ohio legislative black caucus
Black state lawmakers take aim at Vance over comments likening abortion to slavery
A month out from the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Ohio Democrats are doing their best to keep abortion on voters’ minds. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus is criticizing Republican U.S. Senate nominee J.D. Vance over comments likening the impact of slavery to that of abortion. In an interview with the Catholic Current […]
Fighting infant mortality: Racism top of the pile for Black family struggles
The Ohio Legislative Children’s Caucus took a direct look at racism as the prime factor for the state’s infants and mothers struggling to stay alive, particularly in Black communities. In a recent meeting of the caucus, legislators laid out priorities for the current General Assembly, some of which are included in bills already under consideration […]
Dem. lawmakers want newly-enacted ‘Stand Your Ground’ law repealed
Just two weeks after Gov. Mike DeWine reluctantly signed a so-called “Stand Your Ground” bill into law, two Democratic legislators are pushing in the new Ohio General Assembly term to have it repealed. The passage of Senate Bill 175 during a lame-duck session last month marked a significant policy victory for Ohio gun advocates. The […]
Walters elected new chair of Ohio Democratic Party
Elizabeth Walters, a member at-large of the Summit County Council, was elected the new chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. Walters is the first woman ever to lead the state party. She replaces David Pepper, who stepped down after six years as chairman at the end of 2020. Andre Washington, the president of the Ohio […]
OLBC: More information can help combat hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccine
In order for the Black community to trust a vaccine for COVID-19, the community is going to need more information and transparency from those making it. That’s the attitude of state leaders and medical professionals speaking Friday to a conference of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. There is a documented hesitancy to trust vaccinations […]
House lawmakers leave racism resolution on the table
A resolution declaring racism a public health crisis did not receive a hearing before the Ohio House of Representatives left for their summer break. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus announced the measure at the beginning of the month, and it was referred to the House’s State and Local Government Committee on June 3. The bill […]
GOP Rep. on anti-racism resolution: I’m ‘darker’ than most black lawmakers
Members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus are seeking to declare racism to be a public health crisis. In doing so in the Ohio General Assembly, it would mark the first statewide resolution of its kind. The effort mirrors those in Columbus, Cleveland and Franklin County in recent weeks. It also comes as Ohio’s largest […]
As demonstrators protest Floyd death, legislators seek to make racism public health crisis
After a night of demonstrations related to the Minnesota death of George Floyd, Ohio legislators condemned the police actions that led to the man’s death, and called for racism to be declared a public health crisis. Thursday night street protests occurred in downtown Columbus calling for nationwide action, as police used tear gas and riot […]
Musician sings of struggles as lawmakers highlight bills that would help black families
The story sung by Paisha Thomas inside the Ohio Statehouse atrium tells of a hard-working mother. She has three kids, and is stuck picking up extra shifts on Fridays to make up for the time spent raising them. She weighs the cost and makes the choice, is it the chicken or the rent? As the […]