Read on Twitter
I got answers about the decision to close down the statehouse this week out of an “abundance of caution” due to threats of potential violent protests. Follow the thread to read them! Quotes come from Republican Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (only 1 who agreed to interview)
I asked Sen. Bray what changed? Thursday he didn’t seem interested in shutting down the people’s work at the statehouse.
“Friday, I was back in my home office and I got a call from the Superintendent of State Police and had a serious conversation with him about things...”
“Friday, I was back in my home office and I got a call from the Superintendent of State Police and had a serious conversation with him about things...”
“It is their job to watch intelligence/ keep their ear very close to the ground. He said that there was enough going on that he’s very concerned,” said Bray. “He made it very clear that it was his recommendation that we not come in.”
“When somebody with that kind of expertise tells me that I’m going to take it very very seriously,” explained Bray. “We have to look out for the employees of that building we have to look out for all of the members of public that would be coming in & testifying on whatever bill.”
“If ISP said we would rather you not come in & we came in & all of a sudden we have some member of the state police law enforcement that was hurt because they were protecting us when they asked us not to be in the building we would find ourselves in a very untenable position.”
I explained frustrations of Hoosiers who believed the shutdown to be unnecessary.
“I certainly get that but you have to take everything in context and two weeks ago we saw a horrific scene in Washington D.C. and you have to keep that in the back of your mind at the very least.”
“I certainly get that but you have to take everything in context and two weeks ago we saw a horrific scene in Washington D.C. and you have to keep that in the back of your mind at the very least.”
Senator Bray added, “You also have to be very very thankful that it was peaceful. I wouldn’t want to wish for the other just to show that we were right.”
I asked Bray if he worried this closure and these extreme precautions for potential inauguration protests would set precedence for future protests:
“I am cognizant of that fact, there’s no doubt about it,” said the Republican Senate President Pro Tem.
“I am cognizant of that fact, there’s no doubt about it,” said the Republican Senate President Pro Tem.
“We don’t want to find ourself in the position of people to decide, “OK, if we kind of drum up a lot of animosity & people are concerned about violence, then they will kill that bill because they just won’t come into work...”
Bray assured me this wouldn’t be a common occurrence: “We are not going to go there, you are never going to find us get to that point,” said Sen. Bray.
