Protesters decry religious-freedom law in Indianapolis

Hundreds of Hoosiers gathered at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 28 to protest the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), saying it would promote discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation, and then marched to the Indiana Statehouse while chanting “No hate in our state” and “Who’s state? Our state!”

LGBTQ protesters and allies were joined by religious groups and public officials, including City-County Councilman Zach Adamson and Democratic state Rep. Ed Delaney, among others. Delaney, who voted against the bill in the House, said RFRA would put Indiana on the road to discrimination. “I offered two amendments to the bill that would have recognized our state’s compelling interest in banning discrimination and protected local ordinances that banned discrimination, both of those were defeated,” he said.

Most speakers had the same message for the crowd: that RFRA will open the door to discrimination against the LGBT community. They also urged people to register to vote, saying the only way to stop laws like this is to elect new members to the Indiana General Assembly. Groups went throughout the crowd encouraging people to register to vote.

Once the rally was over, the crowd marched peacefully back to Movement Circle and continued protesting with a much smaller rally.

Editor’s note: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the bill into law March 26, unleashing a global wave of criticism. He has now said he would support legislation to “clarify the intent” of the law.