Leaders are pushing back on Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith’s remarks about the Three-Fifths Compromise, saying they point to a larger political agenda.

On Friday, a press conference was held at Purpose of Life Ministries, where Rev. David W. Greene, Sr., President of the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, Dr. Stephen J. Clay, President of the Indiana Chapter of the National Action Network, and Dr. Wayne L. Moore, President of the Baptist Minister’s Alliance, led the discussion.

Dr. Lasana Kazembe, an Associate Professor at Indiana University, shared his thoughts: “It’s an ideology of divinity, built on fear and ignorance, and it’s about gaining power by any means necessary. This isn’t really about the Three-Fifths Compromise.”

Beckwith posted a video on social media defending the compromise, claiming it helped eradicate slavery and was “a great move by the North.” He told WIBC Radio earlier this week, “It’s never easy to address hard truths, but that’s what leaders do. You call out the lies of the culture.” Beckwith argues that the compromise was about limiting the power of slaveholding states, not promoting slavery.

Senator Andrea Hunley warned, “We’ve got to be vigilant. This only gets worse tomorrow. We’ve seen it, and we know it only gets worse.”

The leaders also addressed the impact of funding cuts on communities of color, emphasizing the strain caused by the elimination of services.

“This could have been about any issue and we would have found ourselves there,” added Kazembe. “That is the purpose of racism: distraction.”

Hunley called on Governor Braun to commit to “meaningful racial reconciliation” and said, “We want to hear you say it.”

“To every Hoosier that believes in justice, this is your call to action,” she added.