On Thursday, March 26, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” despite exceptionally strong protests by the Republican Mayor of Indianapolis, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, headquartered in Indianapolis), Visit Indy (the Indianapolis convention bureau), churches, and many individuals presenting multiple petitions. As the statements of these individuals and groups indicate, the Act does not reflect the views of the overwhelming majority of Indianapolis and Bloomington residents or of Indiana’s many other cities that have worked hard to welcome residents of many backgrounds and views, creating a highly diverse state. The OAH Executive Committee has issued the statement below regarding the Act and is writing the Governor and the leaders in the Indiana House and Senate indicating its strong disapproval of this Act.
“The Executive Committee of the Organization of American Historians, headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, strongly urges the Indiana Legislature and Governor Mike Pence to repeal the ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act’ signed into law March 26, 2015. The Act carries alarming potential for abuse in the form of discrimination on many grounds—religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference. The OAH strongly condemns any legislation that can be employed to discriminate against any person, whether on the basis of ‘any exercise of religion’ or simple personal ethnic or racial prejudice. The OAH Executive Committee urges the immediate repeal of this Act to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all residents of the State of Indiana and visitors to the state.”
