George Floyd
‘You just have to act’: Thousands outraged by police brutality rally at March on Washington
WASHINGTON – On the 57th anniversary of the original March on Washington and in the throes of a pandemic, thousands of demonstrators on Friday joined Democratic lawmakers on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to demand Congress act on police brutality and voter suppression. The event, organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, […]
After the civil rights era, white Americans failed to support systemic change to end racism. Will they now?
The first wave of the Black Lives Matter movement, which crested after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, had the support of less than half of white Americans. Given that Americans tend to have a very narrow definition of racism, many at that time were likely confused by the juxtaposition of Black-led […]
Protests have put the spotlight on community review boards, but is it enough?
The United States has had a rough summer. Ohio has, too. Aside from COVID-19 wreaking havoc on our state, the death of George Floyd has galvanized thousands of people to protest and demand a more egalitarian treatment of citizens concerning policing in our communities. Ohio has not been immune to the now-ubiquitous videos and images […]
Demas: The coronavirus crisis shows now is the time to demand more from our government
America has blown past every country in the coronavirus pandemic, with almost 4 million cases and more than 140,000 deaths. If you want to know why the most medically advanced country in the world ended up here, look no further than the malfeasance and conspiracy-mongering of President Donald Trump. The New York Times this weekend ran a devastating tick-tock […]
Key senators predict victory in battle with Trump over renaming military facilities that honor Confederates
WASHINGTON — Key U.S. senators are preparing for battle with the White House over renaming military facilities that honor Confederates — and they’re expecting to win. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat who backs the effort, said he believes the GOP-controlled Senate would override a possible presidential veto of a defense policy bill that would […]
Social media misconduct flares up among police in Ohio, nationwide
George Floyd had only been dead for a few days, and Mount Eaton police officer Jeff Lewis predicted the opinion he was about to share about Floyd would not be popular. “Here’s where I lose more ‘friends,’” Lewis posted to his Facebook page, alongside a photo of Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin with his knee on […]
Local and federal law enforcement using intimidation tactics against protesters, state lawyers guild says
Lawyers across the state say local and national law enforcement have been using police intimidation tactics against Black Lives Matter protesters and organizers. The Ohio Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild said on Monday that police surveilled and visited at least a dozen people, seizing trash, probing for personal testimony, and asking for photos and […]
3 Republicans join House Democrats in passing sweeping police reform
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed a sweeping police reform package Thursday night in response to massive civil unrest over police brutality. The package cleared the chamber largely along partisan lines, with 236 lawmakers (mostly Democrats) voting for it and 181 lawmakers (180 Republicans and one Independent) voting against it. Three Republicans sided with Democrats […]
Democrats block GOP’S ‘weak’ police reform bill
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats blocked a GOP police reform bill Wednesday because they said it fails to adequately respond to police brutality against people of color. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sought to clear a procedural hurdle Wednesday so he could bring the bill to the floor for Senate consideration. But the legislation fell […]
Protesters report adverse effects from tear gas exposure, demand Columbus ban chemical agents entirely
“I feel very violated by the state” Mason Hickman distinctly remembers the burning sensation as he inhaled a waft of tear gas on the Ohio Statehouse lawn when police used the chemical agent to disperse a group of peaceful protesters. Afterwards, he felt exhausted — likely because of the blistering summer heat, he thought. That […]
Law you can use: exercising your right to protest
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” – First Amendment The right to peacefully assemble and join […]
Amid furor over senator’s comments, colleagues try to get hearings on racism back on track
Comments last week by Ohio Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, are probably the one thing Americans are most likely to know about the Ohio Senate right now. But while Huffman’s comments were, to put it charitably, racially insensitive, other members of the Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee worry that the national media response to […]