People
Imam Ayman Soliman – the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital chaplain wrongly arrested by ICE earlier this year – spoke at an event in Columbus on November 15, telling an audience that even during the ordeal’s worst moments, there were activists who offered glimmers of hope that led to his release.
It was midnight on the day of his arrest when he was processed into the infamous ICE-contracted detention center in Butler County – a jail run by Sheriff Richard Jones, known as Ohio’s “mini-Trump.” From there, he may have been deported to his home country of Egypt. In 2014, he fled Egypt where he covered the Arab Spring as a journalist, and for that he was jailed and tortured.
“There was an officer who had a child that had been treated at St. Ann’s Children’s Hospital, and they remembered my face,” he said. “He looked at me during this terrible time and said, ‘I am sorry you are here. I just wanted you to know I watched the news at 11 pm and everyone is protesting on your behalf.’
“You have no idea what that meant to me.”
Bill Pulte is the administrator of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the huge mortgage guarantors that are critical to the housing market and the ability of Americans to own and remain in their homes. Of course, he’s a Trump diehard, and that’s not the problem, exactly. Trump has the right to appoint a supporter to this position. Nonetheless, there have to some limits, and this guy is an embarrassment and doesn’t seem to have a clue about the job he should be doing, because he seems to believe his only real job is to be subservient to every whim of the president no matter what it might do to these agencies or all of our mortgages.
The scandals surrounding this guy are compounding faster and more furiously than interest rates on a mortgage.
The Ohio Immigrant Alliance (OIA) is hosting its first ever Family Reunion and Fundraiser on November 15 at Chez Rama from 4-7pm (3669 E. Livingston Ave. in Columbus), a popular Senegalese restaurant. The entire community is invited!
Performer: Habi Gawlo, renowned West African griot and Columbus resident. Find additional examples of Habi’s beautiful performances on OIA’s TikTok page, from Pulaagam: A Celebration of Fulani Heritage. Reunion attendees will be invited to participate in the juurgal and should bring dollar bills.
The Columbus Free Press celebrated our 55th anniversary last Saturday, November 8 and honored five community activists, plus one outstanding community organization.
The event was the November Salon and Annual Awards ceremony at the First Unitarian Universalist Church. Dan Dougan served as master of ceremonies.
Versión en español a continuación
Celebrating our 55th year, the Columbus Free Press will honor five outstanding community activists and a community organization at our November 2025 Salon and Awards event on Saturday, November 8 from 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. One honoree for the Free Press 2025 Outstanding Community Activist is Lezlie Combs. Facebook Event.
Lezlie started the local organization Central Ohio Rainforest Action Group in the late 80s, that provided free educational presentations at schools and other events, held numerous protests, letter writing parties and a benefit concert every year at Chelsea's during World Rainforest Week – among many other activities. The Rainforest Group helped co-found Community Shares of Mid-Ohio (COSMO)and Lezlie served as Vice President and President.
Versión en español a continuación
Celebrating our 55th year, the Columbus Free Press will honor five outstanding community activists and a community organization at our November 2025 Salon and Awards event on Saturday, November 8 from 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. One honoree for the Free Press 2025 Outstanding Community Activist is Paul Becker. Facebook Event.
Paul Becker is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Dayton, where his research focuses on political extremism and violence, and activism in the 21st century.
Beginning with Occupy Columbus he has photographed over 550 protests, marches, rallies, and vigils. Most of these were in Central Ohio, but he has also documented activism in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, and other cities.
Versión en español a continuación
Celebrating our 55th year, the Columbus Free Press will honor five outstanding community activists and a community organization at our November 2025 Salon and Awards event on Saturday, November 8 from 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. One honoree for the Free Press 2025 Outstanding Community Activist is Julialynne Walker.
Versión en español a continuación
Celebrating our 55th year, the Columbus Free Press will honor five outstanding community activists and a community organization at our November 2025 Salon and Awards event on Saturday, November 8 from 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. Our honoree for the Free Press 2025 Outstanding Community Organization is Heer to Serve.
Heer to Serve advocates for those who are unsheltered and facing housing insecurity with a person centered approach, providing emergency and necessary supplies and support to those on the far south side of Columbus. Heer to Serve volunteers work to meet their basic needs through tangible items, social support, and programing.
Versión en español a continuación
Celebrating our 55th year, the Columbus Free Press will honor five outstanding community activists and a community organization at our November 2025 Salon and Awards event on Saturday, November 8 from 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. One of our "Libby" Award honorees is Palestinian activist Jawhara Qutiefan.
Jawhara Qutiefan (Jay) is a writer, activist, and community organizer whose work bridges advocacy, journalism, and grassroots mobilization. Raised in Ohio, she is guided by a deep belief that writing and sharing information are acts of resistance
Celebrating our 55th year, the Columbus Free Press will honor five outstanding community activists and a community organization at our November 2025 Salon and Awards event on Saturday, November 8 from 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. One of our "Libby" Award for Lifetime Achievement in Community Activism honorees is Bob Krasen.
Bob worked in Columbus for non-profits, United Cerebral Palsy, American Red Cross Blood Services, and Vision Center of Central Ohio. He volunteered for 12 years with Suicide Prevention Services.
After retiring in 2006, he became a volunteer in Healthcare for All Ohioans / SPAN Ohio, assuming a leadership position in 2014 as Columbus Regional Coordinator. He continues in active membership, stepping down from leadership positions in 2023.