: You know, and do we want that?
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_2: And then it's in the hands of one person.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_2: And I don't think most judges would take advantage of it.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_2: But what do you do with the one or two that are going to?
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_1: Well, we got to be honest, Mr. President.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_1: In this climate, there's more than one or two.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_1: We got a whole Supreme Court that has a majority
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_1: that will rule whatever President Trump says he wants.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_1: And we know throughout the country,
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_1: when you're looking at the lower courts, those numbers multiply.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_1: It's not necessarily where it's just one or two.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_1: We got to be honest with really where we're at.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_1: This can be a serious issue.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_2: I agree, because it can easily be judges who won't aspire to move up to change
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_2: to be federal judges, etc.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_2: Well, you would do stuff to impress the president to get there.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_2: So you would be no bailing people.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_2: You would be doing those types of things to impress him.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_2: To get appointed to a higher office and make more money.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_2: So all of that is in here too.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_2: I agree.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_2: It's probably more than a couple because people will seek to take advantage of it.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_2: And I don't think as citizens, we should want that going on.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_2: We should not change the constitution,
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_2: especially in Marin County,
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_2: and say, hey, yeah, this is something we want to allow the judges to do.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_2: Because we're not even electing our judge.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_2: At least if you...
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_2: Vote them in and out.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_2: You can at least vote somebody out, you know, in a four-year term.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_2: In our situation, we're not voting them out.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_2: That's not an option for Marion County or for Lake County.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_2: And that's a whole separate argument.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_2: But when you get in those counties, now why would we want to do this?
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_2: That would be, I mean, in my opinion, like we don't want to do this.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_2: And it's not going to help anything.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_1: If you want to be part of our conversation tonight, you can call in.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_1: The number is 317-480-1310.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_1: Once again, 317-480-1310.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_1: We're live on Facebook as well as Praise AM 1310 95.1 FM.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_1: But Mr. President, here's...
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_1: I want to throw this out just so folks understand because I want
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_1: to do some comparison and contrast.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_1: You know,
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_1: as we're looking at what the ACLU put out on tonight or excuse me,
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_1: put out and we're sharing tonight,
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_1: it says that judges already have tools to protect public safety.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_1: They can use supervision.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_1: They can use bail money.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_1: They can use electronic monitoring.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_1: They can use no contact orders.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_1: They can use treatment.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_1: They can use testing, travel restrictions.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_1: They have so many tools at their disposal that we have right here on Facebook that you can see.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_1: And here's the comparison and contrast I want to put forth, you know.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_1: So many times we'll have,
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_1: unfortunately tragedies in schools and other areas where folks are using guns
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_1: and weapons and you're talking about, you know, the Second Amendment.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_1: And the argument is, well, there's already laws in place.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_1: Here's something if you want to compare and contrast.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_1: We have so many laws already in place.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_1: Why do we have to create something new that's really...
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_1: can be detrimental to someone's livelihood, especially if they're found innocent.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_1: There are things such as technicalities, okay?
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_1: There are such things in which you're found not guilty.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_1: There are such things in which, you know, there are mistrials.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_1: I mean, there are such things in which charges are dropped.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_1: There are such things in which there are plea agreements.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_1: So what you're saying is you're going to tell the judges up front,
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_1: you can make a decision while there's still so many options,
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_1: there's still so many procedural things that can happen in that particular case,
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_1: in that particular investigation, and then the outcome.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_1: That can really affect someone, their life, their family, and their livelihood.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_2: And to think of it again, in Marion County, we have prime examples.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_2: I mean, we had a police officer who said a young black man pointed a weapon.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_2: Then the video comes out later.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_2: It turns out that was not the case.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_2: Now, what if he's no bail and he's locked up and he got to stay locked up?
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_1: What are we doing?
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_2: And it just goes, well, he was a black man.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_2: He's near Riverside Park.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_2: Okay, so the judge assumes, well, he has to be guilty.
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_2: And he wasn't guilty.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_2: And I think it's unfair and not necessary to give a judge that type of power
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_2: when we know these things happen.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_2: Not that every officer is doing that.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_2: I'm not saying that.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_2: But some officers, some people, like you said, are found...
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_1: Innocent of things.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_2: The person, whatever, was trying to be vindictive, whatever, said it, didn't get it right.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_2: Video comes out later.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_2: Hey, wait a minute.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_2: That ain't quite what happened here.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_2: And, you know, we have all those types of incidences.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_2: I don't want to see,
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_2: if you don't have a history of criminal activity,
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_2: the judge arbitrarily saying,
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_2: okay, I'm no bailing this individual while we sort all this out.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_2: Because these people...
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_2: Could have jobs, et cetera.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_2: Then now you done lost a job because they know bailed you, so you couldn't go to work.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_2: And now you got to start all over when you get out after they apologize.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_2: But that's not cool.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_2: And they family still got rent to pay and this, that, and the other pay.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_2: That wasn't necessary.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_2: When the judge already,
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_2: as you stated,
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_2: has a number of things he or she can use,
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_2: If the person is deemed,
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_2: okay, a little bit concerned about this, okay, I'm going to put them on a monitor.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_2: I'm going to do this.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_2: And not just be like, well, just arbitrarily, here's what I'm going to do.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_2: And now I do believe that most judges wouldn't take advantage of it,
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_2: but a whole bunch of judges would take advantage of this just to impress
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_2: the president because then you could get federal appointee type of jobs
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_2: and really be moving along because now,
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_2: That people will like what you're doing to other people,
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_2: especially if it's people of color or whatever that people seem to attack.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_2: That would just be how you become popular.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_2: And we shouldn't be in that.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_2: So that's why I'm hoping that people will
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_2: understand this referendum clearly.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_2: Because it kind of reads like, oh, yeah, you should sign up on this.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_2: You don't want these people, all these bad people getting out.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_2: You know, with bail, et cetera.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_2: But that it's not what they're after.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_2: And ACLU is to be commended because they provide some data in here that says,
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_2: okay, wait a minute.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_2: That's not really the situation anyhow.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_2: You know, what's going on?
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_2: It's just a perception.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_1: Let's talk about that data, Mr. President.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_1: Because here we are.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_1: And once again,
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_1: if you're with us on Facebook,
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_1: you have an opportunity to look at the data as ACLU has put it together.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_1: And it tells you.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_1: What does Indiana's data say?
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_1: It says 98.6% of people classified as high risk did not commit a new violent crime.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_1: 98.6%.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_1: It also says there 98.9% of people classified as a moderate risk did not commit
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_1: a new violent crime.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_1: Then it also says there 99.4% of people classified as low risk did not commit
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_1: a new violent crime.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_1: So what we're hearing, Mr.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_1: President,
• 21:46
  SPEAKER_1: every day,
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_1: all day,
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_1: on the news,
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_1: through Twitter,
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_1: through the FOP here in Indianapolis,
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_1: is that all these people The prosecutors letting out,
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_1: they're committing all these crimes.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_1: And that's why we have all of these issues.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_1: But the data shows that we're only talking about less than 2% of people in any of these cases.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_1: Whether it be high risk, moderate risk, low risk.
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_1: I mean, you're really not even talking about 1.5%.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_1: So we're trying to make all of these changes,
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_1: drastic changes that can affect so many people over such a small percentage of folks
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_1: that may be, quote unquote, committing some of these other violent crimes.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_2: Well, we're going to impact a lot more than that one to two percent if we go down this path.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_2: There's going to be a lot of more than one to two percent of people is going
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_2: to be impacted negatively when a judge goes to restricting their bail.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_2: I'm thankful that the ACLU has done its homework because what happens is,
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_2: you know, the community others get caught up in the hype from FOP, et cetera.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_2: And so people assume that a bunch of people who have committed a bunch of crimes
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_2: Before they even serve their time are coming out on bail
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_2: and committing other crimes.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_2: When in reality, that's not the case.
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_2: And the data points that out.
• 23:28
  SPEAKER_2: They went across multiple jails in the state of Indiana to gather this data.
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_2: And so think about that.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_2: That's really not the true optic of what's happening.
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_2: Now you believe it because somebody put something on Facebook,
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_2: social media,
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_2: or the news or FOP, which For the FOP, it's the standard operating conversation.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_2: It's always either the community's fault or the prosecutor's fault.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_2: And so we're not looking at the whole piece of the pie.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_2: And that's why the ACLU came out and has recommended, hey, this is a no vote.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_2: Why would we go change the constitution for this small a percentage?
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_2: Why do that and put more things at risk so you wouldn't go change the Constitution
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_2: for less than 2%?
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_2: What are you talking about?
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_1: Well, and that's a great question.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_2: One of two cases in the whole state of Indiana in a year is what we're talking about?
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_1: Well, and let's even dive a little bit deeper in that.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_1: I mean, we do have to go to our break,
• 24:40
  SPEAKER_1: but, you know, we have this whole national conversation about voters fraud.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_1: Well, when you really look at it,
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_1: voters fraud,
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_1: when you go back over the last 30 years,
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_1: you got .00008% of
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_1: folks that have committed it.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_1: And we're making all kinds of changes,
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_1: disrupting everything that we have,
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_1: known traditionally and been able to have trust in only because someone wants
• 25:11
  SPEAKER_1: to disrupt the system.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_1: We cannot allow that to happen.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_1: We have to have statistics such as like this.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_1: We got to share.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_1: We got to talk about it.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_1: We got to be real about it.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_1: And we got to say we can't,
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_1: just arbitrarily say we're going to blow up systems for one or two that may slip
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_1: through the cracks.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_1: Well, let's go to our first commercial break.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_1: If you would like to be part of the conversation.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_1: You can call in.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_1: The studio number is 317-480-1310.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_1: Once again, 317-480-1310.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_1: We'll see you on the other side of our break.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_1: You're listening to the Concerned Clergy Radio Show on Praise AM 1310,
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_1: 95.1 FM Indies Inspiration Station.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_1: Welcome back to the Concerned Clergy Radio Show.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_1: If you'd like to be part of our conversations, You can call in to the radio station.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_1: That phone number is 317-480-1310.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_1: Once again, 317-480-1310.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_1: I'm Reverend Tony Alexander.
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_1: We have our president, Pastor David W. Green Sr., joining us as well.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_1: And we've tried to, on tonight, we're thankful because early voting has started.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_1: And we're also trying to share some information as to what are some of the questions
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_1: on the ballot,
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_1: referendums that could potentially be on your particular ballot,
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_1: and hoping to at least provide some insight and understanding in what some
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_1: of those items could be.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_1: And we've been discussing the bail question, which will be on everyone's ballot.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_1: Once again, it'll be public question number one, Mr. President.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_1: That'll be on everyone's ballot, public question number one.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_1: And I've got it on our Facebook page.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_1: And I want everyone, as you're looking at that question, it's very wordy.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_1: It can be very confusing.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_1: But the key is look for the question.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_1: And that's what I want to highlight on tonight, Mr. President.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_1: So in the question, it'll tell you.
• 27:25
  SPEAKER_1: And for this one, it says currently under the Constitution.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_1: Of the state of Indiana,
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_1: a person charged with murder or treason is not entitled to be released on bail if
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_1: the proof is evident or the presumption strong.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_1: So that tells you where we're at right now.
• 27:43
  SPEAKER_1: The question starts with shall.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_1: Shall the Constitution of the state of Indiana be amended to provide that
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_1: a person charged with an offense other than murder or treason is not.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_1: Entitled to bail.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_1: And then they tell you if the proof is evident or the presumption strong.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_1: Once again, that goes back to what we talked about earlier.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_1: That's based on someone's thought,
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_1: whether it be a prosecutor, whether it be a judge, whether it be somebody else.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_1: And then it says in the state proves by clear and convincing evidence.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_1: That no release conditions shall be reasonably protect the safety
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_1: of any other person in the community.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_1: Here's where you're hurting someone's rights because you're not giving them due process.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_1: There is no due process in that.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_1: You're setting the standard early where you're saying,
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_1: if I think you're guilty, we can withhold bail.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_1: It's as simple as that.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_1: And let's be clear.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_1: Everyone that's in a criminal justice system, somebody thinks they're guilty.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_1: That's why they're there.
• 28:58
  SPEAKER_1: However, they have to go to trial, Mr. President.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_1: And we know there are so many people,
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_1: while there may be a lot of people arrested,
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_1: there's also a lot of people that are found not guilty.
• 29:12
  SPEAKER_1: There's a lot of people that charges are dropped.
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_1: There's a lot of people in which, you know, evidence changes.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_1: There's a lot of, you know, people which witnesses recant their statements.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_1: So you can't say on the front end, here's what we're going to do and not have due process.
• 29:32
  SPEAKER_1: And that's where we need people to understand
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_1: the reason why you can say we don't want any changes in the Indiana state law.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_2: You've summed it up well.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_2: I agree with you wholeheartedly, Reverend Alexander.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_2: That's why we can't do that.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_2: We shouldn't be, you're assuming that you're guilty just because, you know, you got arrested.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_2: I just, that does not, the data would say that's not true.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_2: Look at me, people turn out to be found not guilty.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_2: So why should they have to- Potentially lose a home, job, the losses associated with it.
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_2: And it wasn't a horrendous crime.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_2: If we're talking about not murder,
• 30:16
  SPEAKER_2: we ain't talking about that because that's in the Constitution already.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_2: We're talking about some other crime.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_2: And why should that be the case?
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_1: And, you know,
• 30:30
  SPEAKER_1: unfortunately,
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_1: As we look at even,
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_1: and if you'd like to be part of the conversation, feel free to call in 317-480-1310.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_1: But as we're looking at the situation when it comes to what ICE is doing,
• 30:45
  SPEAKER_1: Pretty much everything ICE is doing,
• 30:47
  SPEAKER_1: they are presuming whoever they come in contact with is guilty.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_1: They have no due process.
• 30:53
  SPEAKER_1: We have a lot of innocent folks that are being shipped off to countries in
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_1: which they have no ties to, no family.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_1: They're just being sent somewhere.
• 31:02
  SPEAKER_1: They had nothing to help get them started.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_1: And that's kind of what you're trying to do here,
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_1: right here in the United States of these Americas.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_2: It would be the same situation.
• 31:16
  SPEAKER_2: That is an excellent comparison,
• 31:18
  SPEAKER_2: Reverend Alexander,
• 31:19
  SPEAKER_2: because it would be especially for anybody other than a white man, right?
• 31:26
  SPEAKER_2: You see, okay, hey, now,
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_2: this whole thing could play out totally different just because of that,
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_2: because you're going down the same path as ICE.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_2: Hey, fam,
• 31:37
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 31:37
  SPEAKER_2: even though ICE was, the premise was, we're only getting the worst of the worst.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_2: But now we're picking off anybody and everybody.
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_2: And so this thing is
• 31:50
  SPEAKER_2: a slippery slope that we shouldn't get involved in.
• 31:53
  SPEAKER_2: Our vote should be no.
• 31:55
  SPEAKER_2: Because now you're going to put the rest of us in the same boat as ICE, basically.
• 32:02
  SPEAKER_1: And here we are, citizens of these United States of America.
• 32:07
  SPEAKER_2: America.
• 32:09
  SPEAKER_1: Let's go ahead and bring in Imhotep.
• 32:10
  SPEAKER_1: He's on the line.
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_1: Imhotep, how are you doing this evening?
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_3: Good evening, then.
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_3: One of my favorite persons taking my call.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_3: I read about that bill in the newspaper,
• 32:27
  SPEAKER_3: Christine's website,
• 32:30
  SPEAKER_3: this morning,
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_3: or last night,
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_3: and I was disturbed when I read that bill and read that it leaks down
• 32:38
  SPEAKER_3: to Even small-time misdemeanors.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_1: Yeah.
• 32:43
  SPEAKER_3: Coming from a family of attorneys, my mother, two sisters.
• 32:49
  SPEAKER_3: I got an ex-in-law, matter of fact.
• 32:52
  SPEAKER_3: They always tell me for years that the criminal justice system is not fueled by felonies.
• 33:02
  SPEAKER_3: I think the general public thinks that the criminal justice system is And
• 33:07
  SPEAKER_3: the paperwork that is pushed day in and day out in courts and judges
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_3: and clerks' offices and things like that is from felony or major cases,
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_3: and that's not the case.
• 33:18
  SPEAKER_3: And you know that.
• 33:18
  SPEAKER_3: You all know that.
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_3: I know you all know that.
• 33:20
  SPEAKER_3: The criminal justice system is powered by misdemeanors, petty crimes.
• 33:25
  SPEAKER_3: That's what it's powered by.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_3: They would tell me this all the time.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_3: And this leaks down to that.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_3: It reminds me of what's going on in Louisiana with the With the depth of prisons
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_3: and being given three strikes for a guy stealing a candy bar and stuff like that,
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_3: you know, it's the private prison.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_3: When former President Biden was in office, he outlawed private prisons on the federal level.
• 33:52
  SPEAKER_3: There's been a push after the George Floyd protest and it gained traction around
• 33:58
  SPEAKER_3: a lot of states to have states divest from the private prison CCA.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_3: Then one of your major ones, I think CCA is based in Tennessee.
• 34:07
  SPEAKER_3: And then you had a couple of those.
• 34:08
  SPEAKER_3: I think CCA, I think they did close CCA on East Washington Street.
• 34:13
  SPEAKER_3: I think they did.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_3: Then they passed this.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_3: I believe they did here, the one that was here right there east of the highway.
• 34:20
  SPEAKER_3: But that's what it's fueled by.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_1: Colorado,
• 34:23
  SPEAKER_1: a lot of the states that
• 34:24
  SPEAKER_3: had marijuana legalization,
• 34:26
  SPEAKER_3: and I don't smoke,
• 34:27
  SPEAKER_3: But I understand some health benefits from from edibles and things like that as far
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_3: as not taking regular narcotics.
• 34:34
  SPEAKER_3: So I'm not here to judge on that.
• 34:36
  SPEAKER_3: But I know from a political and from a legal and from a framework,
• 34:41
  SPEAKER_3: a criminal justice point of view,
• 34:45
  SPEAKER_3: when a lot of those states legalized marijuana,
• 34:47
  SPEAKER_3: the prisons populations and jail populations dropped by 50, 60, 70 percent.
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_3: Colorado reported their population dropped by 70 percent.
• 34:57
  SPEAKER_3: Arizona, Nevada, many other states.
• 35:01
  SPEAKER_3: So the private prison industry is angry.
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_3: They're very angry.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_3: And they want bodies.
• 35:07
  SPEAKER_3: I think when I read years ago,
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_3: they look at they need 95 percent occupancy level for maximum profit.
• 35:15
  SPEAKER_3: So ICE has helped with that.
• 35:16
  SPEAKER_3: You brought up ICE.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_3: ICE has helped them with that.
• 35:18
  SPEAKER_1: That's why Trump partnered with them when he announced this thing with ICE.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_3: But it's really horrible.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_3: It's a horrible bill.
• 35:24
  SPEAKER_3: I'll make sure I'm paying attention to it.
• 35:26
  SPEAKER_3: I'll tell everybody else I know to pay attention to it.
• 35:28
  SPEAKER_3: I'm glad you brought this up.
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_3: I didn't hear anything talk about this on a radio show yesterday.
• 35:34
  SPEAKER_3: I didn't listen to Community Connection today.
• 35:37
  SPEAKER_3: Yesterday, I was kind of disturbed.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_3: Maggie Lewis was on there, and there were no tough questions asked.
• 35:42
  SPEAKER_3: There were no questions about the Flock cameras.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_3: There were no questions about the Jett investigation.
• 35:45
  SPEAKER_3: There were no questions about the young man thrown out,
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_3: and there were going to be rules, going to be changes.
• 35:50
  SPEAKER_3: That's a public forum down there.
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_3: Things shouldn't happen.
• 35:52
  SPEAKER_3: No tough questions.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_3: Just buddy-buddy system.
• 35:54
  SPEAKER_3: I don't like it.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_3: But I'm happy you brought this up, and we'll stay on top of it.
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_3: Thank you for taking my call.
• 36:00
  SPEAKER_1: All right.
• 36:01
  SPEAKER_1: Thank you so much for calling in and your comments and doing double duty.
• 36:06
  SPEAKER_1: He's on the phone as well as he's on our Facebook feed as well.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_1: Let's go ahead.
• 36:11
  SPEAKER_1: We'll go to our second break of the hour.
• 36:13
  SPEAKER_1: Once again,
• 36:14
  SPEAKER_1: if you would like to be part of the conversation,
• 36:16
  SPEAKER_1: you can call in directly to the radio station and that phone number 317-480-1310.
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_1: Once again, 317-480-1310.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_1: Or you can also comment on the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis' Facebook page
• 36:32
  SPEAKER_1: as we are rolling the feed as well and streaming live.
• 36:36
  SPEAKER_1: So let's go ahead and go to our break.
• 36:37
  SPEAKER_1: And when we come back, we will continue our conversation.
• 36:40
  SPEAKER_1: You're listening to the Concerned Clergy Radio Show on Praise AM 1310,
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_1: 95.1 FM Indies, Inspiration Station.
• 36:54
  SPEAKER_1: Welcome back to the Concerned Clergy Radio Show.
• 36:57
  SPEAKER_1: I'm Reverend Tony Alexander.
• 36:58
  SPEAKER_1: We have our president with us.
• 37:00
  SPEAKER_1: And we invite you to be part of the conversation by calling in to the radio station.
• 37:04
  SPEAKER_1: That number is 317-480-1310.
• 37:07
  SPEAKER_1: And early voting has started here in Marion County, Indiana.
• 37:11
  SPEAKER_1: You can go vote downtown right now at the city county building.
• 37:16
  SPEAKER_1: You can do that right now.
• 37:17
  SPEAKER_1: However, you can also early vote beginning October the 24th.
• 37:24
  SPEAKER_1: There will be several satellite locations.
• 37:27
  SPEAKER_1: You can go vote as well.
• 37:29
  SPEAKER_1: There will also be some opportunities for many gatherings, march to the polls.
• 37:35
  SPEAKER_1: Many organizations are coming together and bringing folks together in
• 37:39
  SPEAKER_1: which they can galvanize,
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_1: encourage, and then go and do their civic duty and civic right.
• 37:48
  SPEAKER_1: But if you'd like to be part of the conversation tonight, feel free to call in 317-480-1310.
• 37:52
  SPEAKER_1: Mr. President, I do at least want to bring up
• 37:57
  SPEAKER_1: Not only are we looking at the bail question.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_1: We talked about it pretty extensively.
• 38:08
  SPEAKER_1: There's also going to be a lot of
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_1: opportunities to either say I'm going to vote
• 38:16
  SPEAKER_1: to retain a judge or I'm going to vote not to retain a judge.
• 38:21
  SPEAKER_1: And I want folks to understand that doesn't mean you're voting for your judges.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_1: We don't get a chance to vote for our judges.
• 38:28
  SPEAKER_1: We're just saying, hey, do I want to retain them or not?
• 38:32
  SPEAKER_1: What that means,
• 38:34
  SPEAKER_1: for the most part,
• 38:35
  SPEAKER_1: they're still there until something changes later on, whether or not.
• 38:41
  SPEAKER_1: Mr. President.
• 38:42
  SPEAKER_2: It's all you can do is send a message if,
• 38:44
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 38:45
  SPEAKER_2: there was a huge sum of no votes for a particular judge that hopes that they might,
• 38:52
  SPEAKER_2: somebody, the committee may take that up.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_2: There's absolutely no guarantee of that.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_2: I do want to add,
• 38:59
  SPEAKER_2: since we brought that up,
• 39:00
  SPEAKER_2: that currently the committee has put together a list of 10 names
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_2: to replace two judges who are retiring, and that list has gotten to the governor.
• 39:13
  SPEAKER_2: So here shortly the governor will be picking two people to fill in,
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_2: to take the place of two judges that are retiring.
• 39:23
  SPEAKER_1: And normally that's done,
• 39:24
  SPEAKER_1: it seems like, I don't know, at the beginning of the new year, if I recall.
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_2: Most of the time.
• 39:31
  SPEAKER_1: Where that's actually named.
• 39:34
  SPEAKER_1: But once again,
• 39:35
  SPEAKER_1: there's a committee that will quote unquote bring candidates to the governor for
• 39:40
  SPEAKER_1: the governor, you know, to make that decision.
• 39:43
  SPEAKER_1: But let's talk about, also,
• 39:46
  SPEAKER_1: before we run out of time tonight,
• 39:48
  SPEAKER_1: there's another,
• 39:49
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 39:49
  SPEAKER_1: several referendums throughout the state of Indiana in regards to education
• 39:54
  SPEAKER_1: where schools are asking for funding.
• 39:57
  SPEAKER_1: Right here in Marion County, you know, we have IPS.
• 39:59
  SPEAKER_1: A lot of folks are going to have the IPS referendum that's going to be on their ballot.
• 40:05
  SPEAKER_1: Mr. President, a lot of folks are like, you know, what's this about?
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_1: Should I support it?
• 40:11
  SPEAKER_1: What does it mean to my property taxes?
• 40:15
  SPEAKER_1: What can you share with folks?
• 40:17
  SPEAKER_1: I'll give you the opportunity.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_1: Here's what you need to be considering as a yay or nay vote in particular for this referendum.
• 40:28
  SPEAKER_2: Well, I start with how we got here,
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_2: and that is the last 2025 session in terms of what the government did with SB1.
• 40:41
  SPEAKER_2: And so he redid the whole property tax bill thing,
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_2: claiming he's going to reduce your property taxes,
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_2: our property taxes, only to say, hey, the schools aren't getting the same funding.
• 40:56
  SPEAKER_2: So there's,
• 40:57
  SPEAKER_2: as a result,
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_2: all these schools are not just in Marion County,
• 41:02
  SPEAKER_2: but even outside of Marion County, donut counties.
• 41:06
  SPEAKER_2: You know, there's like 40 some referendums in this November's ballot.
• 41:12
  SPEAKER_2: And that's driven by you got to pay for this stuff.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_2: You got to pay for teachers, transportation, etc.
• 41:17
  SPEAKER_2: They'll run a school.
• 41:20
  SPEAKER_2: And so you're not going to see a property tax increase.
• 41:28
  SPEAKER_2: Most people don't even get one.
• 41:30
  SPEAKER_2: And if they did, now you're getting more money coming out for this referendum.
• 41:35
  SPEAKER_2: So that was all smoke and mirrors.
• 41:38
  SPEAKER_2: That's not real.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_2: And your pocketbook is going to tell you that.
• 41:43
  SPEAKER_2: You won't have to listen and say the pastor is going to tell the truth.
• 41:46
  SPEAKER_2: You're going to see it.
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_2: And this referendum is something else you go vote on and say,
• 41:51
  SPEAKER_2: okay, am I willing to concede more money to this?
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_2: And in particular to the IPS one,
• 41:58
  SPEAKER_2: they're telling you they're going to do cuts even with the referendum.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_2: So you need to clearly understand that.
• 42:06
  SPEAKER_2: What the heck is going on here and how much am I going to lose even if I'm paying
• 42:11
  SPEAKER_2: the referendum?
• 42:13
  SPEAKER_2: And keep in mind,
• 42:14
  SPEAKER_2: you know,
• 42:15
  SPEAKER_2: the concerns I've heard Reverend Alexander is because it's not
• 42:21
  SPEAKER_2: an elected board making the decisions because this money is ultimately going to come
• 42:26
  SPEAKER_2: into IPEC.
• 42:28
  SPEAKER_2: And so some people are uncomfortable with paying more tax revenue
• 42:33
  SPEAKER_2: That is really going to be controlled and dispersed by an appointed board.
• 42:41
  SPEAKER_2: So that's a huge concern.
• 42:43
  SPEAKER_2: Now, whether or not they can overcome that and people will go and vote for it,
• 42:46
  SPEAKER_2: I'm not really sure.
• 42:47
  SPEAKER_2: It doesn't seem to be extremely popular at the moment.
• 42:51
  SPEAKER_2: Much of the feedback that I hear, a number of people have a lot of concerns.
• 42:56
  SPEAKER_2: And it's not that they're against education and children.
• 42:59
  SPEAKER_2: I think we have to make sure we understand that.
• 43:03
  SPEAKER_2: Given that gas prices are up for Alexander,
• 43:07
  SPEAKER_2: given that AES already had an increase and doing more,
• 43:12
  SPEAKER_2: Citizens Gas is doing stuff, people on fixed incomes just flat out can't afford it.
• 43:20
  SPEAKER_2: It has nothing to do that they have a dislike for children or don't want
• 43:24
  SPEAKER_2: to support children's education.
• 43:26
  SPEAKER_2: There are a number of people who flat out can't afford to do this
• 43:30
  SPEAKER_2: because rent prices have gone up.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_2: Gas prices stay up and don't look like they're coming in anytime soon.
• 43:37
  SPEAKER_2: AES has gotten that rate increase.
• 43:39
  SPEAKER_2: Another one is coming in January and they're asking for another one.
• 43:42
  SPEAKER_2: Citizens is in here.
• 43:44
  SPEAKER_2: When they put all these facts together, they flat out can't afford it.
• 43:50
  SPEAKER_2: So I think between that,
• 43:51
  SPEAKER_2: I think between the appointed board being the ultimate decision makers
• 43:57
  SPEAKER_2: with this money coming in, Yeah,
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_2: it's hard pressed to see this being successful,
• 44:02
  SPEAKER_2: that people will say, yeah, I'm voting for this and just do that.
• 44:07
  SPEAKER_2: And then there's going to be cuts anyway.
• 44:10
  SPEAKER_2: So I don't know, you know, how you get there.
• 44:14
  SPEAKER_2: I mean, originally, even the union was against it.
• 44:18
  SPEAKER_2: But, you know, but they've had the sense to change their mind, which I understand.
• 44:22
  SPEAKER_2: I'm sure there was some arm twisting in there for that.
• 44:25
  SPEAKER_2: But, you know, they did start out saying this was a bad deal.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_2: We ain't even for this referendum.
• 44:30
  SPEAKER_2: So if the teachers union wasn't for it,
• 44:33
  SPEAKER_2: given all the other things, I don't get to manage everybody's pocketbook.
• 44:38
  SPEAKER_2: Is this what you want to do with your money?
• 44:41
  SPEAKER_2: And I don't know how that works, Reverend Alexander.
• 44:46
  SPEAKER_1: Well, I don't want people to miss,
• 44:48
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 44:48
  SPEAKER_1: you mentioned, okay, even if we get the referendum, that there will be cuts.
• 44:52
  SPEAKER_1: I want folks to understand that.
• 44:54
  SPEAKER_1: You know, you could vote for this referendum and say, yeah, we're going to support it.
• 44:59
  SPEAKER_1: However,
• 45:00
  SPEAKER_1: IPS has already come out and has said,
• 45:04
  SPEAKER_1: even if the referendum passes, we're still going to have cuts.
• 45:08
  SPEAKER_1: And the question is where are those cuts going to be?
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_1: You know, and IPS is not, you know, unique in this situation.
• 45:15
  SPEAKER_1: They're not the only ones.
• 45:18
  SPEAKER_1: We have almost 40 school districts that are looking at referendums.
• 45:23
  SPEAKER_1: Whether they pass or fail in 2026, one,
• 45:30
  SPEAKER_1: doesn't mean that it's going to contribute to longevity of funding
• 45:37
  SPEAKER_1: for what you just passed in 2026.
• 45:40
  SPEAKER_1: Because folks are going to be coming back for money 2027, 2028.
• 45:46
  SPEAKER_1: That's what IPS is pretty much saying.
• 45:48
  SPEAKER_1: Even if you pass it, we still got to cut some stuff.
• 45:52
  SPEAKER_1: They're saying it's not enough.
• 45:54
  SPEAKER_1: Reason is not enough because in IPS's situation,
• 45:59
  SPEAKER_1: they got to share all this money with charter schools.
• 46:01
  SPEAKER_1: And now,
• 46:03
  SPEAKER_1: after all the years we've been fighting,
• 46:07
  SPEAKER_1: and I'll say we because I mean personally,
• 46:10
  SPEAKER_1: we as in myself and yourself and others,
• 46:13
  SPEAKER_1: Organizations have been fighting against the relationship IPS had
• 46:17
  SPEAKER_1: with charter schools.
• 46:19
  SPEAKER_1: It was reported today by the Indiana Star or Indy Star
• 46:25
  SPEAKER_1: that this referendum could actually cause the divide and the destruction of
• 46:32
  SPEAKER_1: the relationship between IPS and charter schools.
• 46:36
  SPEAKER_1: Because now they're really beginning to realize,
• 46:38
  SPEAKER_1: and I'll say they as an IPS,
• 46:41
  SPEAKER_1: Realizing,
• 46:42
  SPEAKER_1: hey, we can't just stay handcuffed together because we're really in a tug of war.
• 46:47
  SPEAKER_1: You know, we're fighting against each other for the same amount of money.
• 46:50
  SPEAKER_1: It's not where we're tied together and we're going to be able to,
• 46:54
  SPEAKER_1: you know, reap the benefits together.
• 46:56
  SPEAKER_1: Now we're fighting against one another.
• 47:01
  SPEAKER_1: And even if IPS loses, the charter schools still have a win, if you will.
• 47:06
  SPEAKER_1: They still have a feather in the cap.
• 47:09
  SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
• 47:09
  SPEAKER_2: I mean, the charter schools are going to win regardless because,
• 47:14
  SPEAKER_2: you know, and part of this is I'm concerned about is the closing of schools.
• 47:20
  SPEAKER_2: Schools, is that where is that?
• 47:23
  SPEAKER_2: Is that for a dollar?
• 47:24
  SPEAKER_2: Who's getting it?
• 47:25
  SPEAKER_2: Is this this genderfying certain neighborhoods?
• 47:28
  SPEAKER_2: Because while we're having this discussion,
• 47:29
  SPEAKER_2: Reverend Alexander, there are people who are two steps ahead of this.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_2: They already know what they're planning on closing.
• 47:38
  SPEAKER_2: What they're planning on doing,
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_2: who's coming in there, and the superintendent ain't willing to share that.
• 47:46
  SPEAKER_2: Even though those things are really known, are pretty much planned out.
• 47:49
  SPEAKER_2: They just want us to be stupid.
• 47:52
  SPEAKER_2: And do you pay and contribute to that when that's what's going to happen?
• 47:57
  SPEAKER_2: Because you could be paying for that thinking you're saving your neighborhood school.
• 48:01
  SPEAKER_2: You could pay that referendum to find out your neighborhood school was the first one
• 48:04
  SPEAKER_2: on the chopping block.
• 48:06
  SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
• 48:06
  SPEAKER_2: Would you have voted the same way if you'd known your neighborhood school was
• 48:10
  SPEAKER_2: the first one on the chopping block?
• 48:11
  SPEAKER_2: Because believe me, they have an idea of the schools that they plan to close.
• 48:16
  SPEAKER_2: They're going to close some schools.
• 48:18
  SPEAKER_2: That's the definite.
• 48:19
  SPEAKER_2: The superintendent's been saying that.
• 48:21
  SPEAKER_2: That's going to happen.
• 48:23
  SPEAKER_2: But if I'm deciding on a referendum, I kind of want to know some of that.
• 48:29
  SPEAKER_2: It's one thing if I'm contributing to keep my school alive.
• 48:32
  SPEAKER_2: It's another of like, well, yeah.
• 48:35
  SPEAKER_2: You know,
• 48:35
  SPEAKER_2: you're going to pay this,
• 48:36
  SPEAKER_2: but your son or daughter may be going to a neighborhood school that's going to
• 48:39
  SPEAKER_2: the first on the chopping block.
• 48:42
  SPEAKER_2: Do I feel the same way about it?
• 48:44
  SPEAKER_2: Maybe I don't, but maybe I do.
• 48:46
  SPEAKER_2: And those are things that are for real.
• 48:49
  SPEAKER_2: IPEC is deciding this is about money.
• 48:53
  SPEAKER_2: It's not about the best for our children.
• 48:56
  SPEAKER_2: It's about money.
• 48:57
  SPEAKER_2: That's why we have this.
• 49:00
  SPEAKER_2: And the charter schools, I mean, you know, If it folds, then they get a building for a dollar.
• 49:07
  SPEAKER_2: Or, you know, roughly.
• 49:09
  SPEAKER_2: So, you know, they're going to be all right either way, either way, for the most part.
• 49:16
  SPEAKER_2: Their argument ain't that.
• 49:17
  SPEAKER_2: Their argument is can I exist as a charter school and get enough students?
• 49:21
  SPEAKER_2: The rest of that they don't care about because they're going to win either way, either
• 49:26
  SPEAKER_1: way.
• 49:27
  SPEAKER_1: Let's be clear.
• 49:28
  SPEAKER_1: There's nothing right now that Solidifies what transportation is going to look like
• 49:35
  SPEAKER_1: in any of these schools.
• 49:37
  SPEAKER_1: There's nothing right now
• 49:38
  SPEAKER_1: that says Here's what our extracurricular activities are going to look like,
• 49:44
  SPEAKER_1: whether it be football,
• 49:45
  SPEAKER_1: basketball,
• 49:46
  SPEAKER_1: any of these sports that our children,
• 49:48
  SPEAKER_1: you know,
• 49:48
  SPEAKER_1: even when you're talking about transportation to,
• 49:51
  SPEAKER_1: you know, to these games or whatever, whether you have cheerleading.
• 49:55
  SPEAKER_1: We now know that you have Charlie Kirk and Turning Point in the schools,
• 50:01
  SPEAKER_1: where there be an option, you know, that will counter that, that will be available.
• 50:07
  SPEAKER_1: There's certain so many items that we got to look at that our students about
• 50:14
  SPEAKER_1: to miss out on because we can't get funding for just your everyday necessities
• 50:20
  SPEAKER_1: when it comes to education.
• 50:22
  SPEAKER_1: We're almost at the top of our hour, but we got Josephine on the call.
• 50:26
  SPEAKER_1: Let's go ahead and bring her in so we can try to get you in before our show's over.
• 50:31
  SPEAKER_1: Josephine, are you there?
• 50:34
  SPEAKER_4: Yes.
• 50:35
  SPEAKER_4: Can you hear me?
• 50:35
  SPEAKER_1: Yes, we can.
• 50:38
  SPEAKER_4: I have a question.
• 50:39
  SPEAKER_4: The first thing you're talking about, I had nephews and everything.
• 50:43
  SPEAKER_4: I don't want one of my nephews to slap somebody and then go to jail without any due process.
• 50:49
  SPEAKER_4: What do you say, no or yes?
• 50:51
  SPEAKER_4: Which one is it, no or yes?
• 50:53
  SPEAKER_2: No.
• 50:56
  SPEAKER_1: I'm glad you asked that question because that's really what you want to know.
• 51:00
  SPEAKER_1: And here's the key, Josephine.
• 51:01
  SPEAKER_1: The reason it's no, because no, we don't want to make any changes.
• 51:04
  SPEAKER_4: I already know why it's no.
• 51:05
  SPEAKER_4: I understand that part.
• 51:25
  SPEAKER_1: Well, I want to tie it to the question that's going to be on the ballot, okay?
• 51:31
  SPEAKER_1: Because the ballot tells you here's where the Constitution stands now.
• 51:35
  SPEAKER_1: So the reason you ask no, you answer no, is because you don't want to change the Constitution.
• 51:42
  SPEAKER_1: That's really what the question is asking.
• 51:44
  SPEAKER_1: Do you want to change it?
• 51:46
  SPEAKER_1: So that's how you can explain it to folks.
• 51:49
  SPEAKER_1: Okay.
• 51:50
  SPEAKER_4: All right.
• 51:53
  SPEAKER_4: A lot of people might be a little legally or what have you, illiterate to that.
• 51:57
  SPEAKER_4: So that's another reason why I came on too.
• 51:59
  SPEAKER_4: Okay, thank you.
• 52:00
  SPEAKER_1: It's confusing, Josephine.
• 52:01
  SPEAKER_1: You're not the only one.
• 52:04
  SPEAKER_1: That's why we're kind of trying to go over it tonight, Mr. President.
• 52:07
  SPEAKER_2: Yeah, because I've had attorneys say it's confusing because I'm like, I'm confused.
• 52:13
  SPEAKER_2: Pastor, I'm an attorney and I'm confused by how they worded it.
• 52:16
  SPEAKER_2: But simply, no just says don't change the Constitution.
• 52:20
  SPEAKER_2: Leave the Constitution as is.
• 52:23
  SPEAKER_1: And that's where I landed at.
• 52:24
  SPEAKER_1: You know, I went through it a few times and I'm like, well, let me get to the question.
• 52:30
  SPEAKER_1: And then the question says, do you make a change?
• 52:33
  SPEAKER_1: Oh, no, we don't want to do that.
• 52:35
  SPEAKER_1: So it's really that simple because they're trying to change it so
• 52:39
  SPEAKER_1: that they can withhold people with no bail at the judge's discretion.
• 52:46
  SPEAKER_1: And you're like, no, we don't want that.
• 52:49
  SPEAKER_1: That's how we can make it simple.
• 52:52
  SPEAKER_1: Mr. President, you got any closing comments for us on tonight?
• 52:55
  SPEAKER_2: The main thing is let's have a plan to vote.
• 52:58
  SPEAKER_2: Let's go vote.
• 52:59
  SPEAKER_2: Let's get people in your family, other people.
• 53:02
  SPEAKER_2: Let's go do this.
• 53:05
  SPEAKER_2: You know,
• 53:06
  SPEAKER_2: we have to engage in this process because a failure to do so allows all this stuff
• 53:12
  SPEAKER_2: to play out.
• 53:14
  SPEAKER_2: If we don't have the turnout,
• 53:15
  SPEAKER_2: Reverend Alexander,
• 53:16
  SPEAKER_2: and we don't participate, then they will be changing the Constitution.
• 53:22
  SPEAKER_2: How many things we get ready to change in the Constitution?
• 53:25
  SPEAKER_2: None of it will be, especially for most of us, our benefit.
• 53:31
  SPEAKER_2: It'll be to benefit rich people.
• 53:33
  SPEAKER_2: It'll be to benefit people that's in power.
• 53:35
  SPEAKER_2: That's what this is about, ultimately.
• 53:39
  SPEAKER_1: So that's where we're at.
• 53:41
  SPEAKER_1: And we're going to continue,
• 53:42
  SPEAKER_1: you know, as we're going through this voting season because we're here.
• 53:45
  SPEAKER_1: We're right here.
• 53:47
  SPEAKER_1: It's early voting time.
• 53:48
  SPEAKER_1: We want to share some of this information.
• 53:50
  SPEAKER_1: So for those of you that are going down to the city county building is,
• 53:55
  SPEAKER_1: you know, you're answering those questions.
• 53:57
  SPEAKER_1: We want to make sure that you are properly informed exactly what the questions mean.
• 54:04
  SPEAKER_1: So that's the end of our program.
• 54:05
  SPEAKER_1: Mr. President, thank you.
• 54:07
  SPEAKER_1: All of you that are joining us on Facebook as well that are called in, thank you.
• 54:12
  SPEAKER_1: And we'll look to see you next week.
• 54:14
  SPEAKER_1: Be blessed.
• 54:17
  SPEAKER_2: Take care, everybody.