backlash in indiana hutchinson s reasons why he s walking away? i think it s pretty clear the backlash in indiana is the main reason why governor hutchinson reversed course in saying that he would not sign the religious freedom restoration act currently on his desk. both of these laws explicitly recognize corporations as people who can claim religions. that would be something like a photographer who doesn t want to take pictures at a same-sex wedding ceremony. they could invoke this and use their own religious beliefs as a legal defense if they re sued for discrimination. that s the main thing we heard governor hutchinson speak out against, the main thing he wants to see changed in arkansas s version. one thing that was big was the fact that walmart made a statement. they came out. they re based in arkansas. they came out against this asking the governor not to sign it saying that this bill would undermine the spirit of
state of arkansas. we also heard the governor talk about how his own son contacted him, said he had signed a petition asking his own father the governor to veto the bill. so a strong message from many people in arkansas today asking for the bill to be recalled and amended so that thomas it does not discriminate against anyone here in the states. sara specifically we can hear behind you briefly the rally that s taking place. that s in recognition of the fact that the bill s going back? reporter: the bill was this rally was already planned. people coming out voicing their opinions against this bill. so it has changed a little bit due to the governor s announcement. they are continuing to urge state leaders to reach for equal rights, to write legislation that protects those equal rights, not only from individuals and representatives we re hearing from but also business owners who say that it is not only their customers and their employees affected but their bottom lines, that arkans
educators in march of 2013. many reached plea agreements with the prosecutors but again, 11 former atlanta public school teachers accused of participating in this test cheating conspiracy have been convicted of racketeering charges. i want to take you back to arkansas and the developments we ve been watching coming hours ago from the state capital. the ball is back in the court of state lawmakers over the religious freedom restoration act. asa hutchison asking them to take back the bill and make changes. he says he won t sign it in its current form. it s a shock. with me now is arkansas state representative camille bennett who voted against the bill. thank you for joining us. i know there s a rally currently going on behind you. were you surprised when you heard the governor did not want to sign the bill in its current form? no, i really wasn t surprised. i think there s been such an
ask, don t tell and making progress on marriage equality and working with end to unemployment, we are saying you shouldn t be able to discriminate against members of the lgbt community period. add that term sexual orientation and gender identity to the list that we have in other parts of the federal statute on race, gender, religion. in other words, treat it the same way we do for existing civil rights laws. say you can t discriminate period. no longer sort of quarreling or fighting for one little right at a time but saying, you know what, to be free from discrimination is a basic american value. members of the lgbt community have the right to be free from discrimination in any context. so this bill will be a comprehensive approach to preventing discrimination in all of those contexts. many people have worked hard on this for many many years and have had some success in specific areas. instead, what we re saying as a community, as a country, that it s time we moved forward and
want to update you on the developing news, the religious freedom debate that s taking place in arkansas. walmart which voiced opposition to the bill tweeted the reaction that it had to the governor asa hutchison, tweeting quote, we commend governor asa hutchison for reconsidering house bill 1228. the governor announced today that he wouldn t sign the bill without changes. walmart put out a statement that they were against the bill. they are one of arkansas s largest based businesses. we re also following developing news out of indiana and the fallout in the wake of the state s religious freedom law that went into effect about how governor pence has been handling this within his state. just this week he wrote in an op-ed op-ed, i abhore discrimination. let s look at his voting record on discrimination based on sexual orientation.