Civil Rights
The future of the purge, the voucher lawsuit, and free speech in Ohio
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching Our Eye: The future of the purge. Columbus Dispatch’s Rick Rouan and Doug Caruso are reporting, “County election officials wait […]
Supporters of Ohio Fairness Act: ‘We need this legislation’
After being rescheduled because of the education bill fight, supporters are once again scheduled to make their arguments for an anti-LGBTQ discrimination bill in Ohio. The Ohio Fairness Act is a bill that would make sexual orientation and gender identity or expression part of the civil rights law’s “covered characteristics” for which discrimination is prohibited. […]
Ohio counties choosing to become ‘Second Amendment sanctuaries’
A number of counties throughout Ohio are showing their pro-gun bona fides by declaring themselves “Second Amendment sanctuaries.” The relatively new trend has led county commissioners around the state to pass resolutions affirming support for the Second Amendment. This includes Lawrence County down near the Ohio River, Jackson and Vinton counties in Southeast Ohio and […]
Ohio House committee considers easing ‘duty to retreat’ laws
A House committee began review Thursday of legislation to expand legal protections for people who threaten, maim or kill someone believed to have been posing a lethal threat to them. Current law says Ohioans have no “duty to retreat” if someone breaks into their home or vehicle before acting in self-defense. House Bill 381, if […]
‘It’s not fine.’ Black mothers and babies are dying in Ohio.
WASHINGTON — Black mothers and babies are dying at staggering rates in Ohio and around the country. The national statistics are alarming: black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. American Indian women are also more than […]
New safety program allows Ohioans to inform police of communication disabilities
The program allowing Ohioans to identify as having a communication disability, for the purpose of informing law enforcement, is now in place. Residents with a diagnosed communications disability can voluntarily be added to the database. The hope is that officers can learn about someone’s disability prior to making contact, which the program’s website states will […]
‘What year is this?’ Ohio congresswomen aim to stamp out hair-based discrimination
WASHINGTON — About a year ago, a New Jersey teen was forced to cut his dreadlocks in order to participate in a high school wrestling match. The wrestler, Andrew Johnson, received a hurried haircut after he was told by a referee that his hair violated wrestling rules. He won the match and state officials opened […]
‘It’s a reincarnation of Dred Scott:’ Ohio lawmakers mull forcing cities to cooperate with ICE
Ohio House Republicans resumed a push Thursday to force local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities seeking to deport illegal immigrants. Should local governments fail to comply with requests from the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to detain suspected illegal immigrants for up to 48 hours, House Bill 169 would cut them off from […]
Bipartisan Ohio bill seeks to raise age to own firearms to 21
A bill with bipartisan sponsorship making its way through the Ohio legislature aims to raise the age for gun ownership from 18 to 21. Senate Bill 182 would also increase the maximum amount of prison time and fines attached to the charge of “improperly furnishing a firearm to an underage person.” Under the proposed law, […]
Opponents of Duty to Retreat Act: Change in law would allow ‘open season’
An effort to remove a duty to retreat from Ohio self-defense legislation came up against criticism from students, parents and elected officials in a hearing on the proposal. Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell shared his experience walking in the University Circle in his council ward, where he said a white woman called police because she […]
‘It’s a real loss for survivors.’ Domestic violence law stalled in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — For decades, the Violence Against Women Act was an issue that could transcend partisan politics on Capitol Hill. Not anymore. The landmark law — first passed in 1994 to protect victims of domestic crimes — funds programs like rape crisis centers, shelters and legal services to victims of domestic abuse. But after several […]
Funding to reimburse Ohio law enforcement brings up concerns about warrant databases
While Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine promotes gun reform laws, the state is offering law enforcement the chance to get reimbursed for funds spent apprehending individuals with warrants. As part of the 2020-2021 biennium budget, the Prisoner Extradition Reimbursement Program was provided $500,000 for law enforcement agencies “that have limited funds to extradite suspects arrested out-of-state […]