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Senate passes bill making new penalties for crimes against police
The Ohio Senate unanimously passed legislation Wednesday that would increase penalties on protesters and others for alleged offenses against police. Senate Bill 16 would create a new criminal offense: “unlawfully impeding public passage of an Emergency Service Responder (ESR).” It prohibits people from “recklessly obstructing” a highway, street, or sidewalk in such a manner as […]
Ohio Gun Owners’ postpone rally to honor officer who killed teenager
Organizers announced plans to delay a rally planned for Saturday to give a special honor to a police officer who recently shot and killed a Black 16-year-old girl. Chris Dorr, executive director of Ohio Gun Owners, obtained a permit for a “Back the Blue Rally” at the state Capitol on Saturday, claiming 400 people would […]
The last Statehouse protests ended in fistfights. Now officials worry for inauguration violence.
It was a peaceful protest outside the Ohio Statehouse. Then it was a crowd of Proud Boys wailing on Dejuan Sharp. The brawl came a few hours later. Sharp, a Black man, attended the Jan. 6 protest along with other Black Lives Matter activists when, by his account, a Proud Boy in a baseball helmet […]
Despite brawls, no OSHP arrests at clashing protests at Ohio Statehouse
A pugilistic day of political demonstrations that included two brawls between far-right demonstrators insisting the presidential election was stolen and Black Lives Matter activists ended with no arrests Wednesday. At least two rounds of fisticuffed rumbles with an array of participants broke out at different points through the afternoon along with some more minor spats. […]