About two dozen Black faith leaders, community members and Democratic lawmakers sang “We Shall Overcome” on Jan. 29 outside Gov. Mike Braun’s office.
The Civil Rights Era gospel song underscored their protest of the Republican governor’s decisions that they say is an attack on Black residents.
One decision was an executive order to eliminate state DEI programming.
Another is his state budget proposal, which does not include funding for Martin University, the state’s only predominantly Black college. The state sometimes funds private colleges such as Martin, but it’s not routine.
“Public officials need to work with the community,” Lionel Rush, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance Of Greater Indianapolis and event organizer, told reporters. “Because it’s not if you’re going to have a big blow up — it’s when. Don’t come for us later if you don’t want to work with us now.”
The rally was spurred after Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, called the governor’s budget proposal racist last week. Porter was upset the budget did not include funding for Martin — which is facing significant financial struggles — nor the College Success Program grant program meant to help first-generation and minority college students finish school.
Braun was huddled in his office during the rally speaking with legislative leaders ahead of his first State of the State. After about 45 minutes, the governor came out to address the group. He also committed to meet with Black faith leaders Feb. 3.
“I’m always willing to sit and listen, and I’ve proven it by my past actions,” Braun said. “So here today, we’ll start that relationship with collaboration. I’ll welcome your input and your ideas, and we’ll take as long as it takes to where we feel we’ve had a good, solid conversation.”
Gov. Mike Braun talks with Lionel Rush, promising to add the group to his calendar at a future date. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
The group gathers outside Braun’s office. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Denise Abdul-Rahman (left), an organizer and civil and human rights activist, distributes copies of the issues raised by the group. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Mark A. Russell (left) rests in a chair outside the governor’s office as Speaker of the House Todd Huston exits. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Lionel Rush during the protest. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Nevalene Burks, a 67-year-old freshman at Martin University, shares her story. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Sen. Fady Qaddoura joins the group. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy 
Gov. Mike Braun talks with Lionel Rush. Credit: Doug McSchooler for Mirror Indy
While they didn’t receive any commitments from the governor, some were encouraged by his willingness to listen.
“The next four years are going to have a tenor and a tone,” Rush said afterward. “We hope it’s a good tenor, and we hope it’s a good tone.”
Nevalene Burks, a 67-year-old psychology student at Martin, hopes to see the state invest in students like her.
“I know what I can do, and I plan on doing it at Martin University,” Burks said. “This is my goal, and this is what I deserve.”
Burks’ lifelong educational journey, said Martin trustee Richard Hunter, is emblematic of why the state should support Martin and the school’s mission.
“Martin University is there to educate us and make everybody better,” Hunter said. “Doesn’t matter how young or how old you are, you can get an education at Martin University.”
Martin’s unique role
While Martin and other private colleges don’t routinely receive state funding, it does happen. In 2023, the state budgeted $5 million in grants for Martin University, which the college used to attract Black students to its teaching, law enforcement and STEM programs. That budget also included $5 million for the College Success Program.
Braun spokesperson Griffin Reid told Mirror Indy that the money for Martin was a one-time allotment and not meant to spark continual funding.
“In fact, the president of Martin University informed the governor’s office that the university knew it was one-time funding, did not ask for additional funding, and does not expect to be included in this budget,” Reid wrote Jan. 29, prior to the demonstration.
Martin, though, has struggled financially in recent years, and its enrollment has declined about 50% over the last decade to 223 students in fall 2023, per federal education data.
Defending DEI
Those at the rally feel like the governor should take the interests of Black Hoosiers to heart.
They say Braun’s efforts to undercut DEI will reinforce historical inequities faced by Black people and other people of color.
“We have to make institutions have a reason for including others,” Denise Abdul-Rahman, an environmental advocate, told Mirror Indy prior to the rally. “Otherwise we’ll have where our young people are not able to get a job, because there’s no one that’s saying that you have to hire us, that you have to look at us and our gifts that we bring.”
Meanwhile, they will continue to monitor what happens next with Braun’s budget proposal.
“They are choosing to cut funding to anything that doesn’t look like them,” said the Rev. Ken Day of Grace Missionary Baptist Church on the north side.
Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said he would try to add funding for Martin in the state budget. He would need Republican support, however, for any such measure to be successful.
“This budget that was proposed, followed by the executive orders, if it tells any message, it tells that Indiana has two classes of citizens,” Qaddoura said, “a class that receives the resources that they need, and a class that will be deprived of the needs for them to reach their full potential.”
The state budget has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire at claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org or on Instagram/X/Bluesky @clairerafford.
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