Bloomington Deputy Mayor uses profanity while publicly engaged by constituent
Bloomington Deputy Mayor Donald Griffin Jr. was the subject of a video posted on and circulating social media yesterday, being questioned while using a treadmill at a local gym. The unidentified constituent using the treadmill next to his asked him if he was the Deputy Mayor of Bloomington, to which he answered “ya, you know what, don’t talk to me” and then the man proceeded to question Deputy Mayor Griffin as to why he wasn’t wearing a face covering in an indoor facility, in accordance to the current Monroe County Health Department Ordinance. The Deputy Mayor told him to “do your own thing… do your f***ing thing”
The constituent repeatedly asked Griffin to “follow the rules [he] put in place.” Griffin responded that it wasn’t his rule, that it was the rule of the [Monroe County] Health Department, and then told the man several times to “Shut the f*** up” and to “Do your own thing.”
The video in question is 37 seconds long, and listeners are unaware of what transpired before the filming began. Additionally, there are exceptions to the Face Covering Mandate, including those engaged in indoor exercise for which wearing a covering is incompatible, but the example provided in the approved ordinance mentions swimming.
Yael Ksander, Communications Director for Mayor Hamilton, offered a late-night response after a request for comment from the South Central Indiana News Network. She stated:
“The administration is disappointed that someone in our community is clearly attempting to defame the deputy mayor, and that the media are dignifying this stunt with coverage. The deputy mayor was fully compliant with the rules of the gym where he works out, where mask wearing is required of patrons between workout stations but not while working out at one. The Deputy Mayor was swearing because someone–who had clearly planned this ambush–was harassing him.”
Additionally, Ksander implied that the Mayor’s Administration believed this to be an altercation which was racially motivated by adding, “It is shameful that folks in this day and age, and especially in Bloomington, are still resorting to the stereotype of the angry black man to try to sway public opinion.”
The South Central Indiana News Network is awaiting further clarification as to the rationale for this apparent accusation of racism by the Mayor’s Administration.
Indiana AG Rokita releases advisory that BLM is a political organization and could create a Public School liability
In response to state lawmakers’ inquiries, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita released an official advisory opinion categorizing Black Lives Matter (BLM) as a political organization that public schools should treat the same as other such groups.
“Black Lives Matter is unequivocally a political organization,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Promoting or displaying some politically based materials while prohibiting the promotion or display of others could create a liability for schools and could violate the First Amendment.” By adopting neutral policies regarding the display of signs and other materials, Attorney General Rokita states in the advisory opinion, educational leaders can help “ensure the focus remains on the mission of our schools — educating our children.”
Attorney General Rokita produced the advisory opinion in response to a request from two state legislators — Sen. John Crane, R-Brownsburg, and Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland.
Indianapolis Violence Reduction Director to retire during year of record breaking number of murders
Shonna Majors, the Indianapolis Community Violence Reduction Director, has decided to step down form her role. Majors, who built the r community violence reduction team over the past 3 years, aspired to introduce industry best practices and reduce crime through prevention efforts.
The Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety will assess the roles and responsibilities of the violence reduction team as they determine that program’s future budget.
Indianapolis has seen a sharp increase in violent crimes over the past several years, and broke their murder record in 2020 by more than 30%. In 2020, the record has been broken again, and the city currently has nearly 220 murders, with 7 weeks left in the year.
This Week in Hoosier History
1986 – Hoosiers premiered at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis. Loosely based on the 1954 Milan High School basketball team, the movie was shot entirely in Indiana. Film critic Roger Ebert awarded the picture a full five stars. “Hoosiers works a magic,” he wrote, “in getting us to care about the fate of the team and the people depending on it. It is a movie that is all heart.
For more local news . . .
Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson here!