Human Rights

Ohio is not the sum of its stereotypes. 

Haitian-Ohioans and the town of Springfield have been thrust into the national spotlight due to baseless lies from some state officials and politicians. Neo-Nazis and other racists have seized on the attention to bring fear and danger to the community. But Ohio is a diverse and complex state, home to millions of people who choose love over hate.

In a world where surface-level interactions have become the norm, We The Outsiderzz is leading a movement to create transformative connections. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to build bridges that link individuals to their deeper selves and to each other, fostering a community where personal stories and struggles are met with empathy and understanding.

Founded in Pickerington and now expanding throughout Columbus, We The Outsiderzz isn’t just another community-building initiative. It’s a movement grounded in the belief that vulnerability is strength, and that real change starts when people can freely express their true selves without fear of judgment. Our approach challenges old beliefs, embraces new perspectives, and encourages people to connect on a deeper, more meaningful level.

However, the journey hasn’t been without adversity. A recent hack led to the loss of hundreds of subscribers, over 20,000 views, and close to a year of hard work. But this setback only fueled our resolve. Co-founders Tony Palmer and Adrian Collins took this as an opportunity to recommit to the mission, digging deeper into their passion to rebuild stronger than ever.

This article was first published by Policy Matters Ohio

In the 1960’s, my grandfather joined the United Steelworkers and together with my grandmother, a nurse, they changed the entire trajectory of our family through the stability and opportunities they earned. Almost 60 years later, my husband joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (shout out to Local 683!) after being a non-union journeyman for several years. In addition to better pay, his jobs are more secure, his health insurance more comprehensive, and his worksites safer. I worked in food service, retail, as a nanny, and as a home childcare provider before joining Policy Matters Ohio and the staff union. I have rights and benefits at work that I never even dreamed of as a low-wage hourly worker, like guaranteed wage increases and paid family & medical leave.

Green power surges in the US

Over 100,000 new jobs and 334 major renewable energy projects are the results of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), according to a new report. 

It has been about two years since the IRA was made into law. A recent report by E2, an industry consulting firm, documents the IRA legislation effect on the renewable energy industry and society in general. 

The E2 report suggests that every dollar of public funding spent by the IRA has generated nearly $3 in private investment.

A separate report by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) indicates the benefit was close to $5 or more of private investment for every $1 of public funds spent. 

The largest recipients of this money from the IRA are Michigan, followed by Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. 

Republican hypocrisy regarding renewables

Leaders of #ReuniteUS, a campaign to raise the visibility of people who were deported after living in the United States for decades, want to be seen, heard, and included in the immigration debate. Today fifty-seven people who were deported, from thirty-three states, sent a letter to the Biden administration calling for a chance to come home. 

On the far west side of Columbus, where never-ending prairie land was replaced with a never-ending stretch of corporate plaza hell, a young African American woman was assaulted. A witness who saw the assault and called 911 told the Free Press the Columbus police response was inadequate – something the Free Press has heard about the Columbus police for many years. The Columbus Division of Police (CPD) response seems to change depending on who the victim is and the nature of the crime.

The assault in many ways may be the result of a broken Columbus and how far it is from being fixed, even though Mayor Ginther and City Council seem more concerned about pushing growth – through Zone In, for instance – yet which is out of control.  

A coalition of civil rights groups including the Ohio NAACP, the Ohio Unity Coalition, the Ohio State Conference of the NAACP and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative today responded to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s statements on the Citizens Not Politicians ballot measure. They released the following statement:

"This amendment is incredibly important because Ohio is still one of the 10 most gerrymandered states in our nation,” said Petee Talley, executive director of the Ohio Unity Coalition. “In 2022, residents in several communities were gerrymandered into districts to dilute their voting power. One such gerrymandered in Toledo, Ohio, resulted in roughly 38,000 black citizens in SD11 in Lucas County being disenfranchised. The best way to make the districting process fairer is to get politicians out of it, so they can’t stack the deck in their favor just to gain and keep power.”

The Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade

On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, ending the right to abortion that had existed since 1973.

Nina Totenberg and Sarah McCammon review the new law for NPR (https://npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade-decision-overturn). Here are excerpts and comments from their analysis.

“The decision, most of which was leaked in early May [2022], means that abortion rights will be rolled back in nearly half of the states immediately, with more restrictions likely to follow. For all practical purposes, abortion will not be available in large swaths of the country. The decision may well mean too that the court itself, as well as the abortion question, will become a focal point in the upcoming fall elections and in the fall and thereafter.”

Any decision in the Ohio History Connection’s (OHC) eminent domain lawsuit to fully reclaim The Octagon from the Moundbuilders County Club has been delayed yet again.

The trial, after many previous delays, had been rescheduled for July 15. Late last Friday, the 12th, OHC and Moundbuilders had a telephone conference with Judge Branstool asking for the trial to be delayed. This usually means the parties are close to a settlement, which would be more good news for The Octagon – sacred Native American ground, arguably a temple to the moon, which was designated Ohio’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 2023.

On Monday, July 1, the City of Columbus will put a local activist on trial for alleged jaywalking and obstruction of official business. These charges are part of an ongoing practice of the City’s police department and City Attorney's office in retaliatory targeting of local activists with pretextual charges when they advocate for human rights.

As reported in the Columbus Free Press in 20201, and as captured on police body camera footage in March of 20242, Columbus Police officers repeatedly admit to a policy of targeting peaceful protesters exercising their First Amendment rights.

Elizabeth Andromeda, who uses an electric wheelchair due to quadriplegia, is a familiar presence at peaceful protests in Columbus. She has previously faced charges for peaceful actions taken in protest of violent efforts to evict encampments of unhoused residents in Columbus. Despite the illegitimate nature of the charges, the City Attorney's office has chosen to pursue the case.

Mx. Andromeda maintains her innocence and expects to be acquitted on July 1st.

Mx. Andromeda makes the following statement: