By ERIN POLLEY
Indiana Moral Monday

The more than 70 organizations that make up Indiana Moral Mondays have been eagerly waiting for lawmakers to return to their seats for the 2015 Session of the Indiana General Assembly and will be out in force at the State House as it reopens today.

This year, legislators are expected to address many of the issues that are critical to the communities that Indiana Moral Mondays represents. The fusion movement got an early kick-off with a visit from the Moral Monday movement founder, Dr. Rev. William Barber, II in September with a call to action on the the steps of the State House, and are returning to make good on their pledge to push for policies that end the discrimination of poor and minority communities.

The Moral Mondays movement in Indiana is inspired by the work of Reverend William Barber and the Moral Mondays movement born in North Carolina. Taking their fight for voting and healthcare access to the statehouse on Mondays prompted a cooperation between labor and faith groups and energized a new kind of activism. In Indiana, Moral Mondays is advocating for some of the same core principles, rooted in moral and constitutional values that have united so many groups and citizens seeking to make Indiana more just and more fair for all.

During this Session, Indiana Moral Mondays volunteers will be working with lawmakers to promote what they call their “6 Core Issues”- equal protections under the law for all, policies that support the labor force and collective bargaining, quality public education, access to healthcare, protections for voters’ rights and voting access, and environmental protections and sustainability.

“These issues are inextricably linked,” according to IMM Direct Action Chair, Cheryl Laux, “we know that we fundamentally can’t address the problems of poverty and disenfranchisement without addressing health, workers’ rights, and clean air or water.”

This year the legislators are expected to tackle issues like raising the minimum wage, energy efficiency programs, funding for public education, and redistricting rules. IMM will be very involved to see those bills turn into laws that best ensure justice for all Hoosiers.

On Tuesday, Jan. 6, IMM partners will gather in the rotunda of the statehouse for a prayer vigil with community faith leaders.