Oct. 15, 2021
TO: Indiana Attorney General’s Office
AG Todd Rokita
From: Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
Board of Directors
RE: Abdul-Hakim Shabazz media credentials, admittance to public press conference
Attorney General Rokita,
The Indiana Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists finds your decision to deny longtime political journalist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz admittance to an Oct. 14 government press conference reckless and unconstitutional.
According to Mr. Shabazz, your staff specifically barred entrance because you believe him to be uncredentialed media. Mr. Shabazz is in fact credentialed via the state’s own Department of Administration. So why deny admittance?
Your office sent out the press release to state and local media, and requested journalists to RSVP if they wished to attend your event in person. As a journalist, Mr. Shabazz received that information and responded in kind. So again we ask, why deny admittance?
There simply is not a legitimate reason.
These actions reflect a cavalier and indifferent regard for not only the First Amendment, but the Indiana state laws which you are sworn to uphold.
We find these actions to be a threat to press freedom, and to our very democracy.
We demand an apology for Mr. Shabazz and for his credentials to once again be recognized by your office, as they have been by countless other elected and appointed officials throughout his 30-year career.
Additionally, we would like to invite you into a larger conversation about protecting and preserving press freedom in Indiana.
We are respectfully,
The Board of the Indiana Pro Chapter
Society of Professional Journalists
Michael Puente
Board President