Local
Tuesday, May 12, 4pm
4:00 PM (Rally) 4:30 PM (Showtime)
Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus
Protest Against HB 249 (Ohio's proposed drag ban). An event by Trans Experimental Action
Primary vote reflected a “dynamic shifting” and “different energy” amongst local and state Democrats
Some of Columbus’s best progressive activists and their wisdom can be heard at the Free Press’s monthly Salon, and this past Saturday afternoon was no exception as the recent primary vote was unpacked and dissected.
Hosted at Old First Presbyterian Church on the Near East side, our guest speakers were Morgan Harper, former congressional candidate and executive director for Columbus Stand Up!, and Don Leonard (pictured above), who arguably can now be described as a rising star in Ohio’s progressive community.
Harper believes the Ohio Democratic primary vote reflected a “dynamic shifting” and a “different energy” occurring amongst both local, state and national Democrats.
“We had a ton of first-time candidates, Don included,” said Harper. “He wasn’t alone. Joe Gerard vs. Joyce Beatty. Joe got 20 percent. Bryan Hambley vs. Allison Russo. Bryan is a doctor and decided he was going to run for Secretary of State and ran a real campaign. They had a solid, solid showing.”
Columbus Stand Up! joined organizations across Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and California to launch a new regional coalition fighting back against rising utility bills and corporate profiteering by AEP.
Monday, May 11, 2026, 6:30 PM
Bob Crane Community Center, 3600 Tremont Rd, Upper Arlington
This forum will bring together educators, students, and community leaders for a thoughtful discussion on education policy and its real-world impact on higher education in Ohio. Featured speakers include Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries from OSU, Rachel Coyle, co-founder of How Things Work at the Statehouse, and student speaker Hana El Nemr.
Stay informed, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.
Register for free below and consider a suggested contribution of $10 to help offset costs.
Register HERE.
There are few things as constant and enduring as a mother's love. Although today, the second Sunday in May, is the day this country has set aside to pay tribute to mothers everywhere, the men of Eta Nu Nu of the illustrious Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., pay tribute to mothers every day.
Mothers will do things for their children that others will not; support their children (no matter how old they are) when others won't and will help them see the forest for the trees, when they, for whatever reason, cannot. The men of Eta Nu Nu are fully aware that their mother's love has shaped them, guided them, nurtured them and contributed greatly to the men they have become. It is impossible to repay that debt. On this day, however, it is important that the men of Eta Nu Nu make clear that without mothers there would be no us.
The Ohio Statehouse is back in Session, and they’re diving in headfirst. Several important bills are scheduled for hearings on Tuesday (5/12) and Wednesday (5/13).
Do you have some free time this weekend? Pick a bill or two (or three!) from the list below and write some testimony!
Check out TakeActionOhio.com for lots more key bills that need testimony and phone calls!
Here are a few key bills that most urgently need public testimony:
Charity Martin-King, an OSU alum and native of Columbus, Ohio, triumphed over former school board president Michael Cole in a landslide victory for the honor to represent the good people of District 2 (formerly District 26) in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Historically Black and Democratic, the district encompasses areas of Reynoldsburg, Blacklick, Whitehall, the far east side as well as the southeast side. Martin-King took her campaign to the people where it resonated with folks from all walks of life from the average resident to the college educated to directors of agencies and industry executives.
The long-awaited verdict in the trial of former Franklin County Deputy Jason Meade has finally arrived, bringing a measure of legal closure to a case that has haunted Columbus since December 2020. While the jury’s conviction of Meade for reckless homicide marks a rare moment of criminal accountability for police violence, the aftermath has been marred by a toxic shift in rhetoric from those sworn to protect and serve.
As we process the impact of this case, we must look closely at the state of accountability in our city—and the dangerous wedge being driven between the police and the residents we serve.
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bryden Rd. Columbus Ohio 43205
Join us to discuss the results of the primary election and the theme: Worker Rights = Human Rights. Are we still a democracy?
Speaker: Morgan Harper, former Congressional Candidate and Executive Director of Columbus Stand Up!
Potluck dishes welcome. Free and open to the public.
The landscape of Ohio politics experienced a significant shift today, but our mission remains unshakeable. With the news of Attorney General Dave Yost’s resignation, many are asking what this transition means for the advocacy we have spearheaded.
Since 2021, we have maintained a steadfast presence. Through ten rejections and a historic battle in federal court, we have fought for the fundamental right of every Ohioan to hold their government accountable.
We have been waiting since December 5, 2025—a total of 153 days—for Honorable Judge Graham to release the Permanent Injunction in Brown v. Yost. This ruling is destined to conclude the era of gatekeeping regarding our constitutional rights.
Voices from the Bench: The Road to Justice
Our fight has been validated by the highest legal minds in the country. From the District Court to the Supreme Court, the judiciary has recognized the unconstitutional hurdles we have faced.